Gambling should be a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. At playojo-uk.com, we advocate for safe play. If the fun stops, stop — the tools below make walking away easy and free.
PlayOJO Safety Tools
Every UKGC-licensed operator must offer these controls, and PlayOJO surfaces them in the "My Account → Play Safely" panel — usually within two clicks.
- Deposit Limits: Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps. Lowering a limit applies instantly; raising it has a 24-hour cool-down.
- Time Checks: Get alerts on how long you've been playing — handy for phone sessions that creep up.
- Cool-Off Periods: Take a break from 24 hours to 6 weeks. You cannot log in or deposit until it expires.
- Safe Mate: An OJO-exclusive tool that flags unusual spending trends against your own 90-day baseline.
- Self-Exclusion: Lock the account for 6 months or 5 years. Combined with GamStop this blocks the entire UK-licensed market.
Warning Signs
From Gordon Moody's 2024 UK prevalence study, these behaviours correlate strongly with problem gambling. If two or more apply, talk to one of the services listed below:
- Chasing losses with bigger bets the same session.
- Hiding the scale of deposits from family or partners.
- Borrowing money — credit cards, payday loans, friends — to keep playing.
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut down.
- Gambling to escape problems rather than for entertainment.
Need Help? UK Support Services
If you feel you are losing control, contact these UK organisations. All three are free, confidential, and independent of any operator.
- GamCare: Free advice, one-to-one counselling and a 24/7 National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
- BeGambleAware: Confidential help, a symptom self-assessment tool, and signposting to treatment providers across England, Scotland and Wales.
- GamStop: A national self-exclusion service that blocks access to every UKGC-licensed gambling site for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years with a single form.
Protecting Minors
Under-18s must not gamble. Install Gamban or BetBlocker on shared devices — both are free and cover mobile. Use Family Link / Screen Time controls to block gambling categories on a child's phone.
Remember: When the fun stops, stop.