We want your time with us to stay enjoyable. Gambling should be entertainment, not a burden. If it ever stops feeling that way, or if you're wondering whether your play is still under control, this page sets out the warning signs worth watching for, the questions worth asking yourself, the tools we provide, and where to get free, confidential help in the UK.
Boomerang is available to players aged 18 and over (18+). Access is restricted to adults, and we take that boundary seriously.
Why responsible gambling matters
Gambling carries risk. Most people play without incident, but for some it becomes a problem that affects finances, relationships, and mental health. The earlier you notice a pattern forming, the easier it is to change course. This page exists so you have the facts and the resources when you need them.
Signs gambling is getting out of hand
These behaviours often appear before someone realises there is a problem. If more than one sounds familiar, take it seriously:
- Spending more than you planned, more often than you intended.
- Chasing losses – depositing again to win back what you lost.
- Borrowing money to gamble, or gambling with money you need for rent, bills or food.
- Lying to family or friends about how much you play or how much you spend.
- Feeling anxious, irritable or restless when you are not playing.
- Gambling to escape stress, boredom or difficult emotions.
- Missing work, social plans or responsibilities because of gambling.
- Thinking about gambling constantly, even when you are doing something else.
Questions worth asking yourself
A short self-check. These are not diagnostic, but they can help you see whether your play is still within your control:
- Do you spend more time or money gambling than you originally intended?
- Have you tried to cut down or stop, and found you could not?
- Do you feel you need to gamble with larger amounts to get the same feeling?
- Have you lied to people close to you about how much you gamble?
- Has gambling caused arguments with family or friends?
- Do you gamble to forget about problems or to feel better when you are down?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to fund gambling?
- Have you missed work, school or other commitments because of gambling?
If you answered yes to several of these, consider reaching out to one of the support services below. Talking to someone does not commit you to anything – it is a way to understand what is happening and what your options are.
Our control tools
We provide a self-exclusion option. You can request it by contacting our support team at [email protected]. Once in place, your account is closed and cannot be reopened during the exclusion period. This is the strongest control we offer, and it is permanent for the duration you choose.
Our VIP system also sets monthly withdrawal ceilings that scale with activity. At the Wooden level, the limit is 7,000 EUR per month. At Stone it rises to 25,000 EUR, Bronze to 30,000 EUR, Silver to 50,000 EUR, and Golden to 75,000 EUR. These are automatic caps tied to your tier, and they apply whether you request them or not. If you find yourself moving up the tiers faster than you are comfortable with, that is worth noticing.
We enforce a minimum monthly wagering threshold of 20 EUR before a withdrawal is approved within a calendar month. If your wager on deposited funds is less than the deposit amount, we reserve the right to cancel winnings and keep a 10% commission (minimum 0.5 EUR), or 15% if you funded the account via bank card or bank transfer. These rules exist to prevent misuse, but they also mean that very light play is penalised – so if you are depositing small amounts frequently without using them, consider whether that pattern serves you.
We do not currently publish deposit limits, session time limits, reality checks, or a self-assessment tool within the account interface. If you need those controls, you will need to set them externally using the blocking software listed below, or request self-exclusion.
Practical limits that work
Set a budget before you start, and treat it as money spent on entertainment – not an investment. If you lose it, stop. Do not chase losses by depositing again the same day.
Keep gambling separate from your main finances. Use a dedicated card or e-wallet with a fixed balance, and do not top it up mid-session.
Set a time limit. An hour is enough for most sessions. When the time is up, log out – whether you are up or down.
Never gamble when you are upset, stressed, drunk, or under pressure to win money you need for something else. Gambling to solve a problem makes the problem worse.
Take regular breaks. A day off every week, or a week off every month, helps you keep perspective and notice if stopping has become difficult.
Talk to someone you trust about how much you play and how much you spend. Secrecy is often the first sign that something is wrong.
Where to get help in the UK
GamCare offers free, confidential support by phone, email and live chat. The National Gambling Helpline is 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also visit gamcare.org.uk for online chat and self-help resources.
BeGambleAware provides information, advice and direct links to treatment services. Visit begambleaware.org or call the helpline above – both organisations share the same number.
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. The exclusion is legally binding and cannot be undone early.
Gordon Moody provides residential treatment and online therapy for people with serious gambling problems. Their programmes are free and confidential. Learn more at gordonmoody.org.uk.
Blocking software
Gamban is paid software that blocks access to thousands of gambling sites and apps across all your devices. It runs in the background and cannot be easily disabled. A subscription costs around £20–£30 per year. Visit gamban.com.
BetBlocker is a free alternative that works on desktop, mobile and tablet. It blocks gambling sites and apps, and you can set it to stay active for a fixed period. Download it from betblocker.org.
Protecting minors
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+). If you share a device with someone younger, use parental control software to prevent them accessing gambling sites. Net Nanny, Qustodio and Bark are reliable options that block categories of content, not just individual sites. Most routers also have built-in parental controls you can activate.
Keep payment details secure. Do not save card numbers in your browser or share account passwords with anyone in your household.
Contact
If you need to discuss self-exclusion or have questions about the responsible gambling tools we offer, contact our support team at [email protected]. We aim to respond within 48 hours.
For immediate help, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 – free, confidential, and open around the clock.
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+). If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, support is free and confidential at BeGambleAware.org.