We want your time at Pistolo to stay enjoyable. Gambling should be entertainment – something you choose, not something that controls you. If the fun stops, the tools and support on this page exist to help you regain control.
When gambling stops being fun
Problem gambling doesn't announce itself with a single moment. It creeps in through repeated behaviours that feel normal at the time. Recognising the signs early – in yourself or someone close to you – makes intervention easier and more effective.
Watch for these patterns:
- Chasing losses by placing bigger or more frequent bets to win back what you've lost
- Gambling with money meant for rent, bills, or food
- Lying about how much time or money you spend on gambling
- Feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when you try to cut down or stop
- Neglecting work, relationships, or hobbies because gambling takes priority
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
These aren't moral failings. They're symptoms of a behavioural condition that responds to intervention, and the first step is admitting something has shifted.
Questions worth asking yourself
A self-check isn't a diagnosis, but it can clarify whether your relationship with gambling has changed. Answer honestly – no one else needs to see your answers.
- Do you gamble to escape problems or relieve feelings like stress, guilt, or depression?
- Have you tried to cut back or stop, only to find yourself returning within days?
- Do you hide your gambling activity from family or friends?
- Has gambling caused arguments, damaged relationships, or cost you a job?
- Do you feel the need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill?
- Have you borrowed money, sold items, or asked others for financial help because of gambling?
If you answered yes to several of these, it's worth reaching out for support. The organisations listed below offer free, confidential help – no judgment, no pressure.
Our control tools
We offer self-exclusion as a way to block access to your account when you need a break. Request it by emailing our support team at [email protected], and we'll process it immediately. Self-exclusion is permanent – once active, you won't be able to reverse it or open a new account with us.
If you're not ready for a full exclusion but want to limit your activity, consider setting daily or weekly deposit caps with your bank, or using third-party blocking software (see below). These aren't perfect solutions, but they add friction between impulse and action.
Practical limits that work
Control over gambling comes from decisions made before you start playing, not during a session. Here are strategies that help:
- Set a budget before you log in. Decide how much you can afford to lose – not "spend" – and withdraw that amount in cash or transfer it to a separate account. When it's gone, you're done.
- Use a timer. Set a phone alarm for 30 minutes or an hour. When it goes off, log out regardless of whether you're winning or losing.
- Keep gambling and daily life separate. Don't gamble at work, during family time, or when you're handling other responsibilities. Treat it like any other leisure activity with natural boundaries.
- Avoid gambling when you're upset, drunk, or tired. These states make impulse control harder and decision-making worse. Come back when you're clearheaded.
- Track what you actually spend. Write it down or use a banking app that categorises transactions. Seeing the total often corrects the mental picture you've been carrying.
- Take regular breaks. A week off every month, or a month off every quarter, reminds you that gambling is optional. If stepping away feels impossible, that's a sign you need help.
Where to get help in the UK
Free, confidential support exists across the UK. You don't need to be in crisis to reach out – early intervention is easier than late-stage recovery.
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The line is free from landlines and mobiles, and trained advisors can refer you to local services or online support groups. Visit gamcare.org.uk for live chat and email support.
BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) provides information on treatment options, self-assessment tools, and a directory of local support services across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
GamStop (gamstop.co.uk) is a free national self-exclusion scheme. Register once and you'll be blocked from all UK-licensed gambling sites for a minimum of six months – extendable to one year, or five years. It's not reversible during the exclusion period.
Gordon Moody (gordonmoody.org.uk) offers residential and online treatment programmes for people with severe gambling problems. The residential programme lasts up to 12 weeks and includes accommodation, counselling, and debt advice.
Blocking software
Two free tools can block gambling sites across all your devices:
Gamban (gamban.com) works on phones, tablets, and computers, blocking tens of thousands of gambling sites and apps. It costs £3.49/month after a 7-day free trial and can't be uninstalled without contacting support.
BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is entirely free and blocks gambling sites on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Set the block duration yourself – from 24 hours to permanent – and removal requires waiting out the timer.
Protecting minors
Access to this site and all our games is restricted to persons aged 18 and over (18+). If you share a device with anyone under 18, consider installing parental control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio. Both allow you to block gambling sites by category and monitor browsing activity.
Children and teenagers exposed to gambling early are more likely to develop problems in adulthood. Keep login credentials private, log out after every session, and have open conversations about the risks.
If gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential support is available through the organisations above. You're not solving this alone, and reaching out is the strongest move available. Access to this site is restricted to persons aged 18 and over (18+). For free, confidential support with gambling, visit BeGambleAware.org.
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