Get help now
If gambling is causing you harm, you are not alone and support is free.
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours, run by GamCare.
- GamCare: free counselling, live chat and a self-assessment at gamcare.org.uk.
- GamStop: free self-exclusion across every UK-licensed online site at gamstop.co.uk.
Tools that help you stay in control
Every UK-licensed bookmaker has to offer these. Use them before you need them:
- Deposit limits: cap what you can pay in each day, week or month.
- Time-outs: lock yourself out for a short period, from a day to six weeks.
- Reality checks: regular reminders of how long you have been playing.
- Self-exclusion: shut your account for six months or more.
Self-exclude across every site at once
GAMSTOP is a free service that blocks you from every UK-licensed online bookmaker and casino in one go, for six months, one year or five years. Register at gamstop.co.uk. It is the single most effective step if you need a clean break.
Warning signs
It might be time to stop and ask for help if you:
- Bet more than you can afford to lose, or chase losses to win it back.
- Borrow money or sell things to keep gambling.
- Hide your betting from people close to you.
- Feel anxious, low or irritable when you are not gambling.
- Gamble to escape problems or low moods.
Spotting one of these early is when help works best.
Where we stand
Dragon Football covers football and football finance. We sometimes link to DragonBet, a separately licensed Lovells Group business, and those links are marked. We only ever point to operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and we will not run content aimed at under-18s. More on how betting links work is in our affiliate disclosure.