Bets & Ladders Exchange Pro

Responsible gambling

Bets & Ladders is a tool for placing bets on the Betfair Exchange. It gives you faster ways to do things you already do on Betfair, but it doesn’t change what gambling is — a paid activity where you can lose more than you win. This page is about staying in control.

You must be 18 or over

Gambling is restricted to adults. You must be 18 or over to use B&L or to hold a Betfair account.

Set limits before you trade, not after

Betfair has built-in tools that let you cap your activity in advance. These apply to your Betfair account directly, so they cover any app you use to bet — including B&L.

  • Deposit limits — daily, weekly, monthly caps on how much you can fund your account
  • Loss limits — caps on net losses over a chosen period
  • Time-out — short cooling-off periods (24 hours up to 6 weeks)
  • Reality checks — pop-ups that remind you how long you’ve been gambling

You can set all of these at Betfair’s responsible gambling page.

Self-exclusion

If you need a longer break, self-exclusion blocks you from betting for a fixed period.

  • Betfair self-exclusion — blocks you from Betfair specifically
  • GAMSTOP — free national scheme that blocks you from every UK-licensed gambling operator with a single registration

When you self-exclude, your B&L access ends with your Betfair access — there’s no separate B&L self-exclusion to set.

Getting help

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, these services are independent of any operator and free to contact.

  • BeGambleAware — confidential information and advice
  • GamCare — counselling, peer support, and a free helpline
  • National Gambling Helpline — 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7)

You don’t need to be in crisis to call. Each of these services helps people at every point on the spectrum, from “I’m not sure I’m enjoying this any more” to acute concern.

Spotting the warning signs

Common signs that gambling is becoming a problem:

  • Spending more than you can afford to lose
  • Chasing losses — increasing stakes to “win it back”
  • Betting to escape stress, low mood, or boredom
  • Hiding the activity from people close to you
  • Losing track of time when betting

If any of those resonate, please use one of the resources above.