Responsible gambling at Boomerang
We want your time at Boomerang to stay entertaining, not stressful. Gambling works as leisure when it fits within limits you set yourself – and when those limits hold. This page covers the warning signs worth watching for, the controls we offer, and the professional support available across the UK when you need it.
Why keeping control matters
Gambling becomes a problem when it takes more than you can afford – money, time, or attention you need elsewhere. The shift happens gradually: an occasional flutter turns into a daily routine, losses pile up faster than you planned, and the idea of stopping feels harder each time. Recognising that shift early is the difference between a manageable habit and a spiral that affects your rent, your relationships, and your health.
We are not here to lecture. But if you find yourself chasing losses, hiding how much you spend, or feeling anxious when you cannot play, those are signals worth taking seriously. Gambling should never be a way to escape problems or make money you need – that is when entertainment tips into harm.
Behaviour that should worry you
These are the concrete signs that gambling is crossing a line, not abstract warnings:
- Spending money set aside for bills, groceries or rent on bets
- Borrowing from friends, family or credit to keep playing
- Lying about how much you gamble or hiding it from people close to you
- Returning the next day to win back what you lost the day before
- Feeling restless, irritable or anxious when you try to cut down or stop
- Neglecting work, study or family commitments because of time spent gambling
One of these on its own might not mean much. Three or four together means it is time to ask for help, not to justify the pattern.
Questions worth asking yourself
A short self-check, answered honestly:
- Have you ever lied to people about how much you gamble?
- Do you gamble to escape worry, boredom or stress?
- After losing, do you feel you must return as soon as possible to win it back?
- Have you missed work, school or important commitments because of gambling?
- Do you gamble until your last pound is gone?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to fund gambling?
- Has gambling caused arguments with family or friends?
- Do you feel guilty or ashamed after gambling?
More than two "yes" answers suggests gambling is affecting your life in ways that need addressing. This is not a diagnosis – it is a nudge to reach out to someone who can help.
Our control tools
We provide self-exclusion for players who need a complete break. Contact our support team at [email protected] to request it – once active, your account is locked and cannot be reopened during the exclusion period. The standard duration is six months, extendable to longer terms if you ask for them. Self-exclusion blocks deposits, bets and logins; you will not be able to access the account until the period ends.
Self-exclusion is not reversible during the term you set. That permanence is the point – it removes the option to change your mind on impulse. If you are uncertain whether you need it, start with a shorter cooling-off break and extend it later if necessary.
National self-exclusion through GamStop
GamStop is a free UK-wide scheme that blocks access to all licensed gambling sites for a period you choose: six months, one year, or five years. Once registered at gamstop.co.uk, the exclusion applies across every operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission – not just ours. It cannot be undone early, and that is by design.
GamStop is the right tool when self-excluding from one site is not enough. If you find yourself opening accounts elsewhere after closing one, a blanket block is more effective than trying to manage it site by site.
Practical limits that work
Set a deposit ceiling before you start playing. Decide what you can afford to lose that week or month, deposit only that amount, and leave your cards out of reach once it is gone. Chasing a loss by topping up mid-session is where control breaks down.
Track your spending in writing. A mental tally drifts; a spreadsheet or notebook with dates and amounts does not. Check it weekly. If the numbers surprise you, that is useful information.
Use a separate account or prepaid card for gambling only. Transfer your gambling budget into it at the start of the month and nothing more. When it empties, you stop – no exceptions.
Set a time limit and stick to it. Decide before you log in how long the session will last – one hour, two hours – and close the browser when the alarm goes. Gambling stretches to fill the time available; a hard stop prevents that drift.
Never gamble when you are upset, tired or drunk. Decision-making suffers under stress and intoxication. Wait until you are calm and clear-headed, or do not play at all that day.
Take regular breaks. Even during a session, step away from the screen every 20 or 30 minutes. The break interrupts the flow state that makes hours vanish unnoticed.
Where to get help in the UK
Professional support is free, confidential, and available now – not something to consider only after things fall apart.
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day, every day. The call is free from UK landlines and mobiles. Advisers offer immediate support, help with a plan to regain control, and referrals to local services if you need face-to-face counselling. Visit gamcare.org.uk for online chat and resources.
BeGambleAware provides information, advice and signposting to treatment at begambleaware.org. Their site includes a self-assessment tool, guides for concerned family members, and a directory of support services across the country.
Gordon Moody offers residential treatment for severe gambling addiction at gordonmoody.org.uk. Their programmes run from several weeks to several months, providing intensive support in a structured environment away from everyday triggers.
All three organisations exist to help, not to judge. Reaching out is not an admission of failure – it is the decision that stops the problem getting worse.
Blocking software
If self-exclusion alone is not enough, software can block gambling sites at the device level. Gamban (gamban.com) is a paid service that blocks access to thousands of gambling sites and apps across all your devices – phones, tablets, computers. It runs in the background and cannot be bypassed without uninstalling it, which requires a 24-hour cooling-off period.
BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is free and works on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux. Once installed and activated, it blocks gambling sites and apps for a minimum period you set – you cannot turn it off early, even if you change your mind. BetBlocker is a charity-run tool and costs nothing to use.
Protecting minors
Access to Boomerang is restricted to players aged 18 and over (18+). We verify age at registration and before processing any withdrawal. But a household device used by adults can still be reached by a child or teenager if it is left unlocked or if login credentials are saved.
Parental control software such as Net Nanny, Qustodio or Norton Family can block gambling sites and set time limits on device use. Install it on any phone, tablet or computer a minor might access, and review the activity logs regularly. Blocking tools are not foolproof, but they raise a barrier.
The simplest measure is to log out after every session and keep payment details off autofill. A password manager set to require a master password before releasing credentials stops impulsive access.
Final word
Gambling should be entertainment, not a chore. If it stops feeling that way – if you are playing to fix a problem, recover a loss, or fill time you would rather not face – pause and assess whether it is still working for you. The tools and support listed here exist because recognising a problem early is easier than untangling one that has built up over months. Use them when you need them, not only when you have no other choice left.
You can reach our support team at [email protected] with questions about self-exclusion or account controls. For confidential help with gambling harm, contact GamCare, BeGambleAware or Gordon Moody directly – their services are free, and calling them is not something to put off.
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+). If gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.
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