Responsible gambling and support
Updated 26 October 2026 · Editor: Nigel Hall
Gambling can cause financial, emotional and relationship harm. You do not have to wait until a problem becomes severe to ask for help. Support is available whether you gamble yourself or are affected by someone else’s gambling.
When gambling is becoming harmful
Warning signs can include spending more than intended, chasing losses, borrowing to gamble, hiding spending or neglecting work and relationships. Feeling anxious, irritable or preoccupied with gambling can also be a reason to pause and seek support. You do not need to decide whether a particular label applies to you before speaking to an adviser.
A bonus does not make gambling risk-free. Deposit and stake requirements can lead to losses before any reward is issued, and free-spin winnings may carry further conditions. A highly rated offer is still a gambling promotion. If gambling is already causing harm, comparing offers or switching to another casino is not a solution.
Self-exclusion with GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP Online is a free service for self-excluding from websites and apps run by gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain. Its minimum exclusion options include six months, one year, five years and five years with automatic renewal. Check the current registration information and keep your personal details up to date so matching can work properly.
For a particular casino, you can also ask its customer support team about its own self-exclusion arrangements. Land-based venues have separate schemes. Online self-exclusion does not block every unlicensed website or every other form of gambling. The Gambling Commission’s self-exclusion guidance explains the available routes.
Blocking access and payments
Gambling-blocking software can restrict access to gambling sites and apps on your devices. Bank gambling blocks can help restrict payments. Ask your bank what its block covers, how it is activated and whether a cooling-off period applies before it can be removed. These tools have different coverage and can be used alongside self-exclusion.
GambleAware’s tools and support directory provides routes to blocking information and further help. Consider all the devices and payment routes you use rather than assuming one setting covers everything. Unsubscribing from promotional messages and limiting gambling advertising can also reduce reminders to gamble.
If you choose to gamble
Set a spending limit within what you can afford to lose after essentials, and a time limit before starting. Take breaks and avoid borrowing, chasing losses or gambling while distressed or impaired. Casino account tools may include deposit limits, time-outs, session reminders and self-exclusion. Check how a particular tool works before relying on it.
No budget, account tool or strategy makes gambling safe for everyone. If you repeatedly exceed limits or feel unable to stop, independent support and a break from gambling may be more appropriate than setting another limit.
Support for family and friends
You can contact support services about someone else’s gambling, even if they are not ready to seek help. You deserve support with the impact on you. An adviser can discuss boundaries, finances and ways to have a conversation without requiring you to manage the situation alone.
Under-18s and our content
SlotSitesUK’s casino comparisons are intended for adults aged 18 or over. We do not accept gambling registrations or offer gambling accounts. Adults sharing a device with children should keep gambling accounts and payment details secure and use appropriate parental controls. Young people affected by gambling should seek support through an appropriate trusted adult or a specialist support service.
Our responsibility as a publisher
We do not present gambling as an income or a way out of debt. Ratings compare offer conditions; they do not measure whether gambling is suitable for you. Support links do not imply that any support organisation endorses this website or a listed casino.
For a content concern, email contact@slotsitesuk.com. This inbox is not a helpline or treatment service. If you need gambling support, use the services above rather than waiting for an editorial reply.