We want your time with Bruno to stay enjoyable. This page is for anyone who suspects their gambling might be sliding out of balance – and for anyone who simply wants to set boundaries before they're needed. What follows is concrete: the tools we offer, the signs worth watching for, and the organisations in the UK that provide free, confidential support.
Why responsible gambling matters
Gambling is entertainment, not an income stream. The moment it stops feeling like a choice – when you chase losses, when you gamble with money earmarked for bills, when the session drags past the point of enjoyment – it has crossed a line. Recognising that line early is half the solution.
Signs gambling is getting out of hand
Watch for these behaviours in yourself:
- You're spending more time or money than you planned, repeatedly.
- You gamble to escape boredom, stress or low mood rather than for entertainment.
- You've borrowed money to gamble or to cover gambling losses.
- You lie to family or friends about how much you gamble.
- You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
- You've neglected work, study or relationships because of gambling.
If two or more of those ring true, it's worth pausing and taking stock.
Questions worth asking yourself
A short self-check, answered honestly:
- Have you ever felt the need to bet more money, more often?
- Have you lied to people important to you about your gambling?
- Do you gamble until your last pound is gone?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to finance gambling?
- Has gambling caused you to lose interest in family, friends or hobbies?
- After losing, do you return the next day to try to win it back?
- Do you gamble to forget worries or to relieve feelings of helplessness or guilt?
This is not a diagnosis – but if you answered yes to several, speaking to someone trained in problem gambling can clarify what's happening and what to do next.
Bruno's control tools
We provide a cooling-off period as part of our responsible gambling toolkit. During a cooling-off period your account is temporarily suspended: you cannot deposit, wager or withdraw, and the suspension lasts for a set duration you choose when activating it. This gives you a break without closing your account permanently.
To activate a cooling-off period, contact our support team at [email protected] and specify the length of break you need. The minimum period is 24 hours; longer breaks can be arranged depending on what you feel is necessary.
Practical limits that work
Short, concrete steps that help maintain control:
- Set a deposit limit for the week or month and do not override it, whatever the session outcome.
- Decide a time limit before you start – use your phone's timer – and stop when it rings.
- Never gamble with money needed for rent, bills or food.
- Keep a written record of what you spend; seeing the total in black and white is clarifying.
- Take regular breaks during play – every 30 minutes, step away from the screen for five.
- If you feel the urge to chase a loss, close the site and do something else instead. The urge usually fades within 15 minutes.
Where to get help in the UK
Free, confidential support is available around the clock from organisations that understand problem gambling:
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Counselling, peer support groups, online chat | gamcare.org.uk · National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 (24/7, free) |
| BeGambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools, treatment referrals | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment and online programmes | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| GamStop | Free national self-exclusion scheme across all UKGC-licensed sites | gamstop.co.uk |
Every one of these organisations operates without judgement. You're not wasting their time by calling – helping people in your situation is exactly what they exist to do.
Blocking software
If you need a technical barrier between yourself and gambling sites, two tools are widely used in the UK:
- Gamban (gamban.com) – blocks access to gambling sites and apps across all your devices; subscription-based, with a free trial available.
- BetBlocker (betblocker.org) – free, open-source blocking software for desktop and mobile; covers tens of thousands of gambling domains.
Both run quietly in the background and remove the option to gamble on impulse.
Protecting minors
Access to Bruno is restricted to persons aged 18 and over (18+). If you share a device with someone younger, parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can block gambling sites at the operating-system level and log attempts to reach them.
For questions about our responsible gambling measures, or to arrange a cooling-off period, contact us at [email protected].
This site is for players aged 18 and over (18+) only. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential support is available at BeGambleAware.org.