Mr Win is intended for adults aged 18 or over. Gambling should be treated as a form of entertainment, never as a way to earn money or solve financial problems. If it is becoming harder to stop, stay within a budget or think about anything else, taking a break is a sensible first step.
You do not need to wait for a crisis before asking for help. Free and confidential support is available for people who gamble and for family members or friends affected by someone else’s gambling.
If you need help now
GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133, with live chat and WhatsApp also available through GamCare. People in Wales can call 0808 2819 265 for the All Wales Gambling Helpline.
If gambling is causing severe distress or you feel unable to cope, Samaritans offers free, confidential support on 116 123. In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.
Warning signs worth taking seriously
Gambling harm does not look the same for everyone. A change in money, time, mood or behaviour can be enough reason to pause and reassess.
- Spending more money or time than you planned.
- Trying to win back losses or increasing stakes after losing.
- Using money needed for bills, borrowing to gamble or hiding spending.
- Feeling anxious, irritable or preoccupied when you are not gambling.
- Gambling affecting sleep, work, studies or relationships.
- Finding that attempts to cut down or stop do not last.
One sign may be enough to act. Support services can help you consider the next step without judgement.
Tools that can help you stay in control
Gambling websites licensed in Great Britain provide account tools designed to help customers manage their activity. The exact controls vary, but commonly include financial limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion.
- Set a budget before gambling. Decide what you can afford to lose without affecting bills, savings or other commitments.
- Use account limits. A financial or deposit limit creates a boundary before play starts. Check how the operator defines the limit and when its time period resets.
- Take a time-out. A temporary break can interrupt a pattern and give you space to decide what you want to do next.
- Review your account history. Look at total deposits, withdrawals, losses and time spent rather than judging activity by one session.
- Consider a bank gambling block. Many UK banks allow customers to block card payments to gambling businesses.
- Reduce access and marketing. Blocking software, app removal and changes to advertising preferences can make it easier to maintain a break.
Controls work best when they are set while you are thinking clearly. If you repeatedly change or work around a limit, stronger measures such as self-exclusion and professional support may be more appropriate.
Taking a break or stopping completely
You can ask an individual operator to exclude you from its services. For a broader online block, GAMSTOP Online is a free self-exclusion service that prevents access to gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain. The exclusion cannot be cancelled during the minimum period you select.
GAMSTOP is most effective when your personal details remain current and when it is combined with other barriers, such as bank gambling blocks or blocking software. Registering does not automatically return money held in existing gambling accounts, so contact each operator about any withdrawable balance.
Free support and practical help
| Service | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free, confidential support for people who gamble and those affected by someone else’s gambling. | Online support 0808 8020 133 |
| GAMSTOP Online | Free self-exclusion from gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain. | Register with GAMSTOP |
| GambleAware | Information, self-assessment and a finder for free support services in Great Britain. | Find support |
| All Wales Gambling Helpline | Free support and information for people in Wales. | 0808 2819 265 |
| Samaritans | Free, confidential emotional support for anyone experiencing severe distress or struggling to cope. | Contact Samaritans 116 123 |
If someone else’s gambling is affecting you
Gambling harm can affect partners, relatives, friends and colleagues as well as the person gambling. You can contact GamCare even if the person you are worried about is not ready to seek help. Support may include talking through boundaries, finances and ways to protect your own wellbeing.
Mr Win’s approach to safer gambling
Mr Win is an independent information and affiliate website, not a gambling operator. Account limits, withdrawals and self-exclusion must be handled by the operator or an appropriate support service.
Our casino and betting content is written for adults. We aim to explain important terms, licensing information, payment restrictions and safer-gambling tools without presenting gambling as risk-free or as a source of income.
Checking a gambling operator
Before using a gambling site in Great Britain, check that its website address appears on the UK Gambling Commission public register. A licence does not remove the financial risks of gambling, but it confirms that the operator is subject to UK rules.
If information on this page appears outdated or a support link no longer works, please contact Mr Win so we can check it promptly.
Daniel is a content creator at Mr Win and has worked in the iGaming industry since 2012. With more than a decade of experience reviewing casino operators and bonuses, he focuses on safe play, licensing standards, and helping players find fair gaming sites.
Fact checked by: Greg – Casino expert. Last fact-checked: September 1, 2026.