Most people who open this page are doing so because something felt off. That is the right instinct, and this page exists to give you concrete steps rather than reassurances. Leon provides several controls you can apply yourself, and a number of specialist UK organisations are ready to help if you need more than that.
Why responsible gambling matters
Gambling works best when it is a form of entertainment with a fixed budget, not a way to recover money already spent or to manage stress. The moment it serves a different purpose, the risk profile changes. Knowing where that line sits before you reach it is the practical point of everything on this page.
For the majority of players, that boundary is never a problem. For a smaller number, betting patterns can shift gradually in ways that are difficult to notice from the inside. The signs below are worth knowing.
Signs gambling is getting out of hand
- Spending more than you planned on a regular basis, or returning to recoup losses.
- Borrowing money, using credit cards, or delaying bills to fund gambling.
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling.
- Lying to friends or family about how often or how much you play.
- Gambling to escape problems at work, at home or in relationships.
- Repeatedly trying and failing to cut down.
Recognising two or more of these patterns is a reasonable prompt to take action, even if it does not feel urgent yet.
Questions worth asking yourself
These are not diagnostic — they are a personal check. Answer them honestly and privately.
- Have you gambled more than you intended to in the last month?
- Have you chased a loss in the same session or the following day?
- Has gambling affected your sleep, concentration or mood?
- Have you hidden or underplayed your gambling activity to someone close to you?
- Have you used money set aside for essentials to gamble?
- Have you felt the need to increase your stakes to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to cut down and found it harder than expected?
- Have you gambled to deal with worry, boredom or unhappiness?
Leon's control tools
Three self-management tools are available directly on your account. You can apply any of them without contacting support first.
Deposit limits
Deposit limits let you set a ceiling on how much you add to your account over a defined period. Once set, a reduction takes effect immediately; an increase carries a cooling-off period before it applies. This is the most direct way to cap your spend without closing your account.
Wagering limits
Wagering limits cap how much you can bet across a given timeframe rather than how much you deposit. This is useful if your issue is bet size rather than top-ups — it keeps individual stakes from escalating while you still have a balance.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion for a set time closes your account for a defined period of your choosing. During that window you cannot log in, deposit or play. If you need more permanent distance, the national self-exclusion register below extends that across all UKGC-licensed operators — a broader step that does not depend solely on a single account being closed.
Practical limits that work
- Set a loss limit before you start a session, not during it — mid-session decisions are less reliable.
- Treat your gambling budget the same way you treat a ticket to an event: money spent on entertainment, not an investment.
- Schedule the time you play as you would any leisure activity, with a defined end point.
- Never gamble under the influence of alcohol or when you are tired or distressed.
- Keep gambling separate from your banking apps — it makes the spend visible rather than abstract.
Where to get help in the UK
Every organisation below provides free, confidential support. You do not need to have a diagnosed problem to contact them — concern is enough.
- GamCare — runs the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, free and available 24/7. Telephone counselling, live chat and an online forum.
- BeGambleAware — free advice, self-assessment tools and a directory of local support services across the UK.
- GamStop — the free national self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks your access across all UKGC-licensed gambling sites simultaneously.
- Gordon Moody — residential and online treatment programmes for people experiencing serious gambling-related harm.
Blocking software
Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps across every device it is installed on. BetBlocker is a free alternative covering over 84,000 gambling domains and compatible with all major platforms. Both work independently of the operator, so they remain effective even if an account self-exclusion lapses.
Protecting minors
Access to this site and to Leon requires users to be aged 18 or over (18+). If your device is shared with a child or teenager, parental-control software adds a practical layer of protection that age-verification alone cannot provide. Tools such as Net Nanny and Qustodio can block gambling-related content at the device or browser level.
If you suspect a minor has accessed a gambling account, contact us at [email protected] and the account will be suspended while the matter is reviewed.
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore. If it has become something else, the help above is real, free and available right now.
You must be 18 or over (18+) to use this site. If gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.