Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming is a set of habits that keeps control in your hands. These practical strategies can help you maintain balance and reduce risk.

Practical strategies you can use

• Set a fixed budget before you play
  Decide the exact amount of money you can afford to lose. Deposit only that amount and treat it as the cost of entertainment.

• Limit your playing time
  Choose a specific time frame for each session. Use alarms or built-in time reminders to avoid long, unplanned sessions.

• Never chase losses
  Losses are part of gambling. Increasing stakes or playing longer to recover money usually leads to higher losses.

• Use account limits
  Many licensed casinos offer deposit, loss, wager, and session limits. Set these limits in advance and avoid changing them impulsively.

• Separate gambling money from daily expenses
  Keep gambling funds different from money for rent, bills, education, food, loans, or family needs.

• Avoid gambling when upset or stressed
  Do not play when you feel angry, lonely, anxious, or depressed. Emotions can affect decisions and increase risky behaviour.

• Do not mix alcohol, substances, and gambling
  Alcohol or other substances can reduce self-control and lead to decisions you would not take when sober.

• Treat gambling as entertainment, not income
  Games are designed so the house has an advantage. Regular profit over time is not realistic, even if you win sometimes.

• Take regular breaks
  Stand up, move around, and step away from the screen. Short breaks help you think more clearly and notice when it is time to stop.

• Review your gambling regularly
  Check your transaction history and time spent on gambling sites. Honest review helps you notice changes in your habits early.

Problem gambling can develop slowly and may be hard to notice at first. Paying attention to early warning signs allows you to seek support sooner.

Common warning signs to watch for

• Spending more money and time than planned
  Frequently breaking your own limits or staying online longer than intended.

• Chasing losses
  Returning to play quickly after losing money, hoping to win it back in the same day or session.

• Hiding or lying about gambling
  Deleting messages, hiding statements, or not being honest about how much you gamble or lose.

• Using gambling to escape problems or feelings
  Gambling to forget stress, loneliness, conflicts, or financial pressure.

• Neglecting work, studies, or family duties
  Missing deadlines, skipping classes, or avoiding family time so that you can gamble.

• Borrowing money to gamble or pay gambling debts
  Taking loans, using credit cards heavily, or asking friends and family for money due to gambling.

• Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling
  Becoming tense, angry, or uncomfortable when you cannot access gambling sites or apps.

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop
  Promising yourself that you will stop, but returning to gambling again and again.

• Spending a lot of time thinking about gambling
  Constantly planning the next session, reliving past games, or thinking about strategies and wins.

• Serious impact on finances and relationships
  Unpaid bills, conflicts at home, loss of trust, or risk to your career or education due to gambling.

If you notice several of these signs in your behaviour or in someone close to you, professional support may be helpful.

Online casinos and betting sites are restricted to players who have reached the legal age of majority in their country or region. Age limits protect young people from financial and emotional harm related to gambling.

You must provide honest and accurate information during registration. Licensed operators use age verification checks and may request identity documents to confirm your age.

Parents and guardians can help by monitoring device use, installing parental control tools, and keeping payment details secure. Sharing gambling accounts or payment methods with minors is not allowed and can lead to account closure.

If you suspect that an underage person is using an online casino account, contact the operator and local support services immediately.

Self-exclusion is a voluntary tool that allows you to restrict your access to online gambling for a set period. It can support you when you feel your gambling is getting hard to control.

Most licensed casinos provide different options, such as short cooling-off breaks, long-term self-exclusion, or permanent account closure. During the self-exclusion period, you cannot log in, deposit, or place bets on that account.

You can request self-exclusion through account settings or by contacting customer support. Some jurisdictions also offer centralised self-exclusion registers that apply to multiple gambling sites at once.

Self-exclusion works best when combined with other steps. Examples include blocking gambling payments through your bank, using website blocking software, and speaking to a professional counsellor.

Choosing self-exclusion is a responsible decision. It shows awareness of risk and gives you space to stabilise your finances, routines, and mental health.

Support is available if gambling is harming your life or the life of someone close to you. Specialist organisations offer confidential guidance, counselling, and recovery programmes.

International support and resources

• Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
  Global fellowship that follows a 12-step recovery model for people who want to stop gambling. Local meetings and online meetings are often available.
  Website: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org

• GamCare
  UK-based service that provides live chat, helplines, and online resources for problem gambling. Some tools and information are relevant for international players.
  Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk

• Gambling Therapy
  International online support service offering live chat, forums, and self-help resources in multiple languages for anyone affected by problem gambling.
  Website: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org

• Gam-Anon
  Support organisation for family members and friends affected by someone else’s gambling. Meetings and online resources focus on coping and setting boundaries.
  Website: https://www.gam-anon.org

• National health services and local helplines
  Many countries provide mental health and addiction services through public health systems, NGOs, and hotlines. Check local government or health ministry websites for services in your area.

If you feel at risk of self-harm or harm to others, contact local emergency services or crisis helplines in your country immediately. Early support can reduce harm and improve long-term outcomes.