Responsible Gambling

Last updated: 15 May 2026

1. What responsible gambling means

Responsible gambling means staying in control of your gambling activity at all times. Gambling should be an enjoyable form of entertainment — not a source of income or a way to solve financial problems. Game Routers is committed to promoting responsible gambling and helping users make informed decisions.

Responsible gambling includes:

• Only gambling with money you can afford to lose
• Setting time and budget limits before you start
• Never chasing losses
• Viewing gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money
• Taking regular breaks
• Never gambling under the influence of alcohol or drugs

2. Warning signs of problem gambling

Gambling can become harmful when it starts to negatively affect your life. If you recognise any of the following signs in yourself or someone you know, it may be time to seek help:

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you can afford
• Chasing losses — continuing to gamble to win back money you have lost
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
• Neglecting work, studies, family, or personal health because of gambling
• Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when not gambling
• Lying to family or friends about the extent of your gambling
• Gambling to escape problems, stress, or negative emotions
• Feeling unable to stop or reduce your gambling despite wanting to

3. Help and support resources

The following organisations provide free, confidential advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling:

• BeGambleAware — Independent information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling. Visit www.begambleaware.org.
• GamCare — Provides support, information, and counselling for problem gambling. Call 0808 8020 133 (freephone, 24/7) or use their live chat.
• GamStop — The UK national self-exclusion scheme. Register to exclude yourself from all UK-licensed online gambling operators.
• Gordon Moody — Residential treatment, online therapy programmes, and support groups for people with severe gambling addiction.
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) — US-based resource for problem gambling advocacy, research, and helplines.
• QuitGamble — Tools and community support to help you quit gambling and stay in control.

4. Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is one of the most effective tools for managing problem gambling. By registering with GamStop, you can exclude yourself from all UK-licensed online gambling websites and apps for a minimum period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

Once registered with GamStop:

• All UK-licensed online gambling operators are required to close your accounts and prevent you from opening new ones during the exclusion period.
• You will not receive marketing communications from UK-licensed operators.
• The exclusion cannot be reversed early — this is by design to protect you.

For land-based gambling, you can self-exclude directly with individual casinos and betting shops through their own self-exclusion schemes, or through the multi-operator scheme MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme).

5. Setting limits

Most licensed gambling operators offer built-in tools to help you stay in control. We strongly encourage you to make use of these features:

• Deposit limits — Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much money you can deposit.
• Loss limits — Limit the maximum amount you can lose in a given period.
• Session time limits — Set reminders or automatic logouts after a set period of play.
• Reality checks — Receive periodic pop-up notifications showing how long you have been playing and your net wins or losses.
• Cool-off periods — Take a short break (24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, or 30 days) from a specific operator.

We recommend setting these limits before you start playing, when you can make a calm and rational decision about your budget.

6. Underage gambling

Gambling is strictly for individuals aged 18 or over. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to gamble in the UK. If you are concerned about a young person's gambling, contact GamCare for guidance and support.

All licensed operators are required to carry out age verification checks. If you share a device with minors, consider using parental control software such as Net Nanny or CyberPatrol to restrict access to gambling websites.