1. Overview
Grosvenor Casino Didsbury operates under the regulatory framework established by the Gambling Commission, the statutory body responsible for licensing and regulating commercial gambling in Great Britain. As a licensed operator, responsible gambling information must be made readily available to all customers together with access to tools that support safe and controlled participation in gambling activities.
This document sets out the responsible gaming policy applied at Grosvenor Casino Didsbury, the tools available to customers, the obligations held as a licensed operator, and the external support organisations that may be contacted for assistance.
Gambling must be treated as a form of paid entertainment. It is not a source of income and should not be used to recover financial losses. The provisions in this policy are intended to support customers in maintaining control over their gambling activity at all times.
2. Regulatory Basis
Responsible gaming obligations derive from the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), specifically Condition 3.3.1, which requires all licensed operators to:
- Make information on how to gamble responsibly readily available to all customers.
- Provide details of tools that allow customers to monitor or control their gambling, including session duration limits, spend limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion options.
- Signpost customers to further help and advice for problem gambling.
- Ensure this information is accessible in all areas where gambling facilities are provided and in proximity to ATMs on the premises.
These requirements apply to all customers, not only those who have been identified as experiencing difficulties.
3. Minimum Age Requirement
The minimum legal age for participation in commercial gambling activities in Great Britain is 18 years. Grosvenor Casino Didsbury does not permit access to gambling facilities for any person under this age. Age verification procedures are in place and are applied in accordance with Gambling Commission requirements, including test purchasing obligations for land-based premises.
4. Responsible Gambling Tools
Customers have access to a range of tools designed to support control over gambling activity. These tools are available on request and are not conditional on any identified problem or prior incident.
4.1 Deposit and Spend Limits
Customers may set limits on the amount they deposit or spend within a defined period. These limits are intended to help customers stay within a pre-determined budget and prevent expenditure beyond what has been decided in advance is affordable.
4.2 Session Duration Controls and Reality Checks
Customers may set limits on the length of individual gambling sessions. Reality checks provide periodic reminders of time spent gambling, allowing customers to make an informed decision about whether to continue.
4.3 Time-Outs
A time-out is a short-term break from gambling activity. Customers who wish to pause their participation for a defined period may request a time-out. During this period, access to gambling facilities is suspended.
4.4 Self-Exclusion
Customers who wish to exclude themselves from gambling for a longer period may request self-exclusion. Self-exclusion is a formal arrangement under which access to gambling facilities at Grosvenor Casino Didsbury is blocked for the duration of the exclusion period chosen by the customer.
In addition to any operator-level self-exclusion, customers in the United Kingdom may register with GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme. GAMSTOP is a free service that blocks access to all gambling websites and applications licensed in Great Britain. Exclusion periods available through GAMSTOP are 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 5 years with automatic renewal. GAMSTOP is operated by a not-for-profit organisation and is available to anyone living in the United Kingdom.
5. Guidance for Customers
The following guidance reflects standards promoted by the Gambling Commission and recognised support organisations in the United Kingdom.
Customers are advised to:
- Set a strict time and money limit before beginning any gambling session and adhere to it.
- Treat gambling as entertainment, not as a means of generating income or recovering previous losses.
- Avoid gambling with money required for essential expenses such as rent, bills, or food.
- Refrain from chasing losses. A loss is a completed transaction and cannot be recovered through further gambling.
- Take regular breaks during gambling sessions.
- Avoid gambling when under the influence of alcohol or other substances, or when experiencing significant emotional stress.
- Keep track of time spent gambling and the amounts wagered.
6. Markers of Harm and Customer Interaction
Customer behaviour is monitored for indicators that may suggest gambling is causing harm. Where such indicators are identified, contact may be made with the customer to provide information about available tools and support. This is a regulatory obligation and is carried out in accordance with Gambling Commission guidance on customer interaction.
Indicators that may prompt contact include, but are not limited to, significant increases in session duration, repeated attempts to reverse withdrawals, or patterns of spending that suggest financial difficulty.
7. Restrictions on Participation
In addition to age restrictions, the following conditions apply to participation in gambling at Grosvenor Casino Didsbury:
- Customers who are subject to a self-exclusion arrangement, whether through the venue directly or through GAMSTOP, are not permitted to access gambling facilities for the duration of their exclusion.
- Customers who are identified as showing markers of harm may have access to certain facilities restricted pending a customer interaction review.
- Gambling on credit is not permitted. The Gambling Commission has prohibited the use of credit cards for gambling transactions across all licensed operators in Great Britain.
8. Support Organisations
Customers who are concerned about their own gambling, or the gambling of someone they know, may contact the following organisations. These services are independent of Grosvenor Casino Didsbury and provide confidential support.
- National Gambling Helpline (GambleAware), England and Scotland: 0808 8020 133
- National Gambling Helpline (Wales): 0808 2819 265
- GamCare Live Chat: available via the GamCare website
- BeGambleAware: begambleaware.org
- GAMSTOP (self-exclusion registration): gamstop.co.uk
The National Gambling Helpline is available free of charge. GamCare provides live chat support and operates the helpline in partnership with GambleAware.
9. Operator Obligations
As a licensed operator regulated by the Gambling Commission, Grosvenor Casino Didsbury is required to:
- Maintain and enforce responsible gambling policies in compliance with the LCCP.
- Participate in approved dispute resolution processes where required.
- Conduct age-verification test purchasing in accordance with Gambling Commission requirements for land-based premises.
- Ensure that responsible gambling information is displayed in all areas of the premises where gambling facilities are available and adjacent to any ATMs located on site.
- Refrain from offering bonuses or promotional incentives to customers who are displaying markers of harm.
10. Updates to This Policy
This policy is reviewed periodically to reflect changes in Gambling Commission requirements, government legislation, and industry standards. Customers are encouraged to review this document regularly. Material changes to responsible gaming obligations will be communicated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.