Coral Casino — UK Gambling Community Discussion

Has anyone successfully come back from a serious gambling problem? I self-excluded for 2 years and have just come off GamStop. I want to gamble recreationally again as part of a normal life but I am nervous about starting back. What advice does the community have for returning to gambling after a self-exclusion period?

Financial self-exclusion through your bank is an underused tool. Most UK banks including Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, and HSBC allow you to block gambling transactions entirely from the banking app. Combined with GamStop this creates a comprehensive barrier. The bank block can be removed but with a 24 to 48 hour delay that helps interrupt impulsive decisions.

The question of whether you have a problem is less important than whether you want a different relationship with gambling. If you are regularly gambling more than planned or finding it difficult to stop, the responsible gambling tools exist precisely for you and they are free and confidential. There is no threshold you need to meet to seek help.

If gambling is causing you any level of concern, the resources available in the UK are genuinely excellent. BeGambleAware.org has a free helpline and live chat. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133. These are confidential and staffed by people who genuinely help without judgment.

GamStop covers all UKGC licensed gambling websites — casinos, sportsbooks, bingo, poker. It does not cover betting shops or non-UKGC sites. You can self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. After your period ends you need to contact GamStop directly to remove the exclusion — it does not lift automatically.