Gambling on 31bets is meant to sit alongside everything else in your week, not take over it. This page sets out how we think about that balance, the tools available on your account, and where to turn if things stop feeling like fun. None of it is written to alarm you – it's here because a site that only talks about bonuses and never about limits isn't giving you the full picture.
Keeping your gambling enjoyable
Most people who play casino games or bet on sport do so as a form of entertainment, spending a fixed amount they're comfortable losing and stopping there. Problems tend to creep in slowly rather than arrive all at once – a bigger deposit than usual, a bit of chasing after a losing session, checking the balance more often than you'd like. None of that makes someone a "problem gambler" in a clinical sense, but it's worth paying attention to, and it's exactly why tools like deposit limits and time-outs exist rather than being a last resort.
The UK market has moved further in this direction generally over the past couple of years: bonus wagering conditions at UK-licensed operators are now capped at a maximum multiplier, and a single promotion can no longer blend sports and casino products to unlock it. We mention this as background on where the wider market sits, not as a claim about our own licensing, which is set out on our terms page.
Signs worth noticing in your own play
A handful of patterns are common early warning signs, and they're worth being honest with yourself about:
- Increasing your stake or deposit specifically to "win back" a previous loss
- Gambling with money set aside for bills, rent or other essentials
- Hiding deposits, session length or losses from a partner or family
- Feeling irritable, anxious or low when you try to cut back
- Borrowing, or using credit, to fund play
- Losing track of time or missing commitments because of a session
One or two of these on their own isn't necessarily cause for concern. Several together, or any of them becoming a pattern, is a reasonable point to use one of the tools below.
Checking in with yourself
A short self-assessment can be more useful than it sounds. Ask yourself, honestly:
- Have you tried to cut back and found it harder than expected?
- Do you gamble to escape a low mood or a difficult day?
- Have you lied to anyone about how much you deposit or how often you play?
- Has your gambling ever affected your work, studies or relationships?
- Do you feel restless or on edge when you're not able to play?
- Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts to get the same enjoyment?
A "yes" to several of these is worth acting on, not ignoring. It's a signal to use one of the controls below, or to speak to one of the organisations further down this page.
Using 31bets' account controls
We give you several concrete ways to manage your own play, rather than relying on willpower alone.
Self-exclusion and time-out
You can request self-exclusion for a period between six months and five years by contacting our support team – once set, this isn't something that can be reversed early. If you just need a shorter break rather than a formal exclusion, our time-out option allows a temporary account closure instead, again arranged through support.
Deposit and loss limits
You can set a loss limit on your account, alongside other account limits, to cap what you're able to put in over a given period. If you'd rather stop deposits altogether for a while without closing the account, contacting support to disable the deposit option for a set period achieves that without the finality of self-exclusion.
Setting limits that work for you
A few practical habits make these tools more effective:
- Set a loss limit before a session, not partway through one
- Decide your budget in cash terms, not in "spins" or "bets"
- Treat a deposit as the end of that session's budget, not a top-up
- Use a time-out proactively rather than waiting until it feels urgent
- Keep track of deposits over a rolling month, not just a single week
- Avoid chasing a loss with a bigger stake than you started with
In the UK, online slot stakes are capped by law at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, and £2 per spin for those aged 18 to 24 – a rule that applies specifically to online slots rather than roulette, blackjack or live-dealer tables. It's a useful reference point for what "reasonable" looks like at a market level, regardless of which site you're playing on.
Finding support in the UK
If your own checks above raised concerns, several UK organisations offer free, confidential help:
- GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and available 24/7
- BeGambleAware provides advice, support and signposting to treatment
- GamStop is the national self-exclusion scheme covering all UK-licensed online operators, with 6-month, 1-year and 5-year options
- Gordon Moody offers residential and online treatment for more serious gambling harm
Blocking software
If you'd rather remove temptation at the device level, Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps across your devices, and BetBlocker does the same free of charge across most major platforms. Both work independently of any account settings, which makes them useful during a time-out or self-exclusion period.
Keeping your account away from minors
Our site is restricted to players aged 18+, and that age limit exists for good reason. If a device you use is ever shared with someone under 18, parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can help stop them accessing gambling sites at all, rather than relying on account settings alone.
If you have questions about any of the tools on this page, our team can be reached at [email protected].
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore.