In This Article:
About us and our approach
Who can gamble?
How we identify and support customers
Tools to help you stay in control
Support and Advice
About us and our approach
We're Sky Betting & Gaming, home to some of the UK's most popular betting and gaming brands including Sky Bet, Sky Vegas, Sky Casino, Sky Bingo and Sky Poker.
And we're committed to making gambling safer than it's ever been.
Our approach
We're investing in technology and data, and creating a culture of testing and learning, so we can better protect our customers and help to give them the safe gambling experiences they want and expect from us.
No two people gamble the same way, so that means there isn't a 'one size fits all' solution. Making gambling safer is a challenge, but it's one we're fully focused on.
Who can gamble?
Age Policy
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18* to open an account or to gamble with Sky Betting & Gaming.
If we believe you are underage we will ask for documentation to prove who you are. To read more about our verification process you can read our Customer Verification article.
Sky Betting & Gaming takes its responsibilities in this regard very seriously, and we carry out electronic age verification checks upon registration. Sky Betting & Gaming reserves the right to request proof of age documentation from any client at any time and to suspend any accounts until this is provided. We further reserve the right to forfeit all transactions and return all deposits minus withdrawals to anyone under the age of 18*.
We understand that minors can often use our phones, tablets and laptops. At Sky Betting & Gaming we advise and encourage our customers to prevent minors from accessing gambling.
Tips for protecting minors
Always log out of your gambling account/s and keep your username, password and deposit details out of reach of minors.
Talk to your children openly about the legality and potential damages of gambling and underage gambling.
Install blocking software which allows you to control and block access to, amongst other things, gambling sites both on PC and mobile.
Find out more at BigDeal, an organisation run by GamCare, offer gambling information, advice and support for young people.
How we identify and support customers
Gambling addiction is one of the most complex addictions to understand.
If you're reading this because someone you care about has a gambling disorder, or you suspect they have, then you're probably feeling confused, scared, frustrated, angry and generally in despair.
You might feel you no longer recognise the person you love, and feel they don't care about you because they choose gambling over your relationship. It can feel like trust has been destroyed.
If you don't understand the meaning of what's going on for the person you care about, then their behaviour makes no rational sense at all. You wonder why they don't just stop gambling if it's causing so much stress and damage to their finances.
Gambling addiction is one of the most complex addictions to understand. But what's key to understanding it is knowing it's about a lot more than just money, or a love of gambling.
The obsession with money and trying to win back what they lost is a consequence of their addiction to gambling. The cause of gambling addiction, like any other addiction, can be mental health problems like anxiety, depression or stress. And it can be triggered by intolerable thoughts and feelings about a life crisis, like a bereavement, a relationship break-up or losing a job.
The Signs
How would you know if someone you care about has a gambling problem? Gambling addiction is much easier to hide than alcohol or drug addiction, but there are signs and symptoms:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Borrowing money
- Depression
- Hiding bank statements
- Increasing debt
- Isolating
- Loss of interest in hobbies and socialising
- Mood swings
- Poor self-care
- Secretive behaviour with smartphones and laptops
- Seeming unusually distracted and preoccupied
- Unexplained money problems
Can someone ever get over a gambling addiction?
Yes, they can.
It's entirely possible to have a lifelong rewarding recovery. Some people can manage to stop their addiction by themselves, but withdrawal from gambling can be as hard as withdrawal from alcohol and drugs.
It's easier to get through withdrawal, and to create a healthier and happier life afterwards, with professional help and support.
Remember: if you are close to someone who has an addiction to gambling, it will have an impact on you. There is help and support available for you, too.
Take the first step and contact us today or get further guidance through the National Gambling Helpline:
UK: 0808 8020 133
Ireland: 1800 936 725
Tools to help you stay in control
If you ever find yourself gambling with more than you'd like, we have a number of free self-help tools available to you. They're designed to keep gambling fun. You may never need them, but they're here if you do:
My Profit and Loss
- Choose a time frame and see how much money you've won or lost for that period. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much you're up. But its also designed to flag how much you're down. Learn more about My Profit and Loss here.
Deposit Limits
- Our Deposit Limits are net, meaning they consider both deposits and withdrawals. If you want to increase your limit it'll take 24-hours to kick in. Decreases will happen immediately. Learn more about net Deposit Limits here. You can also click a link below to apply a Deposit Limit directly:
Cool Off Periods
- Take a break from our products, whether it's one day or 30 days. Once your Cool Off Period is over, you'll simply be able to re-access our site and app. There's no need to contact us. Learn more about our Cool Off tool here.
Self Exclusion
- If you want to stop completely, you can block your account from all our products for six months up to five years or permanently.
- If you are considering self-exclusion, you may wish to register with GAMSTOP.
- GAMSTOP is a free service that enables you to selfexclude from participating online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain.
- To find out more and to sign up with GAMSTOP please visit www.gamstop.co.uk .
- For more information on how self-exclusion is managed across other brands in Flutter Entertainment PLC, click here.
Reality Check
- This is applicable to our Gaming brands only, including Sky Vegas, Sky Bingo and Sky Casino, which allows you to set a length of time you'd like to play for and get notified when that time is up. Learn more about our Reality Check tool here.
Gambling Support
- If you'd like to talk about any of the tools, please click the 'Contact Us' button at the bottom of this page and select 'Live Chat'
- If you're concerned in any way about your gambling, you can get free, independent and non-judgemental advice at gambleaware.org or gamcare.org.uk
- You can also call the National Gambling Helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133.
- You can access online support groups, forums and free resource at gamblingtherapy.org or download the app.
- Gordon Moody Association offers residential treatment for severe addiction.
- Gamblers Anonymous has a forum and access to advisors via www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk or on 0207 384 3040.
- The Samaritan - The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support at www.samaritans.org, on 08457 90 90 90 (UK), 1850 60 90 90 (ROI) or email jo@samaritans.org
- You can use Website Filtering and Blocking software available, such as BetBlocker and Gamban.
- BetBlocker is a free and anonymous service that is quick and easy to install and blocks access to gambling sites across all your devices www.betblocker.org
- Gamban blocks access to thousands of gambling websites and apps on all the most popular platforms www.gamban.com. It is free for all UK residents through TalkBanStop.
- For more source of Gambling Support, see our full list here: What can I do if I think I may be gambling to much?
Carry out a Self Assessment
Concerned about your habits? You can find out how safe your gambling is via GamCare. In an online assessment, you'll be asked a series of statements about your gambling behaviour on a scale of 1 - 10. At the end, you'll be provided with a breakdown of how gambling is affecting your life, alongside personal recommendations for your next steps.
Take a self assessment