Safer Gambling Week 2026

Safer Gambling Week 2026 runs from 16–22 November 2026. Now in its tenth year, the campaign unites the regulated betting and gaming industry across the UK and Ireland to promote responsible gambling and highlight the tools that help players stay in control.

Organised by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Bacta and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week spreads a simple message across online and land-based venues: know your limits, use the tools available, and never be afraid to ask for help. It runs in parallel with the separate European Safer Gambling Week.

What Is Safer Gambling Week?

Safer Gambling Week is an annual, industry-wide campaign that encourages a nationwide conversation about betting and gaming responsibly. Bookmakers, casinos, bingo clubs and online operators all take part, using the week to signpost the practical tools that help customers stay in control and to point anyone who needs it towards free, confidential support.

The idea is simple: gambling should stay fun. By fostering open conversations and making the available safeguards easy to find, Safer Gambling Week aims to reduce gambling-related harm and help every player know – and keep to – their own limits.

The Safer Gambling Tools It Promotes

The campaign puts a spotlight on the free responsible gambling tools that every licensed UK operator must offer:

• Deposit limits – cap how much you can pay in daily, weekly or monthly.
• Reality checks – on-screen reminders of how long you have been playing.
• Time-outs – take a short break of 24 hours up to six weeks.
• Self-exclusion – block yourself from a site, or from every UK online operator at once through GAMSTOP.
• Loss and spend tracking – review your activity history to stay aware of what you are really spending.

How to Take Part and Where to Get Help

You do not need to do anything formal to take part – use the week as a prompt to check in with your own habits. Set a deposit limit, review your recent play, or simply start a conversation with friends or family. If you are worried about your own or someone else’s gambling, free and confidential support is available all year round:

• GamCare – the National Gambling Helpline is open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133.
• Gamblers Anonymous – peer support groups across the UK.
• GAMSTOP – free self-exclusion from all licensed online operators.

Does Safer Gambling Week Work?

The campaign has a measurable impact. Analysis of the 2024 campaign found that more than 1.5 million unique accounts used a safer gambling tool during the week: a 22% year-on-year increase. Deposit limit use rose by 14%, with nearly half of those limits set for the first time, and the campaign generated more than 60 million impressions across social media. It is proof that a single, focused week of conversation can move players to take practical steps to stay in control.

You can read more on the official Safer Gambling Week website and from the Betting and Gaming Council.

Safer Gambling News:

30. Jul 2026 16:11

78% of People Say Terms Aren't Easy to Understand – 5 Key Things to Look For

If you have ever slid past a long screen of terms and conditions without understanding much of it – you are not alone. According to our 2026 Player Survey of 1,915 UK players, only 22% of people say terms are easy to understand. But fear not, we’re going to break down the 5 key things to look for. The 78% of Players Our 2026 Player Survey asked 1,915 UK players…

by

Nic McBride

3min

23. Jul 2026 15:21

The Number One Reason People Gamble – According to 20,000 Brits

If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers.  But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising. Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble.  The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also…

by

Nic McBride

3min

8. May 2026 17:04

Unlicensed casino sites in the UK: the risks of non-GamStop casinos and VPNs

Brits are turning to VPNs in huge numbers to access illegal gambling sites, racking up an estimated 150-200 million minutes on dodgy casinos in January 2026 alone. And seriously risking their money in the process. VPN usage in the UK has surged since the Online Safety Act came into force in July 2025, and Gambling Commission research recorded around 20 million visits to illegal gambling sites that month. Often marketed…

by

Nic McBride

7min

15. Apr 2026 10:19

WhichBingo Awards 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Editors' Choice Awards

You, the public have spoken. Over 480,000 votes cast across the main categories… and now it’s our turn. While the player vote decides the 12 winners in the Main categories, like Best Bingo Site and Best Slot Game, plus the 5 Pre-Show categories like Best Bingo Caller, there are a handful of categories at the WhichBingo Awards 2026 that an expert judging panel decides. These are the 4 Editors’ Choice…

by

Esther Rubin

3min

Load More