Gambling is for adults only, and it can be harmful. This page covers the controls LuckyMate offers on every account, how the national self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP works, how to block gambling on your devices and bank cards, and where to find free, confidential support in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You won’t find offers or promo codes here.
Keeping gambling under control
Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. A few habits help:
- Set a deposit limit before you play and review it regularly. Time-outs and reality checks help when a session runs longer than planned.
- Stop when it stops being fun. Don’t try to win back losses, and keep money for bills, rent and food out of any gambling account.
- Take regular breaks. UK rules already slow online slots down: no autoplay or turbo spins, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, and stakes capped at £5 a spin (£2 for players aged 18 to 24).
- Pay by debit card or bank, never on credit. Great Britain banned gambling on credit cards in April 2020.
Since 31 October 2021, UK rules have also stopped players reversing a withdrawal request to put the money back into play.
Questions worth asking yourself
- Do you spend more time or money on gambling than you meant to?
- Have you borrowed, or used money meant for something else, to gamble?
- Do you go back to win back what you lost?
- Do you keep how much you gamble from the people close to you?
- Do you feel anxious or irritable when you can’t gamble?
If you answered yes to any of these, talk it through with one of the services further down this page. Calls are confidential, and you don’t need to be in crisis to ring.
LuckyMate’s safer gambling tools
LuckyMate’s operator is Anakatech Interactive Limited (Gambling Commission account 48789). Its safer gambling page and user agreement list the controls below, and it describes them as built into your account, except a session time limit, which support arranges.
| Tool | What you can set | How changes work |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Daily, weekly or monthly; you are asked for one when you register | A lower limit applies at once; a higher one after 24 hours |
| Loss limit | Daily, weekly or monthly | An increase takes effect after 24 hours |
| Session time limit | How long a session can last | Arranged through customer support |
| Reality check | An on-screen reminder of time played and your result so far | Set for your device and your account |
| Time-out | 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month or any period up to 6 weeks | LuckyMate may also apply a 24-hour time-out if your activity rises sharply within a day |
| Self-exclusion | 6 months to 5 years, for LuckyMate alone or every Anakatech Interactive brand | Lifted only after the period ends, through support |
| GAMSTOP | National exclusion from GB-licensed online gambling | Run by GAMSTOP, not by LuckyMate |
| Activity statement | A summary of your account activity | Provided at least twice a calendar year; the frequency can be changed |
Checked against LuckyMate’s published terms and the Gambling Commission register on 2 October 2026.
If you can’t find a setting, or want a session limit or self-exclusion, contact LuckyMate to set limits via live chat or at [email protected]. LuckyMate UK Guide only publishes information, so we can’t apply limits or exclusions for anyone.
Self-exclusion at LuckyMate
Self-exclusion shuts you out for a fixed period of 6 months to 5 years. You choose whether it applies to LuckyMate only or to all brands on Anakatech Interactive’s licence, Winomania among them. It can’t be lifted early. Once it ends, the account remains closed until you get in touch with support; a 24-hour cooling-off period then applies before play can resume. Licensed operators must not send marketing to people who have self-excluded.
Affordability checks
When account activity triggers a review, LuckyMate’s terms let it ask about your job, yearly income, gambling budget and where your money comes from, with payslips or bank statements as evidence. Gambling Commission rules also have operators check public records, such as county court judgments and bankruptcy orders, without asking you for anything.
GAMSTOP: one exclusion for all GB online gambling
GAMSTOP is a free national scheme. One registration blocks you from online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain, LuckyMate included, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Licensed online operators must take part, and while a GAMSTOP registration is active, no new LuckyMate account can be opened.
A GAMSTOP exclusion can’t be cancelled early. Even after the period ends, it stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP to remove it. The scheme covers online gambling only; betting shops have a separate scheme, GAMSTOP Betting Shops, on 0800 294 2060.
You can run LuckyMate’s own self-exclusion and GAMSTOP at the same time. LuckyMate’s version stops play at one group of brands, whereas GAMSTOP takes in all online gambling licensed in Great Britain.
Blocking gambling on devices and bank cards
Blocking software stops gambling sites and apps from opening on your phone, tablet or computer. Gamban is one option recommended by the NHS. LuckyMate’s safer gambling page also names BetBlocker, GamBlock and Net Nanny. Net Nanny is a parental control tool, useful on any device a child can use; LuckyMate itself verifies age through third-party checks before anyone can gamble.
Your bank can help too. Ask whether it can block gambling payments on your debit card, which some banks offer as a setting in their app. Once the block is on, card payments to gambling companies, including LuckyMate, are declined. GAMSTOP, blocking software and a bank block each shut a different route, so combining them makes sense.
Free support across the UK
The helplines below are free and confidential. If a life is at risk, call 999.
| Where you live | Service | Contact | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| England and Scotland | National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare | 0808 8020 133; live chat on the GamCare website; WhatsApp on the same number | 24/7, free |
| Wales | All Wales Gambling Treatment Service helpline (NHS Wales) | 0808 2819 265 | 24/7, free from mobiles and landlines; running since 1 April 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Problem Gambling Helpline, Dunlewey Addiction Services | 08000 886 725 | 24/7, 365 days a year |
| Great Britain | GambleAware: advice, tools and support, with a postcode search for local services | gambleaware.org; “Get help now” | Support in Great Britain 24/7; GB residents only |
For Wales, the Gambling Commission lists both numbers. GamCare’s helpline doesn’t currently cover Northern Ireland, so callers there should use Dunlewey.
Treatment, debt advice and emotional support
| Service | Contact | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Therapy (Gordon Moody) | [email protected] | Free online advice and emotional support for anyone affected by gambling |
| Gordon Moody | 01384 241292 | Residential treatment |
| Gamblers Anonymous (England, Wales and Ulster) | 0330 094 0322; Ulster (028) 7135 1329 | Information line; GA says it is not a crisis line |
| NHS gambling clinics (England) | Self-referral through the NHS website | Specialist treatment, including the National Problem Gambling Clinic and the NHS Northern and Southern Gambling Services |
| StepChange | 0800 138 1111 | Debt advice; freephone, including from mobiles |
| National Debtline | 0808 808 4000 | Debt advice; Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9:30am to 1pm |
| Citizens Advice (England) | Adviceline 0800 144 8848 | Free general advice on weekdays |
| Samaritans | 116 123 | Emotional support, 24/7, free |
Helpline numbers and hours checked on each service’s website on 2 October 2026.
Responsible gambling FAQ
How long can I take a time-out from LuckyMate?
A time-out can run for 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month or any period up to 6 weeks. LuckyMate may also apply a 24-hour time-out itself if your activity rises sharply within a day.
Can I cancel GAMSTOP before it ends?
No. A GAMSTOP exclusion runs for the full period you chose, 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and stays in place afterwards until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it.