Responsible Gambling

At CasinoGam, we are committed to responsible gambling, and our content is explicitly for people aged 18 years and older. We acknowledge that our site covers non-GamStop casinos, though we do not recommend or endorse the idea of joining an online casino if you’re a registered GamStop user. 

The casinos we review are strictly for responsible gamblers who wish to check out sites that don’t have a UK licence. There are many safe casinos out there that exist outside of the UK and accept British players. They offer a different perspective to what you’re used to, but any casino outside GamStop will not follow UKGC player protection standards or regulations. 

Safer Gambling at Non-GamStop Casinos

As mentioned, our website reviews and covers casinos not on GamStop, which present several responsible gambling concerns for users: 

• No connection to the UKGC or UK gambling helplines
• Don’t work with self-exclusion schemes
• Accept potentially dangerous banking methods for users (credit cards & cryptocurrency)

The main problem lies in the lack of a UKGC licence, which typically enforces many responsible gambling practices on companies to ensure they provide users with tools and features to remain safe. Many of the casinos we cover have offshore licences, with the most common one being a CGA licence from the Curacao Gaming Authority. This offers some protection to players, but when compared with a UKGC licence, casinos are forced to do less.

Responsible Gambling Comparison

It’s also key to note that some non-GamStop casinos have no responsible gambling tools at all, and this happens when they’re unlicensed. We factor this into our rating when testing casinos – you can read more about it here.

Disclaimer: Do not join non-GamStop casinos if you’re registered with any self-exclusion scheme and are looking to get around or end your self-exclusion period. You should always let your exclusion run out naturally and take time to step away from gambling until you’re ready to return. 

Get Responsible Gambling Help & Advice

It’s important to know how to gamble responsibly, as well as what to look out for if you’re worried about developing a gambling problem. We’ve got a series of tips for you below, complete with contact details so you can get professional help and advice if necessary. 

How to Spot the Clear Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling doesn’t have to be a problem, but if you showcase any of the following signs, then it may be time to step away and seek help: 

• You struggle to pay bills due to gambling losses: You should only ever bet what you can afford to lose without it impacting your financial life. If you’re unable to pay your bills for the month, this is a serious sign that you need to stop. 
• Gambling takes over your social life: Do you find yourself spending less time with friends/family and more time on your phone or computer playing casino games or betting on sports? Gambling should be a small part of your life that you do for fun, but it shouldn’t take over. This is a sign that you’re in too deep and may have a gambling addiction. 
• You neglect key responsibilities: If you’re constantly late for work because you stayed up late gambling, or you forget to pick your child up from school, then these are major red flags for gambling problems. Never ever let gambling make you forget key life responsibilities. 
• You borrow money to gamble: This is a huge sign of a problem because you should never need to borrow money to use on casino games. It shows you’ve let gambling wreak havoc on your financial position, and something needs to stop. 
• You use gambling as an emotional crutch: Some people find that they’re happier when gambling, and this forces them to turn to it as an emotional crutch. You become dependent on it as your source of happiness, which is not healthy in the slightest. 
• You simply cannot stop: Most of all, if you feel the urge to gamble and can’t stop thinking about it, then you definitely have a problem and need immediate help. 

We also strongly recommend using GamCare’s Self-Assessment Tool as a way of discovering if your gambling is safe or not. It’s a quick assessment that gives you sixteen statements, and you click a number between 0-10 to say if this does or doesn’t apply to you. At the end of the assessment, GamCare will tell you if your gambling is safe or not and what needs to be done (if anything) to help you regain control. 

How To Stay Safe When Gambling

Staying safe when gambling is easy, as long as you follow these simple tips: 

• Set deposit & loss limits: This will let you restrict how much money you add to your account or force you to quit after losing too much money. It’s a fantastic way to control your spending while also ensuring you don’t chase your losses. 
• Implement session timers: Set timers to stop yourself from gambling for too long. You should avoid using online casinos or betting sites for more than an hour a day. The less you play, the more responsible you’ll be. 
• Create a budget: Treat gambling like other recreational activities and set a budget for it. You wouldn’t spend more than £100 on the cinema every month, so make sure you do the same for gambling. Some players will create separate bank accounts that they only use for gambling. This is a great idea as it keeps your money separate and forces you to stick to a budget. 
• Know when to cool off: If you start seeing some of the warning signs mentioned above creep into your habits, then it’s time to step away and cool off. Start by avoiding an online casino for a few days. If you continue to get the itch, consider implementing a self-exclusion so the casino blocks you from the site until further notice. 

