Responsible gambling
You can stop before the next bet. Practical controls and support are available, whether the concern is your gambling or someone else’s.
Make the next step a practical one
If gambling is taking more money, time or attention than you intended, pause it. You do not need to recover a loss before stopping. Avoid another deposit, leave pending withdrawals in place and move away from the gambling app or website. Contact someone you trust if doing that alone feels difficult.
GamCare supports people who gamble and people affected by someone else's gambling. Its National Gambling Helpline is free and available 24 hours a day. You can ask for help without having a diagnosis or knowing exactly what to say.
Use account controls with a clear scope
Deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion serve different purposes. A deposit limit restricts money added to an account; it does not necessarily cap losses from an existing balance. A reminder tells you how much time has passed, but it is not the same as a block.
Read which products each control covers. If a sportsbook and casino share an account, ask whether the restriction applies to both. Confirm the start time, duration and treatment of existing bets or balances. Keep the confirmation. An ordinary account closure should not be assumed to create a lasting self-exclusion.
Add barriers beyond the gambling account
Ask your bank about a gambling payment block and check which transactions it covers. Consider blocking software across the devices you use. GamCare explains blocking software and money management options. No single tool should be treated as a universal block on every payment method or website.
Remove gambling notifications and marketing messages. If shared finances are affected, a trusted person or an independent support adviser can help you plan the next step. Avoid borrowing to gamble or treating gambling as a way to pay bills. Professional support can help address the gambling and its consequences together.
If someone else is affected
Concern about another person's gambling is enough reason to seek advice. GamCare can discuss your situation even if the person who gambles does not want help. Protect your own finances and avoid sharing account or payment details. You are not responsible for recovering their losses.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E, as the NHS urgent mental health guidance advises. The gambling support links on this page are not an emergency response service. Service information was checked on 30 September 2026; follow the organisations' own pages for their current contact options.
Support and account questions
Should I wait for a withdrawal before asking to self-exclude?
You can request self-exclusion now and ask the operator to handle the pending withdrawal without restoring access to gambling. State that you also need confirmation of any unsettled bets and remaining balance. For businesses licensed in Great Britain, the Commission's self-exclusion rules require account closure and return of funds held in the account. Do not assume identical procedures at an overseas operator; request its payment arrangements explicitly rather than delaying your request to stop.
Can I get support without making a phone call?
Yes. GamCare offers live chat and WhatsApp with an adviser through its online support page. You can use those options for your own gambling or concerns about someone else's. You do not need a prepared account of everything that has happened; describing what is difficult right now is enough to begin.