Most people who open this page are checking in on their own habits, or someone else's, and that's worth doing before a session rather than after a bad one. Katanaspin sits alongside a set of controls built for exactly that moment. This page sets out what those controls do, what to watch for in your own play, and where to go if you need more than a limit switch.
The honest framing
Gambling is entertainment with a cost attached, not a way to make money back. Treat any win as a bonus outcome rather than an expected one, and treat the stake as money already spent the moment it's placed. That framing alone stops most problems before they start.
Behaviour that should worry you
- Chasing a loss with a bigger stake than you'd normally place
- Borrowing, or using money set aside for bills, to keep playing
- Hiding the amount of time or money spent from people close to you
- Feeling irritable or anxious when you try to stop
- Playing later into the night than you planned, repeatedly
A short self-check
Answer honestly, not how you'd like to answer:
- Have you spent more than you intended to in the last month?
- Have you lied to anyone about how much you play or lose?
- Do you gamble to escape a bad mood rather than for enjoyment?
- Have you tried to cut back and found it harder than expected?
- Has anyone close to you raised concerns about your play?
- Do you need to bet more to get the same enjoyment you used to?
Two or more "yes" answers is a reasonable point to use the tools below, or to talk to one of the organisations further down this page.
Our deposit and time controls
We set deposit limits at three intervals: a daily limit that resets every 24 hours, a weekly limit that resets every 168 hours, and a monthly limit that resets every 720 hours. Set the shortest one first — a daily cap catches an impulse top-up in a way a monthly figure never will, because the monthly limit only stops you once the whole month's ceiling is already spent.
A loss limit works differently: it caps what you can lose over the period rather than what you can put in, which matters if a single losing session would otherwise sit inside your deposit limit but still cost more than you meant to risk. A wagering limit caps total stakes rather than deposits or losses, useful if you play at low stakes but for long stretches.
For anyone who needs more than a ceiling, self-exclusion is available for a set period or permanently, and it removes access rather than just capping it. None of these tools require an explanation from you to activate — request them through account settings or by writing in, and they take effect on our side, not on your willpower.
Practical limits that work
- Set the daily deposit limit before your first deposit, not after a losing week
- Decide your stake for the session before you log in, and stop when it's gone
- Avoid playing when tired, drinking, or upset — decisions get worse, not better
- Never treat a deposit limit increase as a sign you're managing well — it's usually the opposite
- Use a time-out (a short, fixed break) the first time you notice you've played longer than planned
Where to get help in the UK
These organisations are independent of any operator and free to use. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and available 24/7. BeGambleAware offers confidential support and information, and GamStop provides free self-exclusion across all UK-licensed gambling sites in one registration. For anyone needing structured treatment rather than a helpline call, Gordon Moody runs residential and online programmes.
Blocking software
If self-exclusion through an account isn't enough on its own, blocking software works at the device level instead. Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps across a device; BetBlocker does the same and is free on most platforms.
Protecting minors
This site and the products it describes are restricted to players aged 18+. If a phone, tablet or computer is shared with anyone under that age, parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can block gambling content at the device level, which is worth setting up regardless of how careful you think your own account settings are.
Questions about any of the controls above, or about setting a limit on your account, can go to [email protected].
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore.
You must be 18 or over (18+) to use this site. Support with gambling is free and confidential at BeGambleAware.org.