Non-GamStop Responsible Gambling Help

The above tips are still relevant if you’re using casinos not on GamStop, though you must appreciate that many sites don’t have the same depth or responsible gambling tools as UKGC casinos. With that in mind, here are some additional tips to consider if you use this type of casino: 

• Only join licensed casinos: As mentioned earlier, casinos with a CGA licence are legally mandated to implement several responsible gambling features like deposit limits and self-exclusions. It’s always easier to remain safe if you join a licensed offshore site. 
• Set up external financial blocks: If you’re still having trouble staying away, then set up financial blocks through your bank. HSBC, Monzo, Starling, Lloyds and others will let you set up a gambling restriction on your account. This prevents you from using your card on any online gambling sites. 

Warning: We also strongly advise you to stay away from credit cards and cryptocurrency at casinos not on GamStop. These sites are able to offer both methods of payment, which are outlawed at UK-based casinos. Credit cards present a problem as you’re essentially using borrowed money, which goes against the very foundations of responsible gambling. Likewise, cryptocurrency is potentially dangerous because it creates additional risks by removing many of the safeguards put in place by traditional banking methods. 

GamStop & Gambling Blocking Software Explained

GamStop is a self-exclusion scheme established by the UK government to help players with gambling problems. It has been around since 2018, and the current UK Gambling Commission regulations stipulate that any online gambling or betting operator that’s registered in the UK and has a UK licence must also register with GamStop. 

In essence, this means players can sign up to GamStop and immediately self-exclude from hundreds of casinos and betting sites in one go. It’s seen as the ultimate gambling control tool because it removes the temptation to log into a casino and place bets when you need to take time away. 

A GamStop self-exclusion will last between 6 months and 5 years before it can be cancelled. If a user does not cancel their exclusion at the end of this minimum period, it will automatically renew for a further 7 years. 

Other Ways To Block Yourself From Gambling

The GamStop self-exclusion scheme is one of many ways to stop yourself from gambling by forcibly restricting access to sites. There are three popular blocking software options available that do a similar thing: 

• Gamban: Gamban is a globally available tool that you purchase a licence for and install on multiple devices. When done, this blocks you from thousands of online casinos and betting sites. Unlike GamStop, you won’t even be able to load the websites on your devices – it’s also extremely difficult to remove. 
• BetBlocker: BetBlocker is a Scottish charity that developed an app to block gambling websites on whatever device you install it on. It provides a high degree of flexibility, letting you set blocking periods whenever you want. You can even set a restriction in advance, which is useful if you know you have a tricky financial period coming up and cannot afford for gambling to be a distraction. 
• GamBlock: Like the previous two options, GamBlock prevents you from accessing online gambling platforms. You install it on one device at a time, though it does cost money to download. This is why more people prefer BetBlocker or Gamban. 

UK Helplines & Support Organisations for Problem Gambling

Never be afraid to reach out and talk to someone if you think you’ve got a gambling problem. Below are the most trusted helplines and organisations you should get in touch with: 

• GamCare – National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133)
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous UK (0330 094 0322)
• Gordon Moody (01384 241292)
• The Primary Care Gambling Service (0300 0300 111)
• Citizens Advice Bureau

You should also be well aware of the various debt-related charities and organisations out there that will help you if your gambling habits have caused devastating financial consequences: 

• StepChange (0800 138 1111)
• National Debtline (0808 808 4000)
• Breathing Space (Scheme provided by StepChange that gives short-term protection from creditors)

Help for Family & Friends of Problem Gamblers

If you’re reading this and you believe that a family member or friend exhibits the signs of problem gambling, then there are things you can do to help out – and organisations that exist to assist you in this difficult position. 

• The GamCare Online Community is a fantastic resource to help family members/friends of people with gambling problems. You’ll find chatrooms and others in your situation who can give guidance and advice on the best things to do. 
• Gam-Anon is very useful for people with partners who’ve been hit with gambling problems. It’s an anonymous group that educates you on compulsive gambling and provides advice on how to move forward and help your loved one. 

It’s also advisable that you take steps to protect the family finances in this situation, which may involve blocking a partner’s card or setting up the previously mentioned gambling blocks on shared accounts. 

Underage gambling prevention is also important for families, and many people recommend installing some type of gambling blocking software on family devices – especially those used by teenagers. You can also go into your internet service provider’s settings (or contact them directly) to set up Parental Controls that block gambling websites. 

Our Commitment To Responsible Gambling

As is written in our Editorial Policy, the CasinoGam writers put a huge emphasis on responsible gambling when creating our reviews and testing casinos. We place the most weight on responsible gambling during our scoring phases – and you’ll see a breakdown of this when reading a review. 

We also think it’s important for us to take a non-promotional approach to gambling. Yes, we know that our whole site is about online casinos, but we don’t encourage or force you to join any online casinos. You do so at your own risk, and we think it only makes sense to join a site if you have a healthy relationship with gambling.