Responsible Gaming
Gambling Should Be Entertainment, Not Income
At Hay History Group, we believe that gambling should be enjoyed as a form of entertainment only. Betting sites and casino games are games of chance – they should never be viewed as a way to make money or solve financial problems. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and always set a budget before you begin.
Age Verification
All gambling in the UK is strictly regulated. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in any form of gambling, including betting on sports and playing casino games online. If you are under 18, please do not use any of the betting sites we recommend.
Operators are legally required to verify your age and identity. This is an important safeguard for young people.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually. If you recognise any of the following signs, please seek help immediately:
- Constantly chasing losses by gambling more to try to win money back
- Hiding your gambling activity or lying about how much you gamble
- Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
- Neglecting family, work, or personal responsibilities due to gambling
- Using gambling as a way to escape problems or negative feelings
- Borrowing money to fund gambling or gambling with money needed for essentials
- Feeling anxious or irritable when you try to reduce or stop gambling
- Experiencing relationship breakdowns related to your gambling
- Having financial difficulties or debt caused by gambling
- Friends or family expressing concern about your gambling habits
If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone else, it's important to take action immediately.
Self-Help Tools & Player Protection Features
Most licensed betting sites offer tools to help you stay in control of your gambling:
- Deposit Limits: Set a maximum amount you can deposit within a chosen time period (daily, weekly, or monthly)
- Loss Limits: Cap the amount you're willing to lose over a set period
- Reality Checks: Receive pop-up reminders of how long you've been playing and how much you've spent
- Time-Out/Cool-Off Periods: Temporarily suspend your account for a break (typically 6 months or less)
- Self-Exclusion: Permanently close your account and ban yourself from gambling sites for an extended period (usually 6 months to 5 years)
- Account Closure: Close your account permanently if you wish
Use these tools proactively to maintain control over your gambling activity.
Support Organisations & Resources
If you're struggling with gambling, help is available. Please reach out to one of the organisations below:
United Kingdom
- GamCare – Free, confidential support for problem gamblers and their families
www.gamcare.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7) - GamStop – The National Self-Exclusion Scheme for Great Britain
www.gamstop.co.uk
Self-exclude from all licensed UK gambling operators at once - Gamblers Anonymous – Free peer-support meetings across the UK
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Other Countries
- Australia: Gambling Help Online
www.gamblinghelponline.org.au - Canada: Responsible Gambling Council
www.responsiblegambling.org - United States: National Council on Problem Gambling
www.ncpgambling.org
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700 - Germany: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA)
www.bzga.de
If You Need Help, Please Reach Out
Seeking help for problem gambling is a sign of strength, not weakness. No matter how serious your situation feels, support is available and recovery is possible. Many people have successfully overcome gambling problems by accessing professional help early.
Don't wait – if you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, contact one of the support organisations listed above today.
Your wellbeing is more important than any bet.