1 Deposit limits
Set a daily, weekly and monthly deposit cap on every account. Lowering it is instant. Raising it takes at least 24 hours, so the limit you set today is the limit you play with tonight.
Home / Responsible Gambling
Responsible gambling: the tools, limits and UK helplines that actually help.
If gambling is causing stress, financial harm or relationship problems, please step back. This page is a practical, UK-specific guide to the services and controls that can help — most of them are free.
UKBonusRadar is a comparison site, not a gambling operator. We are not qualified to offer clinical support, but we are qualified to point you directly to services that are.
The National Gambling Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133 and is free to call from UK numbers. It is run by GamCare on behalf of the NHS and GambleAware.
Practical controls
Tools you can switch on in minutes.
The UKGC requires every licensed operator to offer these — not as a formality, but as a legal obligation. Turn on what works for you before you deposit again.
2 Reality checks
Choose a 15, 30 or 60-minute reality check pop-up in your account settings. It freezes the game and shows how long you have been playing, so you can decide whether to continue.
3 Time-out & cool-off
A single-site time-out closes your account for 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days or 6 weeks. It is reversible after the period ends. Useful if you just need a short break.
4 GAMSTOP self-exclusion
The national scheme. One sign-up blocks every UKGC-licensed gambling site for six months, one year or five years. You cannot override it early — that is the point.
5 Gambling block on your bank
Monzo, Starling, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and most UK banks allow a free, in-app gambling block. It adds friction to any gambling transaction from your debit card.
6 Site-level blocking software
Tools like Gamban work at device level. Install on phone, tablet and laptop for the strongest combination alongside GAMSTOP and a bank-level gambling block.
Support organisations
Free, confidential UK support services.
Every organisation below is independent of gambling operators and of UKBonusRadar. They are the right people to speak to.
UK Gambling Commission
All operators listed must hold an active remote licence from the UKGC.
Visit UKGC →
GAMSTOP
Free national self-exclusion scheme for licensed GB-facing operators.
Visit GAMSTOP →
GamCare
Confidential advice, treatment and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Visit GamCare →
BeGambleAware
Independent charity providing tools, information and referral routes for GB players.
Visit GambleAware →FAQ
Questions people actually ask.
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP is the UK’s national self-exclusion scheme. A single sign-up blocks your accounts across every UKGC-licensed online gambling site for six months, one year or five years. You can register for free at gamstop.co.uk.
How do deposit limits work?
UKGC-licensed operators must let you set daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits. Lowering a limit is instant. Raising a limit requires a 24-hour cool-off period followed by active confirmation.
Where can I get confidential help?
The National Gambling Helpline is free and runs 24/7 on 0808 8020 133. You can also contact GamCare via live chat or WhatsApp at gamcare.org.uk, or use the self-help tools at begambleaware.org.
Will using these tools affect my credit score?
No. Deposit limits, reality checks, cool-offs and self-exclusion through GAMSTOP have no impact on your credit file.
Worried about someone else?
Families and friends can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for confidential advice, or read GamCare’s affected-others guide.