# Playing live? Help, limits and self-exclusion in one place > Free help with gambling, how limits and Gamstop self-exclusion work, blocking tools and the 18+ rule. No adverts or operator links on this page. Source: https://seatcheck.uk/responsible-gambling/ Updated: 2026-11-13 Gambling is for adults aged 18 or over and carries risk. If it is causing you worry, free and confidential help is available: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day. You can also block your accounts with Gamstop, set limits or take a break. This page carries no adverts and no operator links. ## Get help now National Gambling Helpline (GamCare)0808 8020 133. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, with chat and WhatsApp as well as phone. Source: GamCare, checked 6 November 2026. Samaritans116 123, if you are in distress. In an emergency, call 999. Both are named on the GamCare page. GambleAware[gambleaware.org](https://www.gambleaware.org/) offers support to people living in Great Britain. GamCare[gamcare.org.uk](https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/) lists ways to talk to someone now. **In short:** call 0808 8020 133 at any hour; it is free and confidential. ## Signs to notice Ask yourself honestly: - Do I play for longer or spend more than I planned? - Do I try to win back what I have lost? - Do I hide how much I gamble from people close to me? - Do I feel anxious or irritable when I cannot play? - Am I using gambling to escape worries or to fix money problems? Gambling is not a way to solve money problems or to make a living. If several answers are yes, talk to the helpline or someone you trust. **In short:** if you recognise these signs, pause and talk to someone. ## Gamstop: block your accounts Gamstop is a free national self-exclusion scheme. It blocks your online gambling accounts with companies licensed in Great Britain. Participation is required for remote licensees under Gambling Commission rule SR 3.5.5. - Choose a period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, or 5 years with automatic renewal. - A block can take up to 24 hours to take effect. - You cannot cancel it during the period you chose. - When the period ends, the block stays until you ask Gamstop to lift it. - It is for people living in the UK. Register at [gamstop.co.uk](https://www.gamstop.co.uk/register). Our step-by-step page is [registering with Gamstop](https://seatcheck.uk/register-with-gamstop/). **In short:** Gamstop is free, covers licensed sites and cannot be cancelled once chosen. ## Limits, reality checks and time-outs Licensed operators must give you responsible gambling tools. They include deposit limits, time-outs and reality checks. Set a deposit limit before your first hand, not after a bad session. See [setting a deposit limit](https://seatcheck.uk/set-deposit-limit-before-you-play/) and [safety tools at the table](https://seatcheck.uk/safety-tools-at-the-table/). A time-out is a short break you choose; self-exclusion is a longer block. A limit only works if you set it at an amount you can afford to lose. **In short:** set limits first, and use a time-out when you need a break. ## Other ways to block gambling - BetBlocker is a free blocking app. - Gamban is a blocking app that is paid after a trial period. - Many banks let you block gambling payments on your account. - In person, MOSES covers betting shops, SENSE covers casinos and BISES covers bingo. GambleAware describes these options on its page about [blocking and self-exclusion](https://www.gambleaware.org/tools-and-support/gambling-blocking-and-self-exclusion/). **In short:** apps and bank blocks add a second layer to Gamstop. ## Age and the law You must be 18 or over to gamble online at a casino. Under the Gambling Act 2005 it is an offence to invite, cause or permit a child or young person to gamble. Operators must check your age before you deposit or play. For a wider guide to staying in control at a table, read [staying in control at a live blackjack table](https://seatcheck.uk/safer-live-play/). Questions about this page can go through [contact](https://seatcheck.uk/contact/); who runs the site is on [about this site](https://seatcheck.uk/about/). **In short:** 18+ only; no operator links appear on this page.