Safer Gambling Week reached millions of players across the UK last year. During the drive, organisers reported 7.2m safer gambling messages being sent to players through operators and partners. This huge reach shared important tips quickly on many platforms.
The campaign also encouraged more players to try tools that can help manage play. Research showed over 1.5m unique accounts used at least one safer gambling tool during the week. Even interest in limits and time-outs grew more than it had in previous campaigns.
These numbers show how responsible gaming tools are becoming part of regular gaming habits. For many players, limits, time-outs, and other safety features are more handy than ever. That’s why campaigns like this are helping make safe play a normal part of gaming.
The increase also sets a clear benchmark for future responsible gaming efforts. That is, operators and regulators alike can see what works to encourage safer habits. It gives a strong foundation to keep improving player support across the UK.
Self-exclusion is a handy tool that lets players step away from gaming. In the UK, GamStop is one of the main national systems for anyone wanting a break from online gaming. After all, many players still don’t know about it or use it regularly.
Besides GamStop, more platforms also provide extra self-exclusion options for players. Here, many operators often include their own tools alongside GamStop to give more choice. This gives players more control over how and when they step away.
Deposit limits are a simple way for players to control how much they add. These tools let people cap deposits for a day, week, or month. In the UK, more than 52% of players knew they could set limits, but fewer actually used them.
Only 4.7% of players had actually enabled deposit, loss, or spending limits, as per UK Gambling Commission data. This shows that many players know about limits but rarely use them. Figuring out why people hesitate to set limits is key for operators and educators.
Time-out tools, which let players take short breaks, also feature in safer gaming. In fact, account history tools and time-outs help people reflect on their patterns. For example, 22% of players reported using account history tools in the past year to review their activity.
Overall, nearly 48% of respondents said they had never used any responsible gaming tool when asked. This shows that many players interact with at least one protective option over time. It also highlights that there is still room to increase overall use.
The gap between knowing a tool exists and actually using it shows how players perceive usefulness. If messaging is simple and clear, more people might take advantage of these tools. Regardless, industry groups keep explaining benefits without forcing players to act.
Building on these findings, educators and operators can make tools easier for players. Besides, showing benefits clearly and guiding players helps them feel confident while playing. This method slowly encourages more players to use various tools across all platforms.
More organisations across the UK are working to help players make safer choices. Tools like self-exclusion systems and Safer Gambling Week campaigns help support this effort. In fact, awareness is growing, and more people are using these tools when they play.
Even industry data shows real growth in how players engage with limits and monitoring tools. As more players try them, responsible gaming is slowly becoming part of their daily routines. With these numbers, safer gaming is becoming a normal part of gaming culture.
Clear, simple messages already ensure more players know how to use these tools. Showing benefits in plain words makes players feel much more confident while playing. Over time, this approach helps more people use tools and build safer habits.
