Responsible gambling at Winz

• Winz
• Winz Responsible gaming

We want your time with us to stay enjoyable. Gambling works when it is leisure — something you budget for, control completely, and walk away from the moment it stops being fun. This page sets out the tools we give you to keep it that way, the warning signs worth watching for, and where to turn when you need help.

Why this matters

Online slots, live tables and sports betting are designed to entertain. They are not income, not an investment, and not a solution to money problems. The moment gambling feels like work, like something you have to do rather than choose to do, or like the only way to fix a loss, it has crossed a line.

We operate under a Tobique Gaming Commission licence (number 0000002) and we take that responsibility seriously. Every tool described below is built into your Winz account and available the moment you need it — no approval required, no questions asked.

Signs gambling is getting out of hand

These behaviours are not a diagnosis. They are patterns worth noticing, because catching a problem early makes it easier to fix.

• You deposit more than you planned, or chase losses with money set aside for bills or rent.
• You lie to family or friends about how much you spend or how often you play.
• Gambling is the first thing you think about when you wake up, or the main way you deal with stress or boredom.
• You feel anxious, irritable or restless when you try to cut back or stop.
• You borrow money, sell belongings, or take on debt to keep playing.
• Work, relationships or health take a back seat because gambling takes up more of your time.

If two or more of those feel familiar, it is worth pausing and asking for help. The resources below are free, confidential, and staffed by people who understand what you are going through.

Questions worth asking yourself

A short self-check. Answer honestly — no one is keeping score.

• Do you gamble more money or more often than you originally intended?
• Have you lied to anyone about how much you gamble?
• Do you gamble to escape problems, anxiety or low mood?
• Have you tried to stop or cut back, and found you could not?
• Have you borrowed money, sold belongings, or missed payments because of gambling?
• Has gambling caused arguments with family, friends or your partner?
• Do you feel restless or irritable when you are not gambling?
• Have you gambled with money meant for something else — rent, bills, food, transport?

One or two yes answers are a reason to take stock. Three or more is a clear signal to reach out for support, and the organisations below will help you work out what comes next.

Our control tools

We give you four ways to set boundaries on your account, all managed from your settings. None of them require approval from us — you set them, they take effect immediately, and you can tighten them at any time. Loosening a limit takes 24 hours, which gives you time to reconsider.

Deposit limits

What it does: caps how much you can deposit over a day, a week or a month. Once you hit the limit, the system blocks further deposits until the period resets.

How long it lasts: indefinitely, until you change it. Tightening a limit is instant; loosening one takes 24 hours.

When to use it: set this before you start playing, based on what you can genuinely afford to lose without affecting rent, bills or savings. Treat it as a hard ceiling, not a target.

Wager limits

What it does: caps the total amount you can stake across all games over a day, week or month. The limit tracks your bets, not your deposits, so a £100 daily wager limit stops you placing more than £100 in bets even if you deposit £500.

How long it lasts: indefinitely, until you adjust it. Same 24-hour delay when raising it.

When to use it: alongside a deposit limit, to control how quickly you move through your balance. Useful if you find yourself betting larger amounts than you planned once you are in a session.

Session time limits

What it does: logs you out automatically after a set amount of time — one hour, two hours, whatever you choose. You can log back in after a break, but the session ends when the timer runs out.

How long it lasts: applies to every session until you turn it off or change the duration.

When to use it: to stop marathon sessions that run longer than you intended. Particularly useful late at night, when fatigue affects judgement.

Self-exclusion

What it does: closes your account for a period you choose. You cannot log in, deposit, or play during that time. We do not process requests to lift it early — the exclusion runs its full term.

How long it lasts: you decide the length when you activate it. We do not publish specific durations in our terms, so contact our support team at [email protected] to confirm the options available.

When to use it: when you need a complete break. This is the strongest tool we offer, and it is designed for situations where smaller limits are not enough. If you are unsure whether you need it, the helplines below can talk you through the decision.

Practical limits that work

Beyond the account controls, a few habits make a real difference.

• Budget before you deposit. Decide what you can afford to lose this week or this month, and set your deposit limit to match. Do not raise it because you are down — that is chasing, and it is the behaviour most likely to spiral.
• Never gamble with borrowed money. Credit cards, loans, overdrafts — all off-limits. If you are using money that is not yours, the problem is already serious.
• Set a timer outside the account. A phone alarm after an hour or two reminds you to step away, even if the session limit has not kicked in yet.
• Do not gamble when you are upset, stressed or drunk. Emotional decisions cost more than you planned, and alcohol removes the brake that would normally stop you.
• Track what you spend. Not every week, not when it feels bad — every session. Write it down, or check your account history at the end of the day. Seeing the real total, rather than the rough guess in your head, changes behaviour faster than any limit.
• Talk to someone. A friend, a partner, a helpline — it does not matter who, as long as you say it out loud. Gambling problems thrive in silence, and the act of naming what is happening makes it easier to deal with.

Where to get help in the UK

Every organisation below offers free, confidential support. You do not need to be in crisis to call them — early help is easier help, and they have heard it all before.

GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0808 8020 133 (freephone) or visit gamcare.org.uk for live chat and email support. They also offer one-to-one counselling and group sessions across England, Scotland and Wales.

BeGambleAware provides information, advice and direct links to treatment services. Their site at begambleaware.org includes a self-assessment tool, a directory of local services, and guides for family members affected by someone else's gambling.

GamStop is a free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks access to all UK-licensed gambling sites for a period you choose — six months, one year or five years. Register at gamstop.co.uk. Once active, the exclusion cannot be reversed early, and it covers every operator registered with the scheme.

Gordon Moody offers residential treatment and online support for people with serious gambling problems. Their programmes run for several weeks and include therapy, financial advice and peer support. Visit gordonmoody.org.uk or call them to discuss your situation.

Blocking software

If you want to block gambling sites across all your devices, two tools are widely recommended.

Gamban (gamban.com) is a paid app that blocks tens of thousands of gambling sites and apps across phones, tablets, and computers. It runs in the background and cannot be uninstalled without contacting their support team, which adds a layer of friction when temptation hits.

BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is a free alternative that works on most devices and browsers. You set the block duration when you install it, and it stays active until the timer runs out.

Protecting minors

Access to this site is restricted to players aged 18 and over (18+). We verify age and identity before processing withdrawals, and we block any account found to belong to a minor.

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 specific categories of site — including gambling — across all browsers and apps on that device.

Contact

Questions about our responsible gambling tools, or need help accessing your account settings? Reach our support team at [email protected]. For concerns about a gambling problem, we recommend contacting one of the organisations above — they are better equipped to help than we are, and their advice is free and confidential.

Access to this site is for players aged 18 and over (18+) only. Gambling is entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops feeling like leisure, free confidential support is available at BeGambleAware.org.