We run Win as a place to play slots, live games and sports bets — and we want every session to stay something you choose, not something you feel you have to do. This page sets out the tools we offer to keep your play in check, the warning signs worth watching for, and where to get help in the UK when gambling stops feeling like entertainment.
Why staying in control matters
Gambling works as entertainment when you decide how much time and money go into it, and when losing a stake doesn't change your plans for the week. It stops working when you chase losses, when you play to fix a financial problem, or when the thought of not playing makes you anxious.
We see players every day who enjoy a few spins or a weekend bet without trouble. We also see the point where it tips over — the third deposit in a row funded by a credit card, the session that runs past bedtime on a work night, the win that gets staked again instead of withdrawn. Catching it early makes the difference.
Signs gambling is getting out of hand
These behaviours show up before the money runs out, and recognising one of them is not the same as admitting a problem — it is noticing that something has shifted and deciding to pull it back before it gets harder.
- Playing to win back yesterday's losses rather than for the game itself
- Depositing more than you meant to, or returning after you said you would stop
- Keeping your play or your stakes secret from the people you live with
- Using gambling to escape worry, boredom or low mood
- Borrowing money, using credit, or paying bills late to keep a balance available
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back
Questions worth asking yourself
A short self-check, answered honestly, tells you whether your play is still under your own control. These are not diagnostic — they are a prompt to think about what has changed.
- Have you ever lied to someone about how much you gamble or how much you have lost?
- Do you gamble to get money to pay debts or solve financial problems?
- Has gambling ever caused you to miss work, skip social plans, or neglect responsibilities at home?
- After losing, do you feel you must return as soon as possible to win it back?
- Do you gamble until your last pound is gone?
- Have arguments, frustrations or disappointments ever made you want to gamble?
- Have you borrowed money, sold anything, or done something illegal to finance gambling?
- Do you feel reluctant to use gambling money for anything else?
If you answered yes to several of these, it is worth talking to someone — one of the organisations below, or a GP.
Win's control tools
We offer two formal breaks, and both are applied immediately once you request them through your account settings or by writing to [email protected].
| Tool | What it does | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling-off period | Locks your account so you cannot deposit or play | 7 days |
| Self-exclusion | Closes your account entirely; you cannot reopen it during the exclusion | Minimum 6 months |
Neither break is reversible once applied — that is the point. The cooling-off week gives you breathing room without committing to a long break; self-exclusion is the stronger option when you know a week will not be enough.
We do not offer deposit limits, loss limits or session reminders through the account interface. If you need those controls, the blocking software below gives you that kind of granularity across every site you use.
Practical limits that work
Breaks and exclusions are the last line. Daily habits keep you ahead of that point, and the ones that actually help are concrete rather than aspirational.
- Decide the amount before you open the site, and withdraw anything left at the end rather than leaving it in the account
- Set a timer on your phone for the session length you planned — an hour, two hours, whatever fits the evening
- Keep gambling money separate from bill money; if this month's stake is gone by the 15th, the answer is to wait, not to move money across
- Use a debit card or e-wallet funded from your current account, never a credit card or a loan
- Take a day off every week where you do not log in at all, whether you are winning or not
Where to get help in the UK
Free, confidential support is available whether you are trying to stop, trying to cut back, or just trying to work out whether you need to. None of these services judge, and none of them report to anyone.
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The call is free from mobiles and landlines, and the line is staffed by trained advisers who understand gambling harm. You can also reach them online at gamcare.org.uk for live chat and email support.
BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) provides information, tools and direct referrals to treatment services across England, Scotland and Wales. Their site includes a self-assessment quiz, budgeting tools, and a directory of local counselling services.
GamStop (gamstop.co.uk) is a free national self-exclusion scheme that locks you out of every UK-licensed gambling site for a period you choose — 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Registration takes a few minutes and applies across all operators at once. Win is licensed in Anjouan and is not part of the GamStop network, so if you are excluding from UK-licensed sites you will need to self-exclude from us separately by contacting support.
Gordon Moody (gordonmoody.org.uk) provides residential treatment programmes for people whose gambling has caused serious harm, as well as online group therapy and one-to-one counselling. Their residential programme lasts between 8 and 12 weeks and is free to access.
Blocking software
Gamban (gamban.com) is paid blocking software that prevents access to gambling sites and apps across all your devices — phone, tablet, laptop and desktop. It runs in the background, cannot be uninstalled without a cooling-off period, and blocks tens of thousands of sites worldwide. A subscription costs around £20–£25 for the first year.
BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is a free, open-source alternative that works across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. It blocks gambling sites and apps, and once installed it requires a 24-hour to 5-year cooling-off period before you can remove it.
Protecting minors
You must be 18 or over (18+) to hold an account or place a bet. If you share a device with someone under 18, consider installing parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio to prevent them accessing gambling sites. Both services let you block categories of content by age, and both work across phones, tablets and computers.
If you have questions about the tools above or need help activating a break, write to [email protected] and we will walk you through it.
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore. If it has stopped feeling that way, the numbers and links above are there to use — and using them early is easier than waiting until the problem is larger.
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+) only. If gambling ever stops feeling like a choice, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.