Responsible Gambling

Follow these guidelines to keep gambling fun and safe:

• Only gamble what you can afford to lose
• Set a budget before you start and stick to it
• Set time limits for your gambling sessions
• Never chase your losses
• Don't gamble when you're upset, depressed, or under the influence
• Take regular breaks
• Keep gambling in balance with other activities
• Don't borrow money to gamble
• Treat gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money
• Use bookmaker tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, and session reminders

Problem gambling can affect anyone regardless of age, background, or income level. It often develops gradually and may not be immediately obvious to the person affected or those around them. Watch out for these warning signs in yourself or someone you know:

• Spending more money or time gambling than you can afford
• Having arguments with family or friends about gambling
• Lying about how much you gamble or hiding gambling activity
• Neglecting work, school, or family obligations because of gambling
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
• Feeling guilty, anxious, or depressed about gambling
• Trying to win back losses by gambling more (chasing losses)
• Finding it hard to stop or control your gambling even when you want to
• Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness or stress
• Needing to bet with increasing amounts of money to achieve the same excitement
• Becoming restless or irritable when attempting to cut down on gambling

If you recognise any of these signs, it does not mean you are a bad person. Problem gambling is a recognised condition and effective help is available. The most important step is reaching out for support. Contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for free, confidential advice available around the clock.

All UK-licensed bookmakers are required by the Gambling Commission to offer a range of responsible gambling tools. These tools are designed to help you stay in control of your betting activity and should be used proactively, not just when problems arise.

Available tools include:

• Deposit Limits: Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much you can deposit into your betting account. Once the limit is reached, you cannot deposit more until the next period.
• Loss Limits: Cap the total amount you can lose in a given period. This prevents runaway losses during a bad run of results.
• Session Time Limits: Set reminders or automatic logouts after a specified period of continuous play to prevent extended gambling sessions.
• Reality Checks: Receive pop-up notifications at regular intervals showing how long you have been gambling and your net position (wins minus losses).
• Cooling-Off Periods: Take a short break from gambling, typically 24 hours to 6 weeks, during which your account is suspended.
• Self-Exclusion: Voluntarily ban yourself from a bookmaker for a set period, usually 6 months or longer.

We strongly recommend setting deposit limits when you first open any betting account. It is much easier to set limits before you begin betting than to try to impose them after a losing session. Consider setting a weekly betting budget that you would be comfortable losing entirely, and set your deposit limit to match this amount.

If you feel your gambling is getting out of control, self-exclusion is one of the most effective steps you can take. Self-exclusion means voluntarily banning yourself from gambling services for a set period. During this time, the gambling operator must close your account, return any balance, and refuse to accept any bets from you.

GamStop is a free service that lets you self-exclude from all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. You can choose to self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Once registered, all participating operators are notified and must take reasonable steps to prevent you from gambling with them.

How GamStop works:

• Register at gamstop.co.uk with your personal details
• Choose your exclusion period (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years)
• All UK-licensed online gambling companies are notified
• Your accounts are closed and you cannot open new ones
• Marketing communications from these operators will stop

For betting shops and land-based casinos, MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme) allows you to self-exclude from all bookmaker shops in your area. Speak to staff at any licensed betting shop to begin the process.

If you are concerned about someone else's gambling, you are not alone. Problem gambling affects families, friends, and colleagues as well as the person gambling. It can cause financial hardship, relationship breakdown, and emotional distress for everyone involved.

Steps you can take:

• Talk to them openly and without judgement about your concerns
• Encourage them to contact the National Gambling Helpline
• Suggest they visit GamCare or BeGambleAware for support
• Avoid lending them money or covering their debts
• Seek support for yourself through organisations like GamAnon (support for families)
• Encourage professional help from a GP or counsellor

GamCare offers a dedicated service for people affected by someone else's gambling. You can call the same helpline number (0808 8020 133) to discuss your situation and get advice tailored to your circumstances.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble in the United Kingdom. All UK-licensed operators are required to verify the age and identity of their customers before allowing them to place bets or withdraw winnings.

If you're concerned about a young person gambling, please contact GamCare or the National Gambling Helpline for advice and support. Parents and guardians should be aware that in-game purchases and loot boxes in video games can expose young people to gambling-like mechanics.

RaceCards.co.uk is committed to promoting responsible gambling at every level of our service. We provide horse racing predictions, tips, and analysis for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not operate as a bookmaker and do not accept bets directly.

Our platform includes affiliate links to licensed bookmakers. We only partner with operators regulated by the UK Gambling Commission who are required to uphold strict responsible gambling standards. We encourage all users to make use of the responsible gambling tools offered by these operators.

Our responsible gambling commitments:

• We never target our marketing at under-18s
• We include responsible gambling messaging across our site
• We provide clear links to support organisations on every page
• We do not make misleading claims about guaranteed wins
• We encourage staking plans and bankroll management
• We promote betting as entertainment, not income

Remember: When the fun stops, stop. If you or someone you know is affected by problem gambling, please reach out to the support organisations listed above. Help is free, confidential, and available around the clock.