Responsible gambling at Betscore

• Betscore
• Betscore Responsible gaming

Gambling should be entertainment, not an obligation. If you've opened this page because something feels off, or because you want to set limits before things go that way, you're in the right place. We run Betscore as a site for players aged 18 and over, and we want every session to stay within your control.

Why responsible gambling matters

Betting and playing slots can be fun when the money at stake is money you can afford to lose. The moment it stops being a choice and starts feeling like something you have to do – to chase a loss, to feel excitement, or to forget other problems – the dynamic has changed. Recognising that shift early is what keeps gambling from causing harm.

Most people gamble without issue. A smaller number find themselves spending more time or money than they intended, and a few cross into patterns that damage their finances, relationships or mental health. The difference between those outcomes often comes down to whether someone noticed the warning signs and acted on them.

Signs gambling is getting out of hand

Problematic gambling rarely announces itself. It builds through small changes in behaviour that are easy to dismiss individually but harder to ignore when you see them together. Watch for these:

• You gamble with money earmarked for rent, bills or groceries.
• You've borrowed money to gamble, or to cover losses.
• You think about gambling most of the time, even when you're doing something else.
• You gamble to escape stress, boredom or sadness, rather than for entertainment.
• You chase losses – betting more to try to win back what you've lost.
• You've lied to family or friends about how much you gamble or how much you've lost.
• You feel anxious, irritable or restless when you try to stop or cut back.
• You've tried to quit or reduce your gambling and found you couldn't stick to it.

If three or more of those apply to you, it's worth taking a break and talking to someone who can help.

Questions worth asking yourself

A short self-check can clarify whether your gambling is still under control. Answer honestly – no one else sees this:

• Have you ever felt the need to bet more money to get the same level of excitement?
• Have you tried to cut down or stop gambling and been unable to?
• Do you feel restless or irritable when you try to reduce how much you gamble?
• Do you gamble to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt or anxiety?
• After losing money, do you return another day to try to get even?
• Have you lied to family members or others to hide the extent of your gambling?
• Have you committed an illegal act to finance your gambling?
• Has gambling jeopardised a relationship, a job or an education opportunity?

These questions are adapted from tools used by treatment professionals. They are not a diagnosis, but answering yes to several suggests you would benefit from speaking to someone trained in gambling support.

Our control tools

We provide a self-exclusion option. If you need to stop gambling with us for a fixed period or permanently, email our support team at [email protected] and ask to be excluded. Once confirmed, your account will be closed for the duration you specify, and you will not be able to reopen it or create a new one during that time.

Self-exclusion through us applies only to Betscore. If you gamble on other sites or in person, you will need to request exclusion separately from each one. For a single request that covers all licensed UK operators, register with GamStop – it's free, and it blocks access across every site regulated by the UK Gambling Commission for a minimum of six months.

Practical limits that work

Small changes to how you gamble can prevent larger problems later. These limits require no one's permission but your own:

• Decide your budget before you deposit. Treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment. If you lose it, stop.
• Set a time limit. A session that drags past an hour often turns into chasing losses. Thirty to forty-five minutes gives you the entertainment without the spiral.
• Never gamble when you're upset, drunk or tired. Emotional or impaired decisions lead to bets you wouldn't make in a clear state.
• Don't chase losses. The money is gone. Trying to win it back usually means losing more.
• Use a separate payment method for gambling. A prepaid card or e-wallet loaded with your budget keeps you from dipping into bill money.
• Take regular breaks. A day off every week, or a full week off every month, shows you're still in control.

Where to get help in the UK

If gambling is causing harm, free and confidential support is available from organisations that understand the issue and have helped thousands of people regain control.

GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can speak to a trained adviser immediately, with no need to give your name. GamCare also offers live chat, email support, and a network of face-to-face counselling services across the UK.

BeGambleAware provides information, advice and a directory of local treatment services. Their site carries self-assessment tools, forums and links to counsellors who specialise in gambling harm.

GamStop is the national self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks your access to all UK-licensed gambling sites for six months, one year or five years. It's free, and it works across operators – you don't need to contact each site individually.

Gordon Moody offers residential treatment programmes for people whose gambling has caused severe harm, as well as online therapy and a helpline for those who need intensive support.

Blocking software

Gamban is software that blocks access to gambling sites and apps across all your devices – phone, tablet, laptop. It costs a small monthly fee, runs in the background, and cannot be easily bypassed once installed. BetBlocker does the same job for free. Both work across thousands of gambling sites, including those not licensed in the UK.

Protecting minors

Access to Betscore is restricted to players aged 18 and over (18+). We verify identity and age during account registration, and we reserve the right to request proof of age at any point. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to gamble in the UK, and we take that obligation seriously.

If you share a device with someone under 18, consider installing parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio. Both allow you to block gambling sites at the device level, and both work independently of browser settings, so a child cannot disable them without the admin password.

If you are a parent or guardian concerned about a young person's gambling, GamCare and BeGambleAware both offer dedicated support for families.

For questions about our responsible-gambling tools or to request self-exclusion, email [email protected]. Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore.

This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+). If gambling ever stops feeling like a choice, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.