Basswin is built for entertainment, and we want it to stay that way. This page sets out the control tools we offer, the warning signs worth watching for, and where to find professional support in the UK when gambling stops feeling like a choice.
Why responsible gambling matters
Gambling is a form of leisure, not a way to solve financial problems or escape daily stress. When it becomes compulsive or starts affecting your relationships, work, or mental health, it has crossed a line. Recognising that line early makes all the difference.
We provide tools to help you stay in control, but the decision to use them rests with you. Setting limits before you need them is easier than trying to impose them later.
Signs gambling is getting out of hand
Certain behaviours signal that play has become a problem rather than entertainment. Watch for these:
- Spending more time or money than you planned, repeatedly
- Chasing losses by placing larger bets or playing longer sessions
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or neglecting bills to fund gambling
- Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when you cannot play
- Lying to family or friends about how much you gamble
- Skipping work, social events, or responsibilities to gamble
- Using gambling as a way to escape problems or numb difficult emotions
If two or more of these apply to you, it is time to seek help.
Questions worth asking yourself
A short self-check can clarify whether your gambling is still under control. Answer honestly:
- Have you ever gambled more than you could afford to lose?
- Do you need to bet larger amounts to get the same level of excitement?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to finance gambling?
- Has gambling caused problems between you and your family or friends?
- Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
- Have you tried to cut down or stop gambling and found you could not?
- Has gambling made you less interested in your work, studies, or hobbies?
- After losing, do you feel you must return as soon as possible to win back your losses?
Answering yes to four or more suggests gambling is affecting your wellbeing and warrants professional advice.
Our control tools
We offer mechanisms to help you manage your play. These tools work only if you activate them before things escalate.
Account blocking and taking a break
You can request to disconnect from the service temporarily by contacting our support team. This blocking requires a phone call from a support manager to the account owner before it is applied. The call confirms your identity and ensures the request is genuine.
Use this option when you feel you need distance from gambling for a defined period, whether a few weeks or several months.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion made via our online chat is valid for 30 days from the date of blocking. During this period your account is frozen and you cannot deposit or play.
For longer or more comprehensive exclusion across all UK-licensed operators, use GamStop (see below). Our own exclusion is a short-term measure; national schemes offer stronger protection.
Practical limits that work
Setting boundaries before you play keeps the session recreational. Here are limits that help:
- Decide your budget before you deposit. Treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment to grow.
- Set a time limit. Use an alarm or a timer. When it rings, stop—even if you are ahead.
- Never chase losses. Accept that losing is part of the game. Trying to win it back usually deepens the hole.
- Do not gamble on credit. Only use money you can afford to lose outright, with no expectation of return.
- Keep gambling separate from other parts of your life. Do not play when you are upset, tired, or under the influence of alcohol.
These are not rules we enforce—they are strategies that keep play from becoming a problem.
Where to get help in the UK
Free, confidential support is available around the clock. Reaching out is not an admission of failure; it is a practical step toward regaining control.
GamCare
National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Website: gamcare.org.uk
GamCare offers telephone support, online chat, and face-to-face counselling across the UK. Advisers are trained to help with problem gambling and the financial, relationship, and mental-health issues that often accompany it.
BeGambleAware
Website: begambleaware.org
BeGambleAware provides information, advice, and access to treatment services. The site includes a self-assessment tool and details of local support options.
GamStop
Website: gamstop.co.uk
GamStop is a free national self-exclusion scheme covering all UK-licensed gambling sites. You can block yourself for six months, one year, or five years. Once registered, you cannot reverse the decision until the chosen period expires.
Gordon Moody
Website: gordonmoody.org.uk
Gordon Moody offers residential treatment programmes and online therapy for people with serious gambling problems. Referrals are accepted from GPs, support workers, or self-referral.
Blocking software
Software can prevent access to gambling sites across all your devices.
Gamban: gamban.com – blocks gambling sites and apps on computers, tablets, and smartphones. Subscription-based, with a free trial available.
BetBlocker: betblocker.org – free, open-source blocking tool compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Both options work in the background and cannot be easily disabled once installed, making them effective for people who struggle with impulse control.
Protecting minors
Access to this site is restricted to persons aged 18 and over (18+). We verify age during registration and at the point of first withdrawal, but parents and guardians have a role to play too.
If you share a device with anyone under 18, install parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio to block gambling sites entirely. Do not store payment details in browsers or apps where a minor could access them.
Contact us
For questions about the tools we offer or to request account controls, email [email protected]. We aim to respond within 48 hours.
For immediate support with a gambling problem, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit BeGambleAware.org.
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+). If gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.