Responsible Gaming
Gambling Should Be Entertainment
At Child Poverty Solutions, we're committed to promoting responsible gambling practices. It's important to understand that gambling should only ever be viewed as entertainment, similar to going to the cinema or watching live sports. Betting should never be considered a way to earn money or solve financial problems.
Always gamble within your means and only with money you can afford to lose. If you're struggling to control your gambling, help is available.
Age Verification
All gambling operators in the UK must verify that players are aged 18 years or over before allowing them to participate in any betting activity. This is a legal requirement and a crucial safeguard for young people.
If you're under 18, gambling is not permitted and can cause serious harm to your development and wellbeing.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually. If you recognise any of the following signs in yourself or someone you know, it may be time to seek help:
- Gambling with larger amounts of money than intended
- Constantly thinking about gambling or past gambling experiences
- Needing to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve the same excitement
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to reduce or stop gambling
- Chasing losses by returning another day to try to win back lost money
- Hiding the extent of your gambling from family or friends
- Using gambling to escape problems, anxiety, or negative emotions
- Borrowing money to fund gambling activities
- Neglecting work, education, or relationships due to gambling
- Failed attempts to cut back or quit gambling
- Experiencing relationship strain because of gambling habits
- Financial difficulties caused by gambling losses
Self-Help Tools and Controls
Most licensed UK betting operators provide tools to help you maintain control over your gambling:
- Deposit Limits: Set a maximum amount you're willing to deposit within a specific timeframe (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Loss Limits: Set a limit on the amount you're willing to lose during a session or period
- Reality Checks: Enable pop-up reminders during play sessions to help you stay aware of time and money spent
- Time-Outs: Take a temporary break from gambling with a cooling-off period ranging from 24 hours to several weeks
- Self-Exclusion: Completely close your account for a set period or permanently, preventing access to betting sites
These tools are designed to help you maintain control. Speak to your betting operator about what options are available on their platform.
Support Organisations
If you need help with problem gambling, the following organisations provide free, confidential support:
United Kingdom
- GamCare – Free counselling and support for problem gamblers and their families
www.gamcare.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 8020 133 (Free, confidential, 24/7) - GamStop – National self-exclusion scheme for online gambling in Great Britain
www.gamstop.co.uk - National Problem Gambling Clinic – NHS-funded specialist treatment service
Telephone: 0203 469 0194 - Gamblers Anonymous – Support meetings and peer assistance
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
International Support
- Australia: Gambling Help Online
www.gamblinghelponline.org.au - Canada: Responsible Gambling Council
www.responsiblegambling.org - United States: National Council on Problem Gambling
www.ncpgambling.org
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) - Germany: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA)
www.bzga.de
Need Help? Reach Out Today
If you're concerned about your gambling or that of someone close to you, please don't hesitate to contact one of the support organisations listed above. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the UK.
Remember: Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Recovery is possible, and support is always available.