Safer Gambling
At Metropolitan Gaming, we are committed to preventing underage gambling, to protecting young and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, and to increasing support for the treatment of gambling harm.
We do this by creating a culture of Safer Gambling within our casinos.
While the vast majority of players will never experience any gambling harm, our Safer Gambling focus is not confined to those who have experienced gambling harms or are most at risk from gambling harms.
At Metropolitan Gaming, we believe that gambling should be fun for all our customers.
Gambling should be fun! To make sure it stays that way and doesn’t impact other areas of your life, it’s important to think about the amount of money you can afford to gamble. That means you need to understand the difference between ‘disposable income’ and ‘discretionary spend’.
Disposable income is defined as your take-home income after any relevant deductions, such as tax, national insurance, and pension payments.
Discretionary spend is defined as the amount you have left from your disposable income after taking out your living costs. These will include expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, food, and travel, but there will also be many other essential expenses you should consider. You need to calculate how much you personally can afford to spend on gambling after you have met all of these essential costs. This will be different for everyone.
Ask yourself if you have sufficient discretionary spend to afford gambling at your current level.
We may from time to time ask you to consider if you have sufficient discretionary spend to continue with your level of gambling.
In our casinos, you can place a limit on the amount that you may withdraw each day by cheque or debit card at the cash desk.
Our electronic gaming machines also give you the option to set limits on time and spend.
Please speak to an employee at any of our casinos who will assist you in setting up these facilities.
Could you be vulnerable to gambling harm? Here are some questions you should ask yourself to make sure you are gambling safely.
If you answer 'Yes' to any of these questions, then you may be vulnerable to gambling harm and you should take further action – see Additional Support.
In addition, GamCare and Gordon Moody have a free, anonymous self-assessment tool to help you understand the impact gambling is having on your life.
Like many other gambling companies, Metropolitan Gaming operates a voluntary self-exclusion scheme intended to help individuals who believe they may be vulnerable to gambling harm and would benefit from a break. You can talk in confidence to one our Safer Gambling Ambassadors about self-excluding from our venues.
You can also self-exclude nationally from all casinos in the UK by asking to join the casino industry’s national self-exclusion scheme, SENSE (Self-Enrolment National Self-Exclusion).
SENSE is a voluntary scheme. It allows people who believe they have a problem with their gambling to exclude themselves nationally from all land-based casinos in the UK. The aim of the scheme is to enable customers to self-exclude in a simple, transparent way.
Support agencies
GamCare - National Gambling Helpline
Gamcare operates the National Gambling Helpline and offers confidential information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling in Great Britain. The helpline is open 24 hours every day on Freephone 0808 8020 133 or via Live Chat. Advisers will listen to you, but they won’t judge you, and your conversation is confidential.
National Gambling Helpline support - 24-hour Freephone 0808 8020 133
GamCare Forums and Chatrooms
GamCare offers a moderated online forum and daily online group chatrooms to enable those affected by gambling harm to connect with others in similar situations, share their experience, and support one another.
GamCare Forum and GamCare Chatroom
Young People’s Support Service
The Young People’s Support Service, run by GamCare, can support anyone aged 18 and under across the UK (including Northern Ireland) who is either experiencing or at risk of experiencing, harm because of gambling. This can be if they are gambling themselves, or if they are affected by someone else’s gambling.
Young People’s Support Service - Freephone 0808 80 20 133 - Call 020 3902 6964 - Live Chat
GamCare's dedicated website for young people, parents, and teachers
GambleAware
GambleAware provides information and advice and directs people to support to help keep people safe from gambling harm.
GambleAware - 24-hour Freephone 0808 8020 133
The National Support Network
A network of organisations working together to provide confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harm, free to access across England, Scotland and Wales.
The National Gambling Support Network - 24-hour Freephone 0808 8020 133
Gambling Therapy
A global online support service, offering advice in multiple languages for people who have been adversely affected by gambling.
Gambling Therapy - Talk to Us - email support@gamblingtherapy.org
Gordon Moody
A charity providing advice, education, and high quality innovative therapeutic support to problem gamblers and those affected by gambling, through residential, online, and outreach services. The charity also runs a unique online support service to problem gamblers outside Britain.
Gordon Moody - Call 01384 241292 - email help@gordonmoody.org.uk
Other gambling exclusions
GAMSTOP and MOSES offer exclusions to gambling websites and betting shops.
GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is a free service for consumers resident within the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) which allows controls to be put in place to prevent you from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.
GAMSTOP - Call 0800 138 6518
Multi Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme (MOSES)
MOSES allows people to self-exclude from betting shops, generally the ones close to their home, place of work, or where they socialise. The registration process is telephone-based so that MOSES can customise an exclusion to the needs of the caller.
MOSES - Call 0800 294 2060
The Bingo Association and Bacta offer exclusions from bingo venues and adult gaming centres.
The Bingo Industry Self-Exclusion Scheme
The Bingo Association offers a voluntary scheme that enables customers to request exclusion from land-based licensed bingo premises across Great Britain. This scheme does not cover bingo websites. You can enrol in the scheme by visiting a local bingo premises or by contacting the Bingo Association.
The Bingo Association – Call 01582 860921
Bacta
Bacta allows you to voluntarily self-exclude from Adult Gaming Centres. You can enrol in the scheme contacting Bacta Self-Exclusion Services on the phone number shown below.
Bacta – Call 020 3930 9769 (Mon-Fri 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.)
Website blockers
Various websites offer gambling specific and general blocking software:
BetBlocker
Allows a customer to set up a gambling self-restriction. The BetBlocker tool will automatically restrict a device from accessing any of the gaming operators URLS in their database. BetBlocker update their database on a weekly basis to ensure the customer is offered the maximum possible protection.
Gamban
Once installed on your devices this software will block access to thousands of gambling websites and apps.
GamBlock
GamBlock blocks access to online gambling and has been helping problem gamblers avoid the dangers of unrestricted gambling since 2000.
Net Nanny
Net Nanny offers a safe solution for web browsing and internet use by blocking certain applications and websites.
Banking restrictions
For a list of financial service organisations in the UK that currently offer gambling blocks on debit cards click here.
Other support agencies
Action On Addiction
The only UK addiction charity that works across all areas of treatment, research, family support and professional education.
Action on Addiction - Call 0300 330 0659
Addiction Recovery Agency Ltd (Ara)
Ara helps people with alcohol, drug, gambling and mental health issues. Over many years, ARA has provided structured treatment, counselling, housing support, education, training and employment guidance as well as many other interventions to promote recovery and a healthier life. ARA has an extensive and expanding service providing counselling and support for problem gamblers.
Ara: recovery for all - Call 0330 1340 286 - email info@recovery4all.co.uk
Beacon Counselling Trust (BCT)
BCT is a charity offering free counselling for people with gambling-related issues, including affected partners, family members and friends.
Beacon Counselling Trust - Call 0151 226 0696 - email support@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk
Betknowmore
Betknowmore is a provider of gambling support and training services, using the insight and knowledge of ‘Experts by Experience’ combined with evidence-based approaches to assist with the recovery from gambling dependency.
Betknowmore – Call 0800 066 4827 – email info@betknowmoreuk.org
Deal Me Out
Deal Me Out delivers the national education and gambling harms awareness programme for Wales. Its aim is to reduce the adverse impact of gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and society through education, prevention, and support.
Deal Me Out – email hello@dealmeout.org
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
A self-help fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strengths and hopes that they may solve their common problem and help others to do the same.
Gamblers Anonymous - Call 0330 094 0322 - email info@gamblersanonymous.org.uk
GamAnon UK
GamAnon holds meetings alongside GA for anyone who has been affected by a loved one’s gambling problem.
GamAnon
Red Card Gambling Support Project
Red Card offers a full-range of services to help problem gamblers and support those affected by problem gambling. Preventing the development of a gambling addiction is one of their key goals.
Red Card Gambling Support - Call 0800 2945074
Responsible Gambling Council
The Council is committed to working with all stakeholders, including operators, regulators, players and families, to reduce the risks of gambling and provide information and resources to those who need support. It assists players and families by empowering those who choose to gamble to make informed choices, building awareness and understanding of the risks associated with gambling and the strategies to prevent problem gambling and reduce harm, helping to connect those affected by gambling problems to community support.
Responsible Gambling Council
The National Gambling Clinic
A clinical treatment provider based in London, treating problem gamblers from England and Wales. A team of qualified clinicians provides individual or group therapy and the only proven Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) treatment programme for problem gamblers.
National Gambling Clinic - Call 020 7381 7722 - email gambling.cnwl@nhs.net
National Debtline
Provides advice and support to help deal with debts in a proactive way. Self-help packs are sent out free of charge.
National Debtline - Call Freephone 0808 808 4000
Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM)
Providing the tools and information to build digital resilience, educate, and safeguard young people against problematic gambling and gaming.
YGAM - Call 0203 837 4963 - email hello@ygam.org
Samaritans
If you are having a difficult time or are worried about someone else the Samaritans are available to listen without judgement or pressure and will help you work through what’s on your mind.
Samaritans - Call 116 123 for free 24/7
Mind
The national organisation acts as an umbrella organisation to many independent local Minds, which provide different services across the country, including therapy services, self-help groups and alternative therapies.
Mind - Call 0300 123 3393
At Metropolitan Gaming, we are committed to preventing underage gambling, to protecting young and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, and to increasing support for the treatment of gambling harm.
We do this by creating a culture of Safer Gambling within our casinos.
While the vast majority of players will never experience any gambling harm, our Safer Gambling focus is not confined to those who have experienced gambling harms or are most at risk from gambling harms.
At Metropolitan Gaming, we believe that gambling should be fun for all our customers.
For more information, please visit safergamblinguk.org
