Set limits before you play
Limits work best when you set them in advance, while you are calm, rather than in the middle of a session.
- Money: decide how much you are prepared to lose today and this month, and keep it separate from money for bills and savings.
- Time: decide how long you will play and use a timer or the casino's reality-check reminder.
- Casino tools: online gambling sites let you set limits on the time and money you spend. Use them before your first deposit.
- Stake: work out a stake that gives you the number of spins you want from your budget; our tips page shows how.
- Payments: many people find it helps to block gambling payments with their bank. The Gambling Commission has a guide on safer gambling tools, including this.
Avoid gambling when you are upset, lonely, stressed or have been drinking, and decline bonuses that would push you to play longer than you planned.
Warning signs
Answer these questions honestly. The more you answer "yes", the more likely it is that gambling is becoming a problem:
- Do you spend more money or time gambling than you meant to?
- Do you try to win back losses by playing again or raising your stake?
- Have you borrowed money, sold things or missed bills because of gambling?
- Do you hide how much you gamble from family or friends?
- Do you feel restless, irritable or low when you try to cut down?
- Do you gamble to escape problems or to feel better?
- Has gambling affected your work, studies, sleep or relationships?
If several of these apply to you, take a break now and contact one of the services below. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact a doctor or your local emergency services straight away.
Where to get help
These services are free. We checked each one on its own website or on an official page that lists it.
| Where | Service | Contact |
|---|
| England and Scotland | National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare: free, confidential, 24 hours a day, with live chat and WhatsApp | 0808 8020 133 |
| Wales | NHS Wales Helpline, 24 hours a day | 0808 2819 265 |
| Great Britain | GambleAware (begambleaware.org now leads here): helplines, chat and advice | gambleaware.org |
| United States | National Council on Problem Gambling helpline: call, text or chat | 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) |
| United States | Gamblers Anonymous national hotline | 855-222-5542 |
| Canada (Ontario) | ConnexOntario: free, confidential, 24/7 | 1-866-531-2600 |
| Australia | National Gambling Helpline: free, confidential, 24 hours a day; Gambling Help Online also offers chat and email counselling | 1800 858 858 |
| New Zealand | Gambling Helpline: free, 24 hours a day | 0800 654 655, or text 8006 |
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of people who help each other stop gambling. There are no dues or fees, and meetings take place in person, online and by telephone; you can search for meetings on its website. If you live in Ireland or another country not listed here, GambleAware points people outside Great Britain to GamCare's international support contacts.
Talking to your doctor is also a good first step. Problem gambling is treatable.
Self-exclusion and breaks
Self-exclusion is a formal agreement not to gamble for a set period. While it runs, the business must take reasonable steps to stop you if you try. In Great Britain, gambling businesses are required to have their own self-exclusion arrangements.
- Take a short break first if you are unsure: if your casino offers a time-out, use it to lock your account for a while.
- Exclude from one casino through its account settings or customer support, and ask for confirmation in writing.
- Exclude from all of them at once. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP, available since April 2018, lets you self-exclude from online operators with one free request. In Australia, BetStop does the same for licensed online and phone gambling providers.
- Block access on your devices. Blocking software and your phone's screen-time settings can stop you reaching gambling sites and apps.
- Tell someone you trust and unsubscribe from casino emails and notifications.
Questions about this page? Write to hello@jackpot-6000.org. Back to the Jackpot 6000 home page.
Sources
- GambleAware – Get help now – National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland), free, confidential, 24 hours a day, live chat and WhatsApp, run by GamCare; NHS Wales Helpline 0808 2819 265, 24/7; international contacts via GamCare
- Gambling Commission – How gambling companies keep you safe while betting online – limits on time and money, self-exclusion, GAMSTOP available since April 2018
- Gambling Commission – Self-exclusion – gambling businesses must have self-exclusion arrangements; GAMSTOP lets you self-exclude from online operators with one request
- Gambling Commission – Safer gambling – guides on controlling time and money, self-exclusion and blocking gambling payments with your bank
- GAMSTOP – free service that blocks your access to accounts on gambling websites and apps
- National Council on Problem Gambling – Help and treatment – call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), online chat; contact centres covering all 50 states and US territories
- Gamblers Anonymous – no dues or fees; meetings in person, virtual or by telephone; US national hotline 855-222-5542
- ConnexOntario – free, confidential support for gambling problems in Ontario on 1-866-531-2600, 24/7
- BetStop – Support tools – National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858, free and confidential, 24 hours a day; Gambling Help Online chat and email counselling
- BetStop – National Self-Exclusion Register – free Australian Government service that blocks you from licensed online and phone gambling providers in Australia
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand – free 24-hour helpline 0800 654 655; anonymous text to 8006
Data checked on 5 November 2026 by the editorial team.
