Responsible Gambling
Gambling should stay entertainment, not a way to make money or escape stress. If it stops feeling that way, free and confidential help is available right now: BeGambleAware (UK), GamCare (UK, 0808 8020 133), Gamblers Anonymous (worldwide meetings), and the US National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. Every licensed casino also offers self-exclusion tools — see below for how to use them.
Why this page exists
OpenStake earns revenue from affiliate links to the casinos we rank. That gives us a direct financial reason to make sure this page is easy to find, not buried — because a review site that profits from gambling activity has a responsibility to also point clearly toward help when gambling isn't going well. This page is not a sales page and contains no casino links.
Get help now — real organizations, not a hotline we made up
BeGambleAware
UK-based national gambling harm information and support service, funded independently of the gambling industry's direct control.
begambleaware.org →GamCare
UK charity offering a free helpline, live chat, and structured support for anyone affected by gambling — including friends and family.
gamcare.org.uk →Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, UK)
Gamblers Anonymous
Free peer-support fellowship with in-person and online meetings worldwide, modeled on a 12-step recovery approach.
gamblersanonymous.org →National Council on Problem Gambling (US)
Operates the US National Problem Gambling Helpline — confidential, free, available by call or text, 24/7.
ncpgambling.org →Call or text: 1-800-GAMBLER
How self-exclusion actually works
Self-exclusion lets you block your own access to gambling, either at one operator or across many at once. It's one of the most effective tools available because it removes the moment-of-impulse decision entirely.
At an individual casino
Most licensed crypto casinos offer account-level controls under Settings, Responsible Gambling, or a similar menu: deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, a cooling-off period (typically 24 hours to 6 weeks), or permanent self-exclusion. If you can't find the option, contact the casino's support team directly and ask — reputable licensed operators are required to offer this.
Across multiple sites at once
In the UK, GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk) is a free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks your access to all UK-licensed online gambling sites simultaneously for a period you choose, from 6 months up to 5 years. Similar national or regional self-exclusion registers exist in other jurisdictions — check with your local gambling regulator for what's available where you live.
Self-exclusion tools only cover licensed, cooperating operators. They cannot stop you from signing up at an unlicensed site or under a different identity. If self-exclusion alone isn't holding, that's a sign to also reach out to one of the support services above.
Signs it might be time to take a step back
- Chasing losses — increasing bets to try to win back money already lost.
- Gambling with money earmarked for rent, bills, or other essentials.
- Hiding the amount of time or money spent gambling from people close to you.
- Feeling anxious, irritable, or unable to stop despite wanting to.
- Using gambling to cope with stress, loneliness, or difficult emotions.
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or lying to fund gambling.
None of these on their own mean there's a problem — but if several sound familiar, talking to one of the free, confidential services above costs nothing and carries no judgment.