Responsible gambling: limits, breaks and where to get help
Gambling is entertainment that costs money, and for some people it becomes a problem. Online casinos are open at any hour and payments take seconds, which makes good habits more important, not less. This page lists the tools usually found