I am registered with GAMSTOP. Am I blocked from Mad Casino?

No. GAMSTOP only covers operators licensed in Great Britain. Mad Casino holds a Curaçao licence, so your registration does not block it. Blocking software, a bank gambling block and the casino's own self-exclusion are the tools that do.

Is the GamCare helpline really free?

Yes. 0808 8020 133 is free from UK landlines and mobiles and is open 24 hours a day, every day.

Can my bank stop gambling payments?

Many UK banks and card providers offer a gambling block in their app that declines card payments to gambling merchants, often with a cooling-off period before it can be removed.

Responsible gambling

Gambling should be something you pay for out of money you can afford to lose, in time you can afford to spend. When it stops being that, the tools and services below can help. This page is written for UK readers.

Why GAMSTOP is not enough here

GAMSTOP lets you exclude yourself from every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain in one step. It is free and effective — but only for those businesses. Mad Casino advertises a Curaçao licence, so a GAMSTOP registration does not block it. If you have self-excluded through GAMSTOP, please also use the measures below.

Tools that do work

Blocking software such as Gamban, BetBlocker (free) or Net Nanny blocks access to gambling sites across your devices, whatever their licence.
Bank gambling blocks. Most UK banks let you block card payments to gambling merchants from the app. Some impose a 48-hour or longer delay before the block can be lifted.
Account limits. Set deposit, loss and session limits in your casino account before you play, not during.
Self-exclusion with the operator. Ask the casino's support to close your account for a fixed period. Ask them to confirm in writing.
Withdrawal locks. If you find yourself reversing pending withdrawals, ask support to lock them so that requests are processed straight away.

Warning signs

Spending more time or money than you meant to.
Chasing losses — playing on to win back what you have lost.
Borrowing, or using money meant for bills, to gamble.
Hiding gambling from people close to you.
Feeling anxious, low or irritable when you are not gambling.
Treating cashback or bonuses as a reason to keep playing.

Free, confidential support in the UK

GamCare — National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7, plus live chat at gamcare.org.uk.
BeGambleAware: advice, self-assessment and treatment referral at BeGambleAware.org.
Gamblers Anonymous: peer support meetings across the UK.
NHS gambling clinics: specialist treatment, including the National Problem Gambling Clinic; your GP can refer you, or you can self-refer.
GamFam and Gambling with Lives: support for families affected by someone else's gambling.

Under 18s

Gambling is for adults only. Operators are required to verify age, and we never write for or target anyone under 18. If you share a device with children, parental-control software can block gambling sites.