AI Safer gambling · Updated 22 Aug 2026
Safer Gambling at New UK Bookmakers
Betting should stay a small, paid-for bit of fun. This page covers the warning signs, the controls every licensed bookmaker has to give you, and where to get free help in the UK.
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Keeping betting in proportion
Most people who bet do so for entertainment: a few pounds on the weekend football, a flutter on a big race. The trouble starts when betting stops being something you choose to spend a little money on and becomes something you feel you have to do. New bookmakers are especially good at grabbing attention, with sign-up offers, free bets and app notifications all designed to bring you back. None of that is a reason to avoid them, but it is a reason to set your own rules before you open an account.
A simple test helps. Decide in advance how much you can afford to lose this month, treat that sum as the price of the entertainment, and stop when it is gone. If you would be upset or in trouble losing that amount, the number is too high. Free bets and sign-up offers do not change this: they are marketing, and the qualifying stake still comes out of your own pocket.
Signs that betting is causing harm
Gambling harm rarely arrives all at once. It tends to creep in, and the people around you may notice it before you do. Watch for these signs in yourself or someone close to you:
- betting more than you planned, or more often, to get the same feeling
- chasing losses, telling yourself the next bet will win it back
- borrowing money, using savings meant for bills, or selling things to keep betting
- hiding how much you bet or lying about where money has gone
- feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not betting
- betting late at night, at work, or when you should be doing something else
- arguments with family or friends about money or time spent gambling
If two or three of these sound familiar, it is worth acting now. That might mean setting tighter limits, taking a break, or talking to one of the free services listed further down this page.
The tools every UKGC licensee must offer
Every bookmaker licensed by the UK Gambling Commission has to give you ways to manage your gambling. This applies equally to a brand that launched this year and to the oldest names on the high street. The rules also protect you in ways you may not see: age and identity checks have been required before you deposit since May 2019, and credit cards have been banned for gambling since April 2020.
Deposit limits
A deposit limit caps how much you can put into your account over a day, a week or a month. It is the single most useful control because it works before the money reaches the betting slip. Reducing a limit should apply straight away, while increasing one usually comes with a waiting period so that the decision is not made in the heat of the moment.
Time-outs
A time-out locks your account for a short spell, from a day up to several weeks depending on the operator. It suits the moment when you notice you are betting on impulse and want a clean break without closing anything permanently.
Reality checks
A reality check is a pop-up that appears at set intervals to tell you how long you have been logged in and, at many sites, how much you have won or lost in that session. It sounds minor, but time passes quickly on an app, and a reminder every thirty or sixty minutes interrupts the flow.
Self-exclusion and GamStop
Self-exclusion closes your account for a fixed period, typically six months or longer, and the bookmaker should stop sending you marketing. If you want to block all licensed sites at once, GamStop does that in a single step at gamstop.co.uk. Participation in GamStop is a licence condition for operators licensed by the Commission, so new bookmakers are part of the scheme from the day they take UK customers.
Setting up controls at a new bookmaker
The best time to set limits is during registration, before the first deposit and before any welcome offer has a chance to shape your thinking. Most new sites ask about deposit limits during sign-up; if they do not, look for a section called Safer Gambling, Responsible Gambling or Account Limits in your account menu.
A sensible routine for any new account:
- Set a monthly deposit limit that matches your entertainment budget.
- Switch on reality checks at an interval that suits you.
- Turn off marketing emails, texts and push notifications you do not want.
- Read the welcome offer terms so the qualifying bet does not push you past your own limit.
- Note where the time-out and self-exclusion options sit, so you can find them quickly later.
When we review bookmakers for our comparison of new betting sites, we look at the offer and the licence detail. Our rating method explains what we score, and the new bookmakers tracker shows which companies have recently been licensed. If you are unsure whether a site is properly regulated, our guide on whether new betting sites are safe walks through the checks.
Blocking software
Self-exclusion and GamStop work at the operator level. Blocking software adds another layer by stopping your phone, tablet or computer from loading gambling websites and apps at all, including sites outside the GamStop scheme. Several paid and free products exist, and some banks also let you block gambling transactions on your debit card from within their app. Combining a device block, a card block and GamStop makes it much harder to act on a sudden urge.
Free UK support services
You do not need to reach a crisis point to ask for help. These services are free and confidential:
- GambleAware at gambleaware.org, which runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133
- GamCare at gamcare.org.uk, offering support and advice for anyone affected by gambling
- GamStop at gamstop.co.uk, the free self-exclusion scheme covering licensed UK sites
- Gamblers Anonymous UK, peer support groups for people who want to stop gambling
- Gordon Moody, specialist support for people experiencing severe gambling harm
Talking to someone
Saying it out loud is often the hardest step. It might be a friend, a partner, a family member or a helpline adviser; what matters is that you are not carrying it alone. If you are worried about someone else, start with what you have noticed and avoid blame. Questions such as “how are you finding things at the moment?” tend to open a conversation, while a list of accusations closes it. The support services above also help family members and friends, so you can call them about someone else’s gambling as well as your own.
Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org 18+
Need to talk to someone?
National Gambling Helpline. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day.
Tools every UK licensed bookmaker must offer:
- Deposit limits
- Time-outs
- Reality checks
- Self-exclusion and GamStop
Do new betting sites have to offer deposit limits?
Yes. Every bookmaker licensed by the UK Gambling Commission has to give customers ways to control their gambling, and deposit limits are part of that. A brand that launched last month carries the same duties as one that has traded for decades.
What is the difference between a time-out and self-exclusion?
A time-out is a short break from one bookmaker, after which the account can reopen. Self-exclusion is a longer block, usually measured in months or years, and the operator should not let you back in or market to you while it runs.
Does GamStop cover brand new bookmakers?
GamStop participation is a licence condition for operators licensed by the Gambling Commission, so a newly licensed UK bookmaker should be covered. If you can open an account while registered with GamStop, stop and report it.
Can I raise my deposit limit straight away?
Lowering a limit normally takes effect at once. Requests to raise a limit are usually subject to a cooling-off delay before they apply, so check the exact rules in the responsible gambling section of the bookmaker you use.
Is there a free number I can call?
The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, and GambleAware lists further support at gambleaware.org. You do not need to be in crisis to call; worrying about your own betting or someone else's is reason enough.
Can I use a credit card to gamble with a new bookmaker?
No. Credit card gambling has been banned in Great Britain since April 2020, so no licensed bookmaker, new or established, can accept a credit card deposit.