Responsible Gaming

Gambling should always be a form of entertainment — never a way to earn money, pay off debts, or solve financial problems. While most people gamble safely, it is important to stay in control and recognise when fun stops being fun. The information below is designed to help you make informed choices and find support if you need it.

Age Verification

In the United Kingdom, you must be 18 years of age or older to gamble legally. Any casino or betting site — including those based in Curacao and not registered with GamStop — is required to verify your age before allowing you to deposit or play. Never attempt to gamble if you are underage, and never provide false identification. If you are aware of someone under 18 gambling, please encourage them to stop and seek help from a trusted adult or support service.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can develop gradually. If you recognise any of the following signs in yourself or someone you care about, it may be time to seek help:

• Chasing losses — continuing to gamble to win back money you have already lost.
• Hiding your gambling from family, friends, or colleagues.
• Lying about how much time or money you spend gambling.
• Spending more than you can afford, or borrowing money to gamble.
• Neglecting work, studies, relationships, or personal responsibilities because of gambling.
• Feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when trying to cut down or stop.
• Gambling to escape from stress, anxiety, depression, or other emotional problems.
• Thinking about gambling constantly, or planning the next gambling session.
• Needing to gamble with larger amounts of money to feel the same level of excitement.
• Feeling guilty or ashamed after gambling, but unable to stop.

If you answered “yes” to several of these, please remember that you are not alone — and that effective, confidential support is available.

Self-Help Tools

Many gambling sites — including offshore casinos — offer practical tools to help you manage your play. Use them proactively, even if you do not think you have a problem:

• Deposit Limits — set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month.
• Loss Limits — cap the total amount you can lose over a set period.
• Reality Checks — receive on-screen reminders of how long you have been playing.
• Time-Outs — take a short break from gambling, from 24 hours to several weeks.
• Self-Exclusion — block yourself from a specific site or group of sites for a longer period (often 6 months to 5 years).

For UK-licensed operators, GamStop allows you to self-exclude from all UKGC-licensed sites at once. However, please note that GamStop does not cover Curacao-licensed casinos or other offshore sites. If you play at such sites, you must use each site’s own self-exclusion tool, or consider additional blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker, which block access to thousands of gambling websites on your devices.

Support Organisations

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, help is available free of charge and in complete confidence. The following organisations provide advice, counselling, and practical tools:

United Kingdom

• GamCare — the leading UK provider of information, advice, and support for anyone affected by problem gambling.
  Website: www.gamcare.org.uk
  Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7)
• GamStop — free self-exclusion scheme for UK-licensed online gambling sites.
  Website: www.gamstop.co.uk
  Phone: 0800 138 6518

Other Countries

• Australia — Gambling Help Online
  www.gamblinghelponline.org.au — 1800 858 858 (free, 24/7)
• Canada — Responsible Gambling Council
  www.responsiblegambling.org
• United States — National Council on Problem Gambling
  www.ncpgambling.org — 1-800-GAMBLER
• Germany — Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA)
  www.bzga.de — 0800 1 37 27 00 (free, anonymous)
• Other countries — Please search for your national gambling helpline or contact a local healthcare provider for the most appropriate support service in your region.

Seek Help Today

If you recognise any warning signs in your own behaviour, or if gambling is causing distress to you or your loved ones, please reach out for help. You do not have to face this alone. Contact one of the organisations listed above, speak to a trusted friend or family member, or use self-exclusion and blocking tools immediately. The sooner you act, the sooner you can regain control.

Remember: gambling is meant to be a form of entertainment. If it no longer feels like entertainment, it is time to stop and seek support.