Safer Gambling

Please Always Bet Responsibly

We believe strongly that betting should be fun. If this isn't the case for you, then you should stop. If you are concerned about the amount of time or money that you, or someone you know, is spending gambling, there are a number of organisations that may be able to help.

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Set A Monthly Bet Budget

Set a monthly budget before you spend. You should never bet more than you can afford to lose. Here at CompareTheLotto.com we’ve created a Bet Budget Calculator so you can work out your monthly budget.

View Bet Budget Calculator

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Safer Gambling Tools: On The Bookmakers

Each Lottery Operator or bookmaker you bet with will have various tools to make it easier to manage your betting.

These tools make it less likely to lose control in the heat of the moment.

Some common tools include:

• Deposit Limits: Set a limit on the maximum amount of money you can deposit into your account on a daily, weekly or monthly basis
• Reality Check: Receive a notification when you have been playing for a certain amount of time. For example, if you’ve been playing a slot game for over 1 hour, show a notification
• Time Limits: Set the maximum amount of time you can stay logged in to a betting site
• Max Stake Limit: Limit the maximum amount you can stake on one bet.
• Deposit Curfew: You can set a limit to when you’re allowed to deposit money into your account - for example, you could limit deposits to only be during day time hours or only Monday - Friday.
• Time Out: You can take a time out from your betting account - for example, for one day, one week or one month. During this time you won’t be able to login, deposit money or place any bets, however, once the time out is over your account will still be there.
• Self Exclusion: All bookmakers have to allow users to self-exclude. This means you are closing your account permanently and will no longer be able to login, deposit money or place bets.

Setting the above will need to be done with the bookmaker or lottery operator you bet with. Here are links to the Responsible Gambling sections with some of the bookmakers popular with CompareTheLotto.com users:

1. Betfred Responsible Gambling
2. bet365 Responsible Gambling
3. Boyle Sports Responsible Gambling
4. Ladbrokes Responsible Gambling
5. Coral Responsible Gambling

Safer Gambling Tools: Social Media

Are you concerned with the amount of gambling information you are seeing across social media? The majority of social networks include settings to hide gambling information from you. Currently, the social networks offering this include X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. See this guide for how to block gambling content on each platform.

Safer Gambling Tools: Online

There are various tools available that block access to gambling websites and attempt to limit the amount of gambling marketing you see. There are currently three different tools recommended by Safer Gambling:

• BetBlocker
• Gamban
• GamBlock

BetBlocker, for example, blocks access to 15,000 gambling-related websites.

Safer Gambling Tools: Your Bank

Did you know, the majority of large banks in the UK allow you to block gambling payments coming out of your account? For a full list of establishments offering this service, see this Gambling Commission page. The link also includes links to setup guides for each bank.

Safer Gambling Tools: Self-Exclude

If you would like to ban yourself from all UK bookmakers you can use the free government-backed service of GamStop. For more information on how this works, see video below:

Who Can You Talk to if You're Concerned?

If you need to talk confidentially about your gambling and are unsure where to start, we would recommend calling the Gambling Helpline - it’s free, confidential and open 24/7. The numbers to call are:

• GB 0808 8020 133
• IRL 1800 936 725
• NI 08000 886 725

Or, if you prefer, you can contact GamCare Live Chat here.

Here are Safer Gambling organisations in other countries:

  United Kingdom

⟩  gamcare.org.uk

HelpLines (Phone and Web Chat). You can talk in confidence to GamCare advisers free of charge over the phone or online. They are available 8am - midnight, seven days a week.

HelpLine: Freephone 0808 8020 133 (Available for anyone living in England, Scotland and Wales)

⟩  begambleaware.org

GambleAware is a leading charity in Britain committed to minimising gambling-related harm.

⟩  gamblersanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people who have a gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.

  Ireland

⟩  gambleaware.ie

GambleAware is Ireland's national organisation devoted to increasing awareness, improving education and funding treatment for problem gambling.

⟩  gamblingcare.ie

The main aim of GamblingCare.ie is to broaden public understanding of responsible gambling and to help those that do develop problems, or know someone that has developed a gambling problem to get the support and help that they need quickly and effectively.

⟩  gamblingawarenesstrust.ie

Gambling Awareness Trust is an Independent charity setup to fund research, education and treatment services to help minimise gambling related harm in Ireland.