- Purpose and Scope
This document sets out the responsible gaming framework applied at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford. It describes the obligations of the venue, the tools and controls available to customers, and the external support services accessible to individuals who may be experiencing gambling-related harm.
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford operates within the United Kingdom gambling market, which is regulated under the Gambling Act 2005 and overseen by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). All operations are subject to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), including condition 3.3.1, which requires licensees to make responsible gambling information readily available to all customers.
This policy applies to all individuals who access gambling facilities at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford, whether in person or through any associated digital access points.
- Regulatory Framework
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford is required to comply with the UKGC’s LCCP in full. The responsible gaming obligations embedded in the LCCP include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Displaying safer gambling information prominently in all areas where gambling facilities are provided, including areas adjacent to ATMs.
- Ensuring that responsible gambling information is accessible to customers discreetly and in a format that can be retained.
- Providing customers with access to tools that allow them to monitor and control their gambling activity.
- Verifying customer identity as part of age verification and consumer protection procedures.
- Participating in or directing customers to national self-exclusion mechanisms where applicable.
The UKGC regulatory framework is underpinned by a statutory duty to keep crime out of gambling, ensure gambling is conducted fairly, and protect children and vulnerable persons from harm or exploitation.
- Customer Obligations and Conduct Standards
Customers accessing gambling facilities at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford are expected to engage with gambling as a form of entertainment. The following conduct standards apply:
- Gambling must be conducted only with funds that the customer can afford to lose.
- Funds required for essential expenditure, including rent, food, or utility bills, must not be used for gambling purposes.
- Borrowing money for the purpose of gambling is not permitted and is strongly discouraged.
- Customers must not attempt to access gambling facilities if they are under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
- Chasing losses is not a recognised or acceptable approach to gambling and carries a significant risk of harm.
- Gambling must not be used as a mechanism to manage stress, depression, or other emotional states.
The minimum legal age to gamble in the United Kingdom is 18. Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford enforces age verification controls and will refuse access to any individual who cannot demonstrate that they meet this requirement.
- Responsible Gaming Tools and Controls
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford makes the following controls and tools available to customers in accordance with UKGC requirements:
4.1 Deposit and Spend Limits
Customers may request the application of limits on the amount they deposit or spend within a defined period. These limits are intended to assist customers in maintaining control over their gambling expenditure.
4.2 Session and Time Controls
Time-based controls, including session duration limits and reality checks, are available to customers who wish to monitor the amount of time spent gambling. These tools are designed to support informed decision-making during gambling activity.
4.3 Self-Exclusion
Customers who wish to restrict their access to gambling facilities may request self-exclusion. Self-exclusion may be applied for a defined period or on a permanent basis. Once a self-exclusion is in place, Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford will take reasonable steps to enforce that restriction.
Customers seeking to self-exclude from all online gambling operators licensed in Great Britain may register with GAMSTOP, the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, via gamstop.co.uk. Registration with GAMSTOP prevents access to all participating online gambling services for the duration of the chosen exclusion period.
4.4 Reality Checks and Spending Tracking
Customers are encouraged to keep a record of their gambling activity, including time spent and amounts wagered. Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford supports access to information that enables customers to review their gambling behaviour.
- Payment Restrictions
In accordance with UK regulatory requirements, credit cards are not accepted as a payment method for gambling transactions. This restriction applies across all gambling activity and is a mandatory compliance measure under UKGC rules.
Customers may also consider using gambling block services offered by major UK high street banks. These services allow customers to restrict card transactions to gambling merchants and are available independently of any action taken by Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford.
- Identifying Signs of Problem Gambling
Customers and their associates may find the following indicators useful in assessing whether gambling behaviour has become harmful:
- Gambling for extended periods without breaks.
- Concealing gambling activity from family members or associates.
- Gambling with money required for essential living costs.
- Experiencing distress when unable to gamble.
- Repeatedly attempting to recover losses through further gambling.
- Gambling as a primary response to stress, boredom, or emotional difficulty.
If any of the above patterns are recognised, customers are encouraged to make use of the support services listed in section 7 of this document.
- External Support Services
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford directs customers experiencing gambling-related difficulties to the following verified support organisations.
National Gambling Helpline (GamCare)
- Phone (England and Scotland): 0808 8020 133
- Phone (Wales): 0808 2819 265
- Availability: Free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- WhatsApp Chat: 020 3031 8881
- Website: begambleaware.org
NHS Specialist Gambling Services
National Problem Gambling Clinic
- Phone: 020 7381 7722
- Email: [email protected]
NHS Northern Gambling Service
- Phone: 0300 300 1490
- Email: [email protected]
NHS Southern Gambling Service
- Phone: 02382 310000
- Email: [email protected]
NHS specialist services operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Additional Organisations
Gordon Moody Association provides residential treatment and structured support for individuals with severe gambling addiction. Contact via gordonmoody.org.uk.
Gamblers Anonymous UK offers peer-support meetings across the United Kingdom. Contact via gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
BeGambleAware provides public information, self-assessment tools, and referral pathways. Contact via begambleaware.org.
- Obligations of Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford maintains the following obligations under its operating licence and this policy:
- To display responsible gambling information in all areas where gambling is conducted.
- To provide customers with access to self-exclusion and limit-setting tools upon request.
- To enforce age verification procedures prior to permitting access to gambling facilities.
- To monitor customer behaviour for indicators of gambling-related harm and to intervene where appropriate.
- To ensure that responsible gambling information is available in a format that customers can retain or access discreetly.
- To direct customers to external support services when requested or when harm indicators are identified.
- Policy Review
This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure continued compliance with UKGC requirements and any updates to the LCCP or associated regulatory guidance. Customers with questions regarding this policy or the tools described within it may direct enquiries to the responsible gaming team at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford.