Call the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (UK, free, 24/7) or visit BeGambleAware.org.
8 Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling often develops gradually over time and these are the most common warning signs of problem gambling.
- Spending more than you planned - regularly going over your set budget
- Chasing losses - gambling more to recover money you have already lost
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, or depression
- Lying to family or friends about how much you gamble or how much you have lost
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Difficulty stopping or cutting back even when you want to
- Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities because of gambling
- Gambling with money needed for bills, rent, food, or other essentials
While experiencing any of these signs does not mean that an individual is involved in problem gambling, it is still worth noting the presence of any of these characteristics and taking a few minutes to use some of the tools listed below.
The Scale of Gambling Harm in the UK
Understanding the extent of the problem with problem gambling can help individuals to take the warning signs more seriously, and the survey of gamblers in Great Britain conducted by the UKGC presents the most detailed analysis of the issue. The data below is drawn from operators who hold a UKGC licence. Key findings from the 2023/24 survey:
| Category | Estimated adults affected | % of adult population |
|---|---|---|
| Gambled in last 4 weeks (any type) | ~23 million | ~44% |
| Online casino gambling (last 4 weeks) | ~3.5 million | ~7% |
| At-risk gamblers (PGSI score 1–7) | ~1.2 million | ~2.3% |
| Problem gamblers (PGSI score 8+) | ~160,000 | ~0.3% |
Source: UK Gambling Commission, Gambling Survey for Great Britain 2023/24. PGSI = Problem Gambling Severity Index. These statistics pertain to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), though data on problem gambling in Northern Ireland is collected separately from the remainder of the UK.
The 0.3% rate of problem gambling among the adult population of Great Britain represents around 160,000 individuals who exhibit the characteristics of problem gambling, but despite the relatively small number, the problem gambling sector is responsible for a disproportionate amount of losses made by individuals at online gambling casinos, according to research by the UKGC and GamCare. The 1.2 million at-risk population figure is the more important of the two statistics regarding problem gambling, as while being in this at-risk category does not mean that an individual will indeed participate in problem gambling, these are the individuals who should utilise the various tools to manage their gambling activities.
Men between the ages of 18 and 34 are the demographic within Great Britain who exhibit the highest rate of problem gambling at online casinos. Women are the demographic within Great Britain who exhibit the highest rate of problem gambling with bingo and slots activities, yet are underrepresented in the number of treatment services available for those affected by problem gambling.
Self-Assessment
The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) is the self-assessment tool most commonly used to assess whether an individual is addicted to gambling, and consists of 9 questions that can be scored on a scale from 0 to 3 each, for a total possible score of 27. Scores between 1 and 2 indicate that the individual is not at risk of problem gambling, scores between 3 and 7 suggest moderate risk of problem gambling, and scores of 8 or higher indicate the individual is experiencing problem gambling. The tool is available at BeGambleAware.org for free and takes only around 5 minutes to complete.
5 Free Responsible Gambling Tools
1. Deposit Limits
All online casinos that are licensed by the UKGC must offer tools to set deposit limits for each gambler; limits can be set for daily, weekly, or monthly gambling activities. Any adjustments to deposit limits take effect immediately for most players, though increases in the deposit limit for casino activities require a 24-hour waiting period before they become effective.
2. Time / Session Limits
Most licensed online casinos also implement tools to set time limits for gambling activities; once set, the casino will alert the gambler or log them out after they have reached the time limit for that gambling session.
3. Reality Checks
Reality checks are pop-up messages that appear at various intervals during a player's visit to an online casino, and they are available at all licensed online casinos in the United Kingdom.
4. Self-Exclusion at a Single Casino
Self-exclusion can be set up directly for individual online casinos by visiting the account settings for that website and navigating to the Responsible Gambling section of the website settings. Online casino self-exclusion is for a minimum period of 6 months, during which the casino will close the player's account, return any remaining balance in their account, and prevent them from creating a new account.
5. GamStop - UK Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion
GamStop permits individual players to self-exclude from all online casinos that are licensed by the UKGC; registration on the site takes only around 5 minutes and occurs at GamStop.co.uk. Once individuals register on GamStop, the online casinos will automatically close their accounts with those casinos and prevent them from creating new accounts; the minimum time period for self-exclusion is 6 months.
GamStop has over 250,000 registered users as of the year 2024, and according to internal statistics for the organization, the majority of registered individuals voluntarily completed the registration process prior to reaching a crisis point due to problem gambling. Key facts:
- Registration time: approximately 5 minutes
- Minimum exclusion period: 6 months
- Maximum exclusion period: 5 years (or permanent)
- Coverage: all UKGC-licensed online operators (excluding land-based venues)
- Operators' obligation: must close accounts within 24 hours of a GamStop match
GamStop does not offer access to unlicensed online casinos, and for individuals who are using GamStop but who are becoming tempted by unlicensed gambling websites, Gamban offers software for individual devices for around £2.99 per month to block access to various gambling websites.
Support Organisations
BeGambleAware
Free treatment referrals, self-assessment tools, and 24/7 helpline. begambleaware.org
GamCare
Free counselling, support forums, and the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133. gamcare.org.uk
Gordon Moody
Residential treatment and online therapy programmes for people with serious gambling problems. gordonmoody.org.uk
Gamblers Anonymous
Free peer support meetings across the UK and online. gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Protecting Others
Should an individual be concerned for a friend or family member who may suffer from problem gambling, GamCare does offer a dedicated line for those calling for assistance with problem gamblers. Gamban also offers software that can be installed on shared devices to prevent those individuals from having access to gambling websites.
Our Responsible Gambling Commitment
All of the online casinos included in this list hold licences from the various regulators that require the online casinos to offer tools for responsible gambling. This website does not promote or list unlicensed online casinos, and any online casino that is included in this list has been checked to ensure that it offers tools to limit gambling deposits and enable self-exclusion prior to being listed on the website. Browse our MGA licensed casinos, our curated safest online casinos, or Gibraltar licensed casinos to find operators that are legally required to provide these tools.