Wager Bulletin
Safer Gambling Tools
How GamStop, deposit limits and other UK-mandated protections work in practice.
UK-licensed operators must provide tools to help you control your gambling. These are not optional extras — they are regulatory requirements enforced by the Gambling Commission. Understanding how they work before you need them makes them easier to use when it matters.
GamStop
GamStop is a free self-exclusion service covering all UKGC-licensed online gambling operators. Register at gamstop.co.uk with your name, date of birth, email and postcode. Choose a minimum exclusion period of six months, one year, or five years. Once active, licensed sites must block your access. GamStop does not cover unlicensed offshore sites.
Deposit and loss limits
Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much you can deposit or lose. Decreases take effect immediately. Increases typically require a 24-hour cooling-off period — sometimes longer — before the higher limit applies. Net deposit limits (deposits minus withdrawals) are also available on some sites.
Session reminders and reality checks
Reality checks pop up at intervals you choose (e.g. every 30 or 60 minutes) showing how long you have been playing and your net position. Session timers can log you out automatically after a set duration. Both are configurable in account settings on licensed operators.
Time-outs and self-exclusion per operator
Individual operators offer cooling-off periods (24 hours to six weeks) and site-specific self-exclusion. These only affect that one operator. For blanket coverage across all UK-licensed sites, use GamStop instead.
Getting help
If tools alone are not enough, GamCare offers free confidential support on 0808 8020 133. GambleAware signposts to local treatment services. Neither organisation is affiliated with gambling operators.