BookiePayout
Menu

Responsible gambling and support

By BookiePayout editorial teamUpdated Facts checked Report a correction
Short answer

Gambling is for adults only. If it is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available any time: in England and Scotland call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, and in Wales call 0808 2819 265. Northern Ireland options are below.

Talk to someone

  • England and Scotland: the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone, live chat or WhatsApp.12
  • Wales: the NHS Wales gambling helpline is free on 0808 2819 265, 24 hours a day. Adults can also refer themselves for treatment on 0300 0859 464.3
  • Northern Ireland: nidirect lists gambling support on 0808 8020 133 and Dunlewey Addiction Services on 08000 886 725, both free.4
  • England: the NHS runs specialist gambling treatment clinics; you can refer yourself or ask your GP.5
  • Money worries: National Debtline (08088 084000) and StepChange (0800 138 1111) offer free debt advice, and Samaritans (116 123) is there 24 hours a day.1

Stop or limit gambling

  • GAMSTOP lets you exclude yourself from online gambling websites and apps run by businesses licensed in Great Britain, for 6 months to 5 years. It cannot be cancelled during the period you choose.67 GAMSTOP says it generally activates within 24 hours but cannot guarantee this.7
  • Betting shops: GAMSTOP Betting Shops lets you exclude from several bookmakers in your area by calling 0800 294 2060.8
  • Single bookmaker: every gambling business must also offer its own self-exclusion.9
  • Bank gambling blocks: many banks let you block gambling payments on your debit card or account; the Gambling Commission lists banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling.10 Blocks differ: NatWest says its card block does not stop bank transfers, open banking or e-wallet payments,11 and turning a block off usually takes a cooling-off period, such as 72 hours at Barclays.12
  • Wallet blocks: PayPal and Revolut offer their own gambling blocks with cooling-off periods when switched off.1314
  • Blocking software such as Gamban can block gambling websites and apps on your devices.15

If you self-exclude, your money comes back

When you self-exclude with a bookmaker, it must close your account and return the money in it; stopping withdrawals while still taking bets is not enough.16 Our guide to money left after account closure or self-exclusion explains how to ask for it without reopening anything.

About BookiePayout and gambling

BookiePayout explains how payments work. It does not encourage gambling, offer bets or promote bonuses, and the help and support pages on this site never carry links to open betting accounts. You must be 18 or over to gamble in the UK.

Sources

Each number links to the page we checked. We keep a dated copy of every source for our records; the operator's live page may have changed since.

  1. Organisations that can help Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.
  2. What support do we provide? GamCare. checked 19 October 2026.
  3. Get gambling help, advice and support GambleAware. checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Gambling nidirect. checked 19 October 2026.
  5. Help for problems with gambling NHS. checked 19 October 2026.
  6. About Gamstop Online GAMSTOP (The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited). checked 19 October 2026.
  7. Terms of Use GAMSTOP (The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited). checked 19 October 2026.
  8. Free multi operator and national self-exclusion schemes Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.
  9. Self-exclusion Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.
  10. Block gambling payments with your bank Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.
  11. Managing your gambling NatWest. checked 19 October 2026.
  12. How do I block payments to a certain type of merchant Barclays. checked 19 October 2026.
  13. What is PayPal Gambling Block? PayPal UK Ltd. checked 19 October 2026.
  14. How does the gambling block work? Revolut. checked 19 October 2026.
  15. View playing history and restrict or block gambling activity Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.
  16. LCCP 3.5.3 - Self-exclusion remote SR code Gambling Commission. checked 19 October 2026.