Responsible Gaming
Gambling Should Be Entertainment, Not a Source of Income
At santacruzbluesfestival.com, we believe that gambling should always remain a form of entertainment — never a way to earn money or recover financial losses. The "house edge" means that over time, the odds are always in favour of the operator. Please never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose, and never view gambling as a financial strategy or solution to debt.
Treat any money you spend on gambling as the cost of entertainment — similar to buying a cinema ticket or a meal out. Once it's gone, it's gone. If you find yourself gambling to "win back" losses or to pay bills, please stop and seek help immediately.
Age Verification — 18+ Only
In Great Britain, the legal age for all forms of gambling — including online betting, casinos, bingo, and lottery products — is 18 years or older. Licensed UK operators are legally required to verify your age and identity before you can deposit funds or place bets.
Never attempt to gamble if you are under the legal age in your jurisdiction. Gambling underage is illegal and can lead to account closure, forfeiture of funds, and potential legal consequences. If you are a parent or guardian, consider installing parental control software and using gambling-blocking tools on shared devices.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually and often goes unnoticed. If you recognise any of the following behaviours in yourself or someone you care about, it may be time to seek help:
- Chasing losses — returning to gamble again soon after losing, in an attempt to win back money
- Hiding gambling activity — lying to family or friends about how much time or money you spend gambling
- Gambling with money meant for essentials — using rent, bill, or grocery money to fund gambling
- Neglecting responsibilities — missing work, school, or family commitments due to gambling
- Borrowing or selling possessions — taking out loans, using credit cards, or selling items to fund gambling
- Thinking about gambling constantly — being preoccupied with gambling, planning the next session, or reliving past wins
- Feeling irritable or restless — becoming agitated when trying to cut down or stop gambling
- Increasing bet sizes — needing to gamble with larger amounts to feel the same excitement
- Gambling to escape problems — using gambling as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness
- Failed attempts to stop — trying to quit or cut back but being unable to maintain the change
Experiencing even one or two of these signs consistently may indicate a developing problem. Early intervention is key — the sooner you seek help, the easier it is to regain control.
Self-Help Tools Available at UK Licensed Operators
All UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licensed operators are required to provide a range of safer gambling tools. These are designed to help you stay in control of your gambling behaviour. You can typically activate these tools directly within your account settings:
- Deposit Limits — Set a maximum amount you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly. Once reached, you cannot deposit more until the limit resets.
- Loss Limits — Cap the amount you are willing to lose over a set period. When you hit the limit, you are blocked from further play.
- Wager Limits — Restrict the total amount you can stake over a defined period.
- Reality Checks — Receive on-screen pop-up notifications at regular intervals (e.g., every 30, 60, or 90 minutes) showing how long you've been playing and your net position, with the option to continue or end the session.
- Time-Outs / Cool-Off Periods — Temporarily block yourself from logging in for a set period (e.g., 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or longer).
- Self-Exclusion — Exclude yourself from an operator for a minimum period of 6 months to 5 years or more. During this time, the operator must close your account and prevent you from opening a new one.
- GAMSTOP Self-Exclusion — A free, UK-wide service that blocks you from all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites and apps in one go (see below).
- Session Time Limits — Set a maximum duration for a single gambling session after which you are automatically logged out.
- Spend Tracking & Account History — Review detailed statements of your deposits, withdrawals, and betting activity to monitor your behaviour over time.
We strongly encourage you to set deposit limits and reality checks before you start playing. These tools are there to protect you — use them.
Support Organisations — Free, Confidential Help
If you are concerned about your gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, the following organisations provide free, confidential advice and support. You are not alone — help is available 24/7.
United Kingdom
- GamCare — The leading UK provider of free information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm. Offers a 24/7 National Gambling Helpline, live chat, and face-to-face counselling.
www.gamcare.org.uk — Freephone: 0808 8020 133 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) - GamStop — A free, independent self-exclusion scheme that lets you exclude yourself from all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites and apps in a single registration. Choose an exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.
www.gamstop.co.uk - Gamblers Anonymous UK — A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope to help others recover from compulsive gambling.
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk - National Debtline — Free, independent, and confidential advice on dealing with debt, which is often a consequence of problem gambling.
www.nationaldebtline.org — Freephone: 0808 808 4000
International Support
- Australia — Gambling Help Online — Free, confidential support for anyone affected by gambling in Australia. Offers 24/7 online chat and telephone counselling.
www.gamblinghelponline.org.au — Phone: 1800 858 858 - Canada — Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) — Provides resources, research, and prevention programmes to reduce gambling-related harm across Canada.
www.responsiblegambling.org - United States — National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) — The national advocate for problem gamblers and their families in the US. Operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
www.ncpgambling.org — Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) - Germany — Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) — Germany's Federal Centre for Health Education, offering information and support for gambling addiction and related issues.
www.bzga.de — Helpline: 0800 1 372 700 (free, anonymous, available in German) - Other Regions — For countries not listed above, we recommend searching for your national gambling support helpline or contacting GamCare's international advice service. Most countries have a dedicated organisation providing free, confidential help for gambling-related harm.
Seek Help — You Are Not Alone
If you recognise any of the warning signs above in yourself — or if gambling has stopped being fun and started causing stress, financial strain, or relationship problems — please reach out for help today. There is no shame in asking for support; it is one of the bravest things you can do.
Problem gambling is a recognised condition that can be treated. With the right support, thousands of people regain control of their lives every year. The sooner you act, the sooner things can improve.
- Talk to someone you trust — a partner, friend, or family member. You don't have to face this alone.
- Call or message a helpline — GamCare's National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
- Register with GamStop — self-exclude from all UK online gambling sites in minutes at www.gamstop.co.uk.
- Use blocking software — tools like Gamban, BetBlocker, or GamBlock can block gambling websites and apps on all your devices.
- Seek professional support — your GP can refer you to specialist NHS gambling treatment services across the UK.
Remember: Gambling is designed to be entertaining, not a way to make money. If it has stopped being fun, it is time to step back and seek help. Your wellbeing — and the wellbeing of those who care about you — is worth far more than any bet.