Responsible gambling

Gambling involves risk

All forms of gambling involve the risk of losing money. Outcomes are not predictable, and gambling should never be viewed as a reliable way to earn income or recover previous losses. The longer you play, the more likely it is that the house edge will result in losses over time.

Setting a budget before you start, and sticking to it, is one of the most practical things you can do to manage the risks involved.

Signs that gambling may be a problem

Gambling may be causing harm if you notice any of the following:

• Spending more than you can afford to lose
• Chasing losses — continuing to play in an attempt to win back money
• Lying to family or friends about how much you gamble
• Neglecting work, relationships, or other responsibilities because of gambling
• Borrowing money to fund gambling
• Feeling anxious or irritable when you try to stop

If any of these sound familiar, free and confidential support is available through the organisations listed below.

Free UK support services

Tools available from operators

UKGC-licensed operators are required to offer tools to help players manage their gambling. These typically include deposit limits, session time limits, reality checks, temporary breaks, and self-exclusion. Look for these in the responsible gambling or account settings area of any licensed site.

If you cannot find these tools on a site, that may indicate a licensing or compliance issue. You can check operator licensing status on the UK Gambling Commission website.

About this site

Royal Wager Guide is a comparison website, not a gambling operator. We do not accept deposits or manage player accounts. If you have account or payment issues with an operator, contact the operator directly.

We include responsible gambling tool visibility as one of our editorial assessment criteria. Operators where these tools are difficult to find score lower in that category.