Gambling of any kind should be both fun and safe. It’s really important that players enjoy gambling while being in total control of their thoughts, feelings and finances at all times. Playing responsibly helps players to keep that control, and it’s something that we strongly recommend for ALL gamblers.

The primary goal of Casino-Professor.com is to help players find a safe and fun online gambling experience. In the UK, we only partner with online casinos that have a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. This licence requires all operators to help combat problem gambling and protect children or other vulnerable people by implementing a variety of strict measures ( Licence conditions and codes of practice – Part 2, Section 3 ).

However, people can and do get addicted to gambling. If you are experiencing any problems, issues, or doubts while gambling then you should stop immediately. There are tools and websites where you can get help and more information which we have listed below.

How to gamble responsibly

Every gambler is strongly encouraged to gamble responsibly to help keep things fun and safe. A few tips on how to do that are:

• Do not think of gambling as a source of income
• Decide how long you want to play before starting – and switch on reality checks if playing online to keep to that time
• Decide how much money you want to play with before starting
• NEVER gamble with money you cannot afford to lose
• Set deposit limits to prevent you from depositing more money than planned
• Do not try and recoup any losses
• Take breaks regularly
• Do not play when under the influence of alcohol or otherwise intoxicated
• Do not play when stressed, anxious or in any other distressed mood
• ONLY play at licenced casinos in the UK

Take a time out

If you think you are gambling too much, stop and take a break. The Gambling Commission has made it compulsory for all online gambling operators to offer a time-out feature. This prevents you from playing at that website for a set period of time – usually 24 hours, one week, one month, or any period reasonably requested up to six weeks.

If you think you have a gambling problem, stop and look for help immediately.

Gambling problem? Spot the signs

It’s not always easy to spot if you, or someone else, has a gambling problem. Part of the reason for that is because it’s often seen as a “hidden addiction”, with no obvious physical effects.

Here are a few signs that could indicate that someone has or is developing a problem with gambling:

• Spending more time and money gambling
• Playing over your limits
• Not gambling for fun
• Chasing losses
• Missing commitments or appointments
• Borrowing money to gamble
• Getting into debt
• Lying about gambling habits
• Problems with family or friends due to gambling
• Feeling guilty, stressed, anxious, depressed or being otherwise distressed due to gambling

If any of the above applies to you, stop immediately and seek help. The faster any problem is addressed the better.

Take a test (Anonymous!)

To help understand if you might have a gambling problem, you can take tests online to quickly see the results. Both of these are free, anonymous and can be completed within a matter of minutes.

• BeGambleAware
• GamCare

Responsible gambling tools

If you think you have a problem, there are a variety of tools that can help.

Self-Exclude

All gambling operators in the UK need a licence from the Gambling Commission. As part of that licence, the Gambling Commission requires operators to allow gamblers to self-exclude if they choose to.

However, exactly how you self-exclude depends on the gambling business itself. Here are a few of the most common options:

• Online gambling – Gamstop : It is mandatory for online gambling operators in the UK to offer Gamstop. This will prevent you from playing at all licenced websites once the self-exclusion is confirmed.
• Betting shops – MOSES : The multi-operator self-exclusion scheme (MOSES) allows gamblers to self-exclude from betting shops in the UK. However, this scheme does require gamblers to keep self-excluding themselves to work effectively.
• Land-based casinos – SENSE : The self-enrolment national self-exclusion (SENSE) scheme is operated by the Betting and Gaming Council for land-based casinos in the UK. Once signed up, your details will be shared with all the participating land-based casinos to ensure your self-exclusion is enforced.

Find more information on how to self-exclude .

Problem Gambling Support

There are many different websites, programs and tools where you can find help for your problem gambling. Here are some of the most prominent for UK residents:

• BeGambleAware – Get free and confidential help and support about your gambling or someone else’s gambling via telephone or live chat, 24/7. The website also offers tips on safer gambling, gambling problems, and more.
• GamCare – Contact the National Gambling Helpline via telephone or live chat for free, 24/7. You can also engage in group chats and access the GamCare forum for further support from people in a similar situation, amongst other options of support.
• NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic – Available for people living in England and Wales, the National Problem Gambling Clinic treats problem gamblers as well as partners and family members.
• Gam-Anon – Support for people who have been affected by someone else’s problem gambling, with regular meetings taking place.
• Gamblers Anonymous – Support for people across England, Wales and Ulster who have a compulsive gambling problem. Regular meetings across the regions.
• Gordon Moody Association – A unique and residential treatment for severely addicted gamblers in the UK.

You can find more help and support listed on the Gambling Commission .

Block gambling websites

It’s also possible to block access to gambling websites using certain online tools:

• Gamban – Blocks access to thousands of gambling websites and apps on multiple devices, such as computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Includes a 7-day free trial.
• GamBlock – Use analyses to block gambling sites and apps across devices. Available as a single-use licence or multiple.

Underage gambling

Underage gambling is against the law. In the UK, only people aged 18 or over can gamble in most premises – including at online casinos.

In line with the Gambling Commission’s licence, all UK online gambling operators must verify the identity of new players when they sign up. One of the three main reasons for this is to check that the person is old enough to gamble. If the age cannot be verified to be 18 or over, the person will not be allowed to play. At Casino Professor , we only partner with casinos in the UK that are licenced by the Gambling Commission and have this strict process in place.