We’ve all seen the adverts about “when the fun stops” or seen friends getting angry when their gaming and wagering seems to be getting a little out of hand.
Let’s be honest, not everyone can keep full control of the time and money they spend while gaming and betting online, so we need to have a closer look at what is in place to help punters ensure that your betting remains an enjoyable leisure pursuit and not a problem.
A 2025 Gambling Survey of all UK players found that 0.2-0.4% of all UK players rated in the “Problem Gambler” category and a further 2-3% were in the “Moderate Risk” bracket.
In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if these figures slightly underestimate the problem (a la people not being entirely straight with their GP when asked how much alcohol they drink…) but, either way, it would be folly to deny that there is a problem for a small but significant sector of the UK gambling community.
This has led to the creation and development of a series of Player Protection Tools (PPTs) as part of a wider “Know Your Customer” (KYC) drive among leading bookmakers and casinos.
The aim is to avoid the development of harmful betting patterns by interrupting the time players spend online and control the amount of money they spend.
Here’s a closer look at some of the key tools available to ALL punters.
1. Time-Outs
Time-outs allow you to set bespoke limits on the time you spend online. All UK casinos like Bet365, 10bet, and Betfred offer that. Starting at 24 hours, you can put a lock on all your betting and casino accounts. This can cover 48 hours, a week, all the way up to 6 weeks. This process is irreversible, so you won’t be able to access that account until the time expires, even if you contact Customer Service and plead your case!
The UK Gambling Commission has recently updated its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and these set out the requirements all licensees must meet in order to hold a Gambling Commission licence. Time-outs are at the heart of this latest missive and we fully encourage you to only use online casinos that subscribe to and offer this service.
2. Reality Checks
Reality Checks are different because they “pop-up” mid-session and demand attention from the player. This interruption has proved very effective at checking any potential compulsive gaming and is proving to be a crucial weapon in the Cooling-off armoury.
One of the problems that online gaming can cause is “dissociation”, which is when players lose track of the time they have been online and the total amount of money they have deposited.
A 2021 report by the organisation GambleAware found that when problem or potential-problem gamblers received a Reality Check every 20 minutes, that they were significantly likely to reduce both their bet size AND their session length.
This “bucket-of-water” or “splash-in-the-face” approach is clearly an effective strategy and one that all online bettors should be aware of.
3. Sessions Caps
Session Caps are set in advance and allow players to take control of their own betting BEFORE they have even placed their first bet. So, you can choose to limit each session to 30 minutes, 60 minutes or any other chosen period. Once this time has expired, you are automatically logged-out of that account and the session ends. It cannot restart until a similar period of time has passed.
Session Caps are an example of a “Cold State” solution, when tempers and emotions are still in check, as opposed to a “Hot State” decision, which can occur when emotions are heightened and judgement can be affected. These have already proved to reduce the length of each gaming session for “at-risk” players by between 20-30%.
However, some critics of this approach have suggested that Session Caps may be of limited effectiveness, due to low take-up and limited promotion by the Casinos themselves. In our opinion, though, Session Caps are still a welcome tool and one that should be available to all punters.
4. Gambling Budget Calculator
The Bet365 Budget Calculator helps players see whether their gambling spend fits within their monthly finances. In the example (unrealistic scenario), the user’s monthly income is £100, while outgoings (rent £100, utilities £50, loans £90) total £240.
On top of that, the user has entered a £1,000 monthly gambling spend. The tool clearly shows that spending outweighs income by £1,140, flagging that the monthly budget does not cover the combined outgoings and gambling. It’s a straightforward way to highlight overspending and encourage players to reflect on affordability.
5. Other Tools and Resources
Setting Deposit Limits is an obvious and useful tool for punters. Furthermore, most online bookmakers and casinos now INSIST that all users, old and new, set weekly and monthly limits on how much they are prepared to deposit.
This is often also accompanied by uploading proof-of-funds documents that show you have the means to support the stated limits.
Whilst these have not been enthusiastically supported by all corners of the industry, there is no doubting that “problem” and “at-risk” gamblers will find it much harder to play beyond their means with such tools in place.
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP is a free App that all players can download that will block you from accessing ALL online gambling companies licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This gives you the power to self-exclude for between 6 months and 5 years.
There is no option for reversing this exclusion, so it can prove to be a highly effective procedure. It also empowers all gamblers, problem or not, to take control of their own destiny and thus empower themselves.
There are a number of charities and organisations that dedicate themselves to helping “problem” and “at-risk” punters. GamCare provides information and advice (including a 24/7 National Gambling Helpline) for people affected by “gambling harms, including gamblers, their families, and friends”.
They operate across the entire UK, offering talking therapies, online resources and peer support services.
What is GambleAware
GambleAware are a leading independent charity concerned with gambling harms education, prevention, early intervention and treatment across Great Britain. They are staffed with experts from NHS and Public Health backgrounds and provide free help (via the phone and a Live Chat platform) for anyone who feels they need support.
In February 2024, the Government introduced new limits on the maximum permitted stake for slots users. Young Adults aged 18-24 now have a £2-per spin limit in place and all other adults have a £5-per spin limit. This is a significant step towards reducing the likelihood of any player racking up out-of-control losses in a short time period.
Finally, individual banks themselves offer Cooling-off periods that can be implemented by the account holder. Each bank has a slightly different set-up and rules will vary. Participating banks include Bank of Scotland, Barclays, HSBC, NatWest and PayPal.
Here is information on where to call when you develop a gambling problem.
