Gambling as entertainment, not income
Before you look at anything else on this page, here's the one idea worth keeping: gambling is meant to be a bit of fun, not a way to pay the bills. If you're weighing up a session at Blockspins against rent money, something has already gone wrong. This page sets out how to keep things in that "just for fun" zone, what to watch for if it slips, and where to get free help in the UK. It's written by this portal, not the operator, and it applies whatever platform you're using.
When it stops being fun
Most people gamble without any trouble. Problems tend to creep in gradually rather than arrive all at once, so it's worth knowing the shape they usually take.
- Chasing losses with bigger stakes to "win it back"
- Gambling money set aside for bills, food or rent
- Lying to family or friends about how much time or money is going in
- Feeling irritable, anxious or low when you can't play
- Struggling to stop even when you've decided to
Any one of these on its own isn't a verdict, but several together are a reason to pause and take stock.
A short self-check
Answer these honestly – there's no scoring, just a nudge towards a conversation with yourself.
- Have you gambled longer than you meant to, more than once recently?
- Have you borrowed money, or sold something, to fund gambling?
- Do you feel restless or irritable when trying to cut down?
- Have you hidden bets or losses from someone close to you?
- Has gambling affected your work, studies or relationships?
- Do you gamble to escape worry or low mood, rather than for fun?
Answering "yes" to two or more is a reasonable prompt to talk to one of the organisations further down this page.
Limits you can set with the operator
Blockspins runs a self-exclusion policy, letting players close their account for a fixed period, an indefinite one, or permanently – requests go through the customer support email rather than an in-account toggle. Worth knowing before you use it: a permanent closure forfeits any remaining balance, along with future cashback or bonus payments, so it's a genuinely final step rather than a pause button. There's also an inactive-account rule that deducts a balance after six months with no activity, with an email warning 14 days beforehand – reactivating just needs a deposit, a wager, or a withdrawal request.
Blocking software
If account-level tools aren't enough, device-level blocking works underneath any single site. Gamban (gamban.com) and the free BetBlocker (betblocker.org) both stop gambling sites loading on a device at all, which is useful if willpower alone isn't cutting it on a given evening.
Tips for gambling sensibly
- Decide a budget before you start, and treat it as gone once it's spent
- Set a time limit and use a phone timer if needed
- Never gamble to chase a previous loss
- Avoid gambling when stressed, upset or after drinking
- Take regular breaks rather than long unbroken sessions
National help lines
Free, confidential support exists in the UK whether or not you decide gambling is currently a problem for you.
- GamCare – National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, free and open 24/7
- BeGambleAware – information and free support
- GamStop – free national self-exclusion across licensed sites
- Gordon Moody – residential and online treatment
Talking to someone
None of this needs to be handled alone. A short call to GamCare's helpline, or a message through BeGambleAware, gets you to someone trained to listen rather than judge. If you'd rather write than talk, our own editorial team can be reached at [email protected] for questions about this page – we can't access anyone's Blockspins account, but we can point you towards the right resource.
Protecting minors
Access to gambling content on this portal, and to Blockspins itself, is restricted to those aged 18+. If a phone, tablet or computer is shared with a minor, parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can block gambling content at device level, which is a sensible extra step regardless of any account-level exclusion.
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore.
This content is provided for information and marketing purposes. We are not a gambling operator, bookmaker or organiser of betting or gaming activity. This site is restricted to visitors aged 18 and over (18+). Free, confidential support with gambling is available at BeGambleAware.org.