Gambling is meant to be entertainment, never a solution to money worries or a way to escape stress. When it stops being fun and starts feeling like something you have to do, it's worth stepping back and reassessing. This page outlines practical ways to keep your play at B7 in check, the warning signs that matter, and where to turn for confidential help in the UK if you need it.
Why responsible gambling matters
For most people, gambling is an occasional bit of fun – a few spins, a bet on a match, a quick session of live blackjack. For a smaller number, it tips into something harder to manage: chasing losses, spending more than planned, lying about it to family or friends. The line between the two can be subtle at first, which is why having a clear framework – limits, self-awareness, external support – is worth setting up before you need it.
The goal is straightforward: gambling should cost you no more than you can afford to lose, and it should never interfere with the things that matter – your relationships, your work, your wellbeing. If you find yourself thinking about your next session when you should be focused elsewhere, or if you're dipping into money earmarked for bills or savings, those are the moments to pause and take stock.
Warning signs: when gambling gets out of hand
It's easier to spot the signs when they're written down. If one or two of these feel familiar, it doesn't mean you have a problem – but if several do, it's worth taking them seriously.
- You're gambling with money you can't afford to lose – rent, bills, groceries.
- You're spending more time or money than you intended, regularly.
- You've lied to someone close about how much you gamble or how much you've lost.
- Gambling is the first thing you think about when you wake up, or the thing you do when you're bored or upset.
- You've tried to cut down or stop, and found it harder than you expected.
- You're chasing losses – putting in more to win back what you've already lost.
- Gambling is causing arguments, stress or secrecy in your household.
None of these is a moral judgement. They're signals that the balance has shifted, and addressing them early is always easier than waiting until the situation becomes unmanageable.
A few questions to ask yourself
These are not diagnostic – they're prompts to help you think honestly about your own patterns. Answer them privately; nobody else needs to see them.
- Do you gamble until your balance is empty, even when you planned to stop earlier?
- Have you borrowed money or sold something to fund gambling?
- Do you feel guilty or anxious after a session, even when you win?
- Have you missed work, social plans or family time because of gambling?
- Do you gamble to escape feelings – stress, loneliness, boredom – rather than for entertainment?
- Have you tried to stop and found yourself back at it within days or weeks?
If you answered yes to more than one or two, consider speaking to someone outside the situation – a counsellor, a helpline, or a friend you trust. These conversations are confidential and free of judgement, and starting them earlier rather than later gives you more options.
B7's control tools
The operator provides a cooling-off period, which temporarily suspends your account for a set period you choose. During that time you can't log in, deposit or play – it's a enforced break, useful when you need distance but aren't ready for a permanent step.
Self-exclusion is the stronger measure: it closes your account for a minimum period, typically six months to five years, and the operator will not reopen it during that time even if you ask. This is the right tool when you've recognised that gambling is doing more harm than good and you need a firm boundary to make stopping possible.
To activate either option, contact B7's support team via email at [email protected] or through live chat. Make the request clear and keep a record of it. Under UK regulations, the operator must process self-exclusion requests promptly, though the exact timescale can vary – confirm it with them directly.
Deposit limits and session timers
B7 allows you to set deposit limits – daily, weekly or monthly caps on how much you can add to your account. Once the limit is reached, you can't deposit more until the next period begins. It's not foolproof – you can request an increase, though responsible operators build in a delay before it takes effect – but it's a useful guardrail when combined with other habits.
Session reminders, if available, ping you after a set amount of time to let you know how long you've been playing. They don't force you to stop, but they do interrupt the flow and give you a moment to decide whether to continue or log off. Check your account settings to see which tools are enabled and adjust them to suit your situation.
Where to find help in the UK
You don't need to wait until things feel urgent to reach out. These organisations exist to support anyone who's concerned about their own gambling or someone else's, and every service listed here is free and confidential.
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles. The service offers confidential advice, emotional support and referrals to local treatment if you need it. You can also visit gamcare.org.uk for live chat and self-assessment tools.
BeGambleAware provides information, support and treatment referrals at begambleaware.org. The site includes practical guides on setting limits, understanding the risks, and talking to family members about gambling. It's a good first stop if you're not sure where to start.
GamStop is a free national self-exclusion scheme covering all UK-licensed gambling sites. Register at gamstop.co.uk and choose a period of six months, one year or five years. Once active, every operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must block your access. It's a blanket measure and it works across the entire regulated market, which makes it harder to find a way around.
Gordon Moody offers residential treatment programmes and online support for people with serious gambling problems. Visit gordonmoody.org.uk to learn about their services and eligibility. The programmes are intensive, structured and designed for people who need more than a phone call or a self-help guide.
Blocking software
If willpower alone isn't enough – and for many people it isn't – blocking software removes the option to gamble online by preventing access to gambling sites and apps on your devices.
Gamban (gamban.com) is a paid subscription service that blocks gambling content across all your devices: phones, tablets, computers. It runs in the background and can't be easily disabled, which is the point. It covers tens of thousands of gambling sites and updates its blocklist automatically.
BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is a free alternative that works on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Installation takes a few minutes, and once it's active you won't be able to reach gambling sites from that device. It's not as comprehensive as Gamban but it's free and it works, which makes it the right choice for many people.
Tips for gambling sensibly
These won't replace the tools above, but they're worth keeping in mind if you're playing regularly and want to keep it under control.
- Set a budget before you start – decide how much you can afford to lose, and stop when you reach it. Treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment you expect to get back.
- Don't chase losses. If you've lost more than you planned, the temptation is to keep going and try to win it back. That's the fastest way to turn a small loss into a big one.
- Take breaks. Set a timer, walk away between sessions, and don't let gambling be the only thing you do in your downtime.
- Never gamble when you're upset, drunk or stressed. Decisions made in those states are rarely good ones, and you're more likely to spend more than you mean to.
- Keep gambling separate from your main finances. Use a separate account or payment method with a fixed balance, so you're never dipping into money meant for bills or savings.
- Talk to someone. Keeping it secret makes it harder to stay accountable. A friend, partner or counsellor can help you stick to the limits you set.
Protecting minors
B7 and every other legitimate gambling site restricts access to players aged 18 and over (18+). Verification is mandatory, and the operator will ask for proof of age and identity before processing a withdrawal. That said, a device shared with children or teenagers is a risk – younger people are curious, and a saved password or an unlocked phone is all it takes.
If you have children or teens in your household, consider installing parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio. Both allow you to block gambling sites at the router level, and they work across all devices connected to your home network. It's not a perfect solution – determined teenagers will find workarounds – but it's a sensible layer of protection alongside keeping your account credentials private and logging out after every session.
Get in touch
If you have questions about the content on this page, or if there's something we should add or clarify, write to the editorial team at [email protected]. We'll respond within 48 hours. For questions about your B7 account – limits, self-exclusion requests, or technical issues – contact the operator's own support channels directly via the platform.
Gambling is entertainment, never an obligation. If it stops feeling like a choice, the resources above exist to help you take back control.
This page is for information and marketing purposes only. We are not a casino operator, a bookmaker or an organiser of gambling. Access to this content is restricted to persons aged 18 and over (18+). We encourage you to gamble responsibly – for free, confidential support visit BeGambleAware.org.