Responsible Gambling | SBK
Keep betting within your limits
At this website, we encourage you to set boundaries before betting and to stop if gambling is causing difficulties. SBK accounts are for people aged 18 or over. Betting should never be relied on to pay bills or replace earnings.
Decide what you can afford to lose, leave essential spending untouched and take regular breaks. Avoid betting when distressed or affected by alcohol or drugs. Trying to recover a loss through more bets can make the situation worse.
Deposit and loss controls
SBK's account controls are under Account, then My Limits. Check the limits already applied to your account before making a deposit or placing a bet.
| Control | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Gross deposit limit | The total deposited during the chosen period, without deducting withdrawals. |
| Net deposit limit | Deposits minus withdrawals during the period. A withdrawal can therefore create room for another deposit. |
| Loss limit | Net losses over a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly period. Winnings increase the remaining allowance. Losses count in the period when the bets settle. |
Loss-limit calculations also take account of exposure on outstanding bets. Raising or removing a loss limit requires a cooling-off period. Deposit-limit increases are subject to approval and a waiting period. Check the applicable conditions in your account before requesting a change.
Limit periods do not necessarily match calendar weeks or months. Weekly and monthly periods reset after seven and 30 days respectively. A daily limit first applied after midnight UK time covers the remainder of that day plus the following day, then resets at midnight each day.
A short break or a longer exclusion
These options block account access, but their duration and reopening rules differ.
| Option | Available duration | What happens afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Timeout | 1, 7, 31 or 42 days | Access returns automatically when the selected period ends. The timeout cannot be cancelled early. |
| Self-exclusion | Six months, one year, five years or permanently | Access remains blocked throughout the exclusion. After a finite period, contact SBK support by email to request access. Reopening is not automatic. Permanent exclusion cannot be reversed. |
To start a timeout, open My Limits, select Time out, choose a duration and confirm Initiate Time Out. While it runs, the cashier is unavailable too. Contact SBK account support by email if you need to withdraw money during the break.
For self-exclusion, open Account, then My Limits, then Self-exclusion. Read the conditions, select Configure self-exclusion and choose the period. Contact SBK account support for an exclusion longer than five years or a permanent exclusion, or to ask support to apply one for you.
Self-exclusion prevents login, deposits and betting with any remaining funds. SBK's self-exclusion policy provides for the remaining balance to be returned automatically within 48 hours. Contact account support to request an earlier withdrawal or help with the return of funds.
Extending protection beyond one account
GAMSTOP provides free self-exclusion across online gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain. Consider this alongside an SBK exclusion if you want restrictions across other gambling accounts.
Blocking software can add another barrier on your devices. SBK's guidance names BetBlocker, GamBlock and Gamban among the options. Use these alongside account restrictions and support, rather than treating software as a guarantee. You can also ask your bank whether it offers a gambling-payment block.
Recognising when to seek support
Take notice if betting starts displacing everyday responsibilities. Changes to look out for include the following.
- Feeling unable to stop thinking about the next bet.
- Concealing spending or borrowing to keep gambling.
- Missing family time or commitments because of betting.
- Placing further bets to try to recover money lost.
You can seek help for yourself or because you are worried about someone close to you.
| Organisation | Contact or support route |
|---|---|
| GamCare | Call 0808 8020 133 or visit GamCare for gambling support. |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Find peer support through Gamblers Anonymous UK. |
| Gambling Therapy | Access advice and online support through Gambling Therapy. |
Protecting younger people
Keep account credentials and payment details away from children, and sign out before sharing a device. Parental controls can help restrict access to gambling content. BigDeal offers gambling information and support aimed at young people.
SBK checks identity, age and address, and may ask for age-verification documents or suspend access pending those checks.
Support
For questions about our pages on this website, use the support channel within your SBK account. To activate an account restriction or arrange a balance withdrawal, use the SBK account controls or contact SBK account support.