Responsible Gambling

At Captain Free Spins, we want to ensure player safety and responsible gambling. Below we have some information on how to spot signs of problem gambling, and prevent anyone being hurt or exploited through gambling.

What is Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling refers to betting behaviour that becomes difficult to control and starts to negatively affect your life. This can include financial strain, stress within relationships, or gambling taking priority over work, family, or other responsibilities. It’s not simply about how often someone gambles, but whether it begins to cause harm or disruption.

Research carried out by YouGov on behalf of the charity GambleAware suggests that around 2.7% of adults in the UK, roughly 1.4 million people, may be experiencing a gambling problem. Although problem gambling doesn’t usually show obvious physical symptoms, its impact can be significant, affecting mental wellbeing, finances, and day-to-day life.

Signs of Problem Gambling

It’s not always easy to recognise when gambling is becoming harmful. However, the following signs may indicate that your habits are starting to become a problem:

Constantly thinking about gambling or planning your next bet
Spending more money than you intended or can comfortably afford to lose
Feeling mood swings, irritability, or low emotions linked to gambling outcomes
Chasing losses by placing more bets to try to win money back quickly
Struggling to cut down or stop gambling altogether
Using gambling as a way to escape stress or personal problems
Lying to family or friends about how much time or money you’ve spent
Borrowing, stealing, or using money meant for essentials to fund gambling
Gambling beginning to negatively affect your work, relationships, or home life

If you recognise several of these signs in yourself, it may be time to consider setting limits or seeking support.

How To Reduce The Risk of Problem Gambling

If you’re concerned about your gambling habits, or simply want to stay in control, there are practical steps you can take to gamble more responsibly.

Start by setting a clear budget and only spending money you can comfortably afford to lose. It’s also important to keep track of how much time you’re spending gambling and to take regular breaks, regardless of whether you’re winning or losing. Most UK-licensed betting sites offer tools such as deposit limits, time reminders, and reality checks to help with this.

Try to keep gambling balanced with other hobbies and activities so it doesn’t become your main focus. Avoid chasing losses, and if you’ve had a bad session, it’s usually best to step away and return another time rather than trying to recover money quickly.

You should also avoid gambling when feeling stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as this can affect judgement and decision-making.

Support Services & Tools

GamCare

GamCare is a leading UK charity that provides free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. They offer confidential counselling, a live chat service and practical tools to help people regain control.

Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (24/7, free)
Website: www.gamcare.org.uk
Live Chat: Available via the website

BeGambleAware

BeGambleAware provides advice, information and links to specialist support services for people worried about their gambling. The website includes self-assessment tools and guidance on how to reduce or stop gambling.

Website: www.begambleaware.org
Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (24/7, free)

Gambling Therapy

Gambling Therapy offers free online support and practical advice for anyone impacted by gambling. Services include multilingual live chat, forums and structured support programmes.

Website: www.gamblingtherapy.org
Online Support: Available through the website

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support groups across the UK for individuals who want to stop gambling. Meetings provide a confidential space where members can share experiences and support each other.

Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Helpline: 0330 094 0322

Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon supports people affected by someone else’s gambling. It provides group meetings and peer support for family members and friends who are struggling with the impact of a loved one’s gambling behaviour.

Website: www.gamanon.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

The Samaritans

Samaritans offer emotional support to anyone experiencing distress or struggling to cope, including those affected by gambling-related issues. Their service is confidential and available around the clock.

Helpline: 116 123 (24/7, free)
Website: www.samaritans.org

National Debtline

National Debtline is a free, independent service offering advice and guidance for people dealing with personal debt. They can help create manageable repayment plans and provide practical financial support.

Helpline: 0808 808 4000
Website: www.nationaldebtline.org

Responsible Gambling - Tools and Resources