Set your limit, reach your limit - STOP!

Gambling is a lot of fun, but it can be associated with potential risks for some. The UK’s safer gambling legislation aims to curb these risks through information sharing and protective measures, including various tools and actions that land-based and online gambling providers and players can implement.

Policies and actions include:

• You must be 18+ to gamble: Produce an ID showing you are older than 18 before being allowed to bet. The three exceptions which allow for 16+ are football pools, lotteries, and the National Lottery.
• Protection for vulnerable gamblers: Players with mental health issues, anxiety, depression, etc., are more susceptible to addiction.

• Ethical marketing: gambling providers should include warnings of the dangers of gambling in their marketing.

• Secure betting payments: Using trusted payment gateways, e.g., PayPal, VISA, Skrill, and other major providers.
• Data privacy: Upholding the EU’s GDPR law.

Player’s tools include:

• Self-exclusion from a gambling provider’s site.
• Limiting access for a set amount of time.
• Activity alerts after gambling for a specific time.
• Deposit limits that the gambling provider caps.
• Gambling blocks on your debit card.
• Time-outs that block you for an amount of time.

Simple steps for safer gambling

• Set a money limit. Only bet what you can afford to lose
• Allocate a time limit and stop when time is up
• Play for entertainment, not as a source of income
• Don’t gamble if you’re feeling anxious or depressed
• Always gamble sober, do not use drugs or alcohol while betting
• Don’t chase your losses and accept that knowing more won’t guarantee a win
• Avoid “Bet Regret” by taking regular breaks during playtime

Do you have a problem?

We know that certain people are more vulnerable to developing a gambling addiction. Generally, players will suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. But remember, anyone who gambles can develop a problem.

These are some signs that you or someone you care about might have a gambling problem: Thinking about gambling all the time, Cravings or withdrawal symptoms, losing control and betting way above your affordability, compulsive gambling, chasing your losses, having problems at work, or with friends, and family due to failure in fulfilling your responsibilities, and borrowing or stealing money.

If you recognise these signs, you can get help:

Step 1: Contact the specific gambling providers the player gambles at to raise your concerns. Accredited betting companies will take your concerns seriously. Players can also self-exclude, preventing them from visiting casinos, bookmakers, gambling websites, and betting apps.

Step 2: Use website blockers and place gambling restrictions on all of your bank accounts.

Step 3: The National Gambling Treatment Service’s network of organisations provides 24/7, free, confidential advice and support for individuals experiencing gambling-related problems and those impacted by someone else’s gambling.