Responsible Gambling
Betting on football should stay a bit of fun, not a way to make money. This page explains how to keep it that way, the warning signs to watch for, and where to find free, confidential help. Last reviewed as of 26 June 2026.
Betting is 18+ and for entertainment, never income
This page is for adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, betting is not for you. Anyone of legal age should treat a stake as the cost of entertainment, like a cinema ticket or a night out. Once that money is gone, it is gone.
Never bet money you need for rent, food, bills or family, and never use money you have borrowed. Outcomes are never guaranteed. No result is a sure thing and no system beats the odds over time. If a session stops being enjoyable, that is the moment to step away rather than push on.
Signs it may be becoming a problem
Chasing losses
You keep betting to win back money you have lost, placing bigger or riskier bets than you meant to.
Spending more than planned
You use more time or money than you decided, or you top up again after telling yourself you would stop.
Borrowing to bet
You borrow money, sell things or fall behind on bills so you can keep betting.
Hiding it
You hide how much you bet from family or friends, or you feel guilty and secretive about it.
It follows you around
Betting affects your sleep, mood, work or relationships, and it stays on your mind when you should be doing other things.
You cannot stop
You have tried to cut back or stop, and found that you could not do it on your own.
Practical tools to stay in control
You do not have to rely on willpower alone. A few simple habits and account tools help you keep betting within safe limits.
- Set a budget first. Before you start, decide how much time and money you are willing to spend, and stick to it. Only ever use spare money.
- Deposit limits. Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap on what you can pay in, so you cannot overspend in the heat of a match.
- Time-outs. Take a short break, from 24 hours up to several weeks, that locks you out of betting and gives you space to reset.
- Self-exclusion. Close your account for a longer fixed period when you need a firm stop. Once it is set, you cannot reverse it early.
- Reality checks. Watch the clock, take regular breaks, and never bet when you are upset, bored, or have been drinking.
On BK8 you can set deposit limits, take a time-out or self-exclude through your account settings, or by contacting customer support.
Where to get free, confidential help
If gambling is causing you stress, debt or worry, you are not alone and support is free. You do not need to wait until things feel out of control before reaching out.
- Talk to someone you trust, a partner, family member or close friend. Saying it out loud often makes it easier to deal with.
- Speak to a doctor or healthcare professional, who can listen without judgement and point you towards local support services.
- Visit BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org, an independent service with free, confidential advice and self-assessment tools you can use online. You do not have to be a BK8 customer to use it.
Betting is meant to add to the excitement of the football, not take away from your life off the pitch. If it ever stops being fun, take a break and reach out. You can read more about how we work on our editorial standards page.