Related legal pages
Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. This page outlines the UK responsible gambling framework, the tools available to help you stay in control, and where to get support if gambling stops being fun. If you are reading this because you are worried about your own gambling or someone else’s, you are in the right place.
UK gambling regulation
All gambling operators reviewed on MrMega.com are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC requires operators to implement player protection measures including deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs, and self-exclusion. You can verify any operator’s licence on the UKGC public register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Tools to stay in control
Every UKGC-licensed gambling operator is required to offer the following player protection tools:
Deposit limits: You can set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on how much you deposit. Once set, a limit cannot be increased without a 24-hour cooling-off period. This prevents impulsive decisions to raise your limits in the heat of a session.
Reality checks: The operator will display a pop-up reminder at intervals you choose, showing how long you have been playing and how much you have deposited or lost. This helps you stay aware of time and money spent.
Time-outs: You can temporarily suspend your account for a period you choose, ranging from 24 hours to six weeks. During a time-out, you cannot log in, deposit, or play. The time-out lifts automatically at the end of the period.
Self-exclusion: You can permanently close your account with an individual operator. Most operators allow self-exclusion periods of six months, one year, or five years. Once self-excluded, the operator cannot contact you with marketing and cannot reopen your account without your explicit request after the exclusion period ends.
GAMSTOP: national self-exclusion
GAMSTOP is the UK’s national online self-exclusion scheme. When you register with GAMSTOP, all UKGC-licensed gambling operators are required to block your accounts and prevent you from opening new ones. You choose an exclusion period of six months, one year, or five years. The exclusion covers all UK-licensed online casinos, sportsbooks, bingo sites, and poker rooms. Over 420,000 people are registered with GAMSTOP as of 2026.
Important: GAMSTOP only covers UKGC-licensed operators. It does not block offshore casinos that accept UK players without a UKGC licence. For comprehensive blocking, combine GAMSTOP with device-level blocking software.
Register at gamstop.co.uk. The registration process takes a few minutes and requires basic personal information to verify your identity. Your registration is confidential, and operators cannot see that you are on the GAMSTOP register until you attempt to log in or deposit.
Device-level blocking: Gamban and Gamblock
Gamban and Gamblock are software applications that block access to gambling websites and apps on your devices. Unlike GAMSTOP, which only covers UKGC-licensed operators, device-level blocking software blocks access to thousands of gambling websites regardless of where they are licensed. This protects you from offshore casinos that GAMSTOP does not cover.
Gamban is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It costs approximately £25 per year. Gamblock offers similar functionality with a slightly different blocking methodology. Both are recommended by GamCare and BeGambleAware as complementary tools to GAMSTOP. BetBlocker is a free alternative that offers comparable device-level blocking.
Getting help
If you are concerned about your gambling, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it is free and confidential.
National Gambling Helpline (BeGambleAware): Call 0808 8020 133. This service is available 24/7, 365 days a year. You can speak to a trained adviser who will listen without judgment and help you find the right support. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles.
GamCare: GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline and provides counselling, group therapy, and online support for anyone affected by gambling harms. Visit gamcare.org.uk or call 0808 8020 133. GamCare’s most recent annual report recorded over 55,000 cases handled, and demand for their services continues to increase.
Gordon Moody: Gordon Moody provides residential treatment for severe gambling disorder. Their programmes are among the most intensive available in the UK and are designed for people whose gambling has caused significant harm to their finances, relationships, and mental health. Visit gordonmoody.org.uk.
Gamblers Anonymous UK: A fellowship of people who have experienced gambling problems and support each other through regular meetings. Meetings are held across the UK, both in person and online. Visit gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually, and the signs are not always obvious. Common indicators include: spending more money and time on gambling than you planned, chasing losses by depositing more after a losing session, lying to family or friends about your gambling, borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling, neglecting work or relationships because of gambling, and feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed when not gambling. If any of these sound familiar, the helpline on 0808 8020 133 is the best place to start.
Problem gambling in the UK: the data
The UK Gambling Commission’s most recent survey data estimates the problem gambling rate at approximately 0.3 percent of the adult population. However, this figure captures only those classified at the most severe end of the harm spectrum. A larger proportion of the population, estimated at 2 to 3 percent, experiences some level of gambling-related harm even if they do not meet the clinical threshold for problem gambling. The UKGC’s statutory levy, introduced in April 2026, restructured the funding of research, prevention, and treatment services to address this wider population of at-risk gamblers.
Managing money when you gamble
Set a budget before you start playing and treat it as the cost of entertainment, the same way you would budget for a meal out or a concert ticket. The simplest rule: only deposit what you are prepared to lose entirely. If you find yourself depositing a second time in the same session to chase a loss, that is the moment to step away. Most UKGC-licensed operators allow you to set deposit limits at registration, and many now prompt you to set them as part of the account creation flow. If you have not set a deposit limit on your accounts, doing so now takes under two minutes and is the single most effective step you can take to keep your gambling under control. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is available 24 hours a day if you want to talk to someone about setting limits or about gambling’s impact on your finances.
Support for family and friends
Gambling harm affects more than the person who gambles. Partners, parents, children, and friends often carry the financial and emotional consequences of someone else’s gambling. GamCare offers a dedicated helpline for affected others through the same 0808 8020 133 number, and their website at gamcare.org.uk includes a section specifically for families and friends seeking advice and support. Gam-Anon UK runs support groups for the family and friends of people with gambling problems, separate from Gamblers Anonymous meetings. These groups are free, confidential, and available across the UK. The UKGC’s 2026 statutory levy allocates a dedicated funding stream to support services for affected others, recognising that the harm caused by one person’s gambling radiates outward into families and communities.
The UK statutory gambling levy
From April 2026, all UKGC-licensed gambling operators are required to pay a statutory levy calculated as a percentage of their gross gambling yield. The levy funds three streams: research into gambling harm receives 20 percent of funds, prevention and public health campaigns receive 30 percent, and treatment and support services including the National Gambling Helpline and GamCare’s counselling network receive 50 percent. The levy replaced the previous system of voluntary operator contributions, which varied significantly between operators and left treatment services dependent on unpredictable funding. For the first time, funding for gambling harm services is mandatory, predictable, and ring-fenced. Details of the levy rates and allocations are published by the UK Gambling Commission at gamblingcommission.gov.uk and by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Underage gambling
Gambling in the UK is illegal for anyone under 18. UKGC-licensed operators are required to verify the age and identity of all customers before allowing them to gamble. If you are a parent or guardian concerned about a young person’s access to gambling, GamCare offers a dedicated young people’s service at bigdeal.org.uk and through the National Gambling Helpline. The UKGC’s Think 25 policy requires gambling premises and websites to challenge anyone who appears to be under 25.
Our commitment
MrMega.com is committed to promoting responsible gambling. We include responsible gambling references in our reviews, we link to GAMSTOP and BeGambleAware throughout our content, and we never promote gambling as a solution to financial problems or as a guaranteed source of income. Every page on this site includes a link to this responsible gambling page and the National Gambling Helpline number: 0808 8020 133.
