Responsible online poker in Great Britain: limits, GAMSTOP and support

Set limits before play

Decide a money limit and a time limit while you are not in the middle of a session. Licensed online operators must provide accessible financial-limit facilities. A request to reduce a customer-led limit should take effect immediately unless a technical failure prevents it, while an increase requires a cooling-off process.

Warning signs to act on

• Depositing more than planned or using money needed elsewhere.
• Chasing losses or playing longer to recover a result.
• Hiding activity from family or repeatedly breaking limits.
• Borrowing to play or treating poker as required income.
• Feeling anxious, angry or unable to stop.

Take a break at the first sign that play is no longer controlled. Do not use a different room to work around a limit or exclusion.

What GAMSTOP does

GAMSTOP is the national online self-exclusion scheme for gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain. It compares registration details with those used at operators. Once registered, a person should be prevented from gambling through existing accounts or opening new ones with participating licensed businesses for the chosen exclusion period. Keeping personal details current helps the matching process.

Get support early

The Gambling Commission's safer-gambling directory points to confidential treatment, advice and support services, including help for relatives and friends. Urgent financial or mental-health concerns need appropriate professional support; a poker comparison site is not a substitute.

PokerSignup's role

PokerSignup does not promise that a particular format is profitable and does not rank rooms according to the highest affiliate payment. Commercial links remain separate from editorial review, and access to limits, exclusions and support should always be easy to find.