Responsible gambling help: free lines, limits and self-exclusion

Betting should cost you what a night out costs: money you’ve already decided to spend, and no more. Everything on this site is an opinion about a game, not a way to earn a living. If it has stopped being fun, or you’re betting to win back what you lost, the services below are free and confidential.

This site is for adults only: 18+, or 21+ where your law requires it.

Free help, by country

Country	Service	Phone / web
United Kingdom	GamCare, National Gambling Helpline	0808 8020 133 · gamcare.org.uk
United States	National Problem Gambling Helpline	1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
Canada (Ontario)	ConnexOntario	1-866-531-2600
Australia	Gambling Help Online	1800 858 858
Ireland	GamblingCare.ie, National Helpline	1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie
Romania	Joc Responsabil	0800 800 099 · jocresponsabil.ro

If your country isn’t listed, your doctor or a local addiction service can point you to help near you. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

Signs it has stopped being fun

• Betting to win back money you lost yesterday.
• Staking money that was meant for rent, bills or food.
• Hiding how much you bet from people close to you.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you can’t bet.
• Borrowing money, or selling things, to bet.
• Needing bigger stakes to feel the same buzz.

Two of these is enough to make the call. It costs nothing, and nobody will judge you.

Limits that actually work

• Set the budget before you open the app. Decide the amount for the week, and treat it as spent. When it’s gone, you’re done.
• Use deposit limits. Licensed bookmakers have them in the account settings. Set them on a calm day, not after a loss.
• Never chase. A losing day isn’t a debt the next bet owes you.
• Keep betting money separate. A separate card or e-wallet makes the real total hard to ignore.
• Don’t bet drunk, tired or upset. Those are the bets you regret.
• Take breaks. A week off costs you nothing. If a week off feels impossible, that’s the sign.

Tools that block you from betting

• GAMSTOP blocks you from every online gambling site and app licensed in Great Britain in one step. You choose six months, one year or five years.
• BetStop, Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register, is free and blocks you from all licensed Australian online and phone gambling providers.
• Self-exclusion at the bookmaker. Licensed operators let you close or freeze your own account. Look in the account settings, or ask support.
• Your bank. Many banks let you switch off gambling payments on your card from their app.
• Blocking software on your phone and computer stops gambling sites from loading at all. GamCare explains the options.
• In Romania, Joc Responsabil explains the self-exclusion options offered by licensed operators and by the regulator, ONJN.

Use these before you need them. They’re easier to set up on a good day.

Featured tool

If you want to stop gambling or cut down, Bye Bet: Quit Gambling Tracker is an app for iPhone and Android that tracks your progress day by day. It’s free to download and has in-app purchases. You can get Bye Bet on the App Store or Bye Bet on Google Play. An app doesn’t replace a helpline: if gambling is hurting you, contact one of the free services above.

What this site does, and doesn’t

• It shows an 18+ notice on every page.
• It describes bookmakers; it never promotes them. No bonus codes, no welcome offers.
• It takes no bets, holds no money, and earns nothing from any bet you place.
• It never promises a profit. Predictions are opinions, and the best tipster in the world still has losing months.

Worried about someone else?

GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline also support partners, family and friends. You don’t need the other person’s permission to ask for advice.

See also the terms of use and the privacy policy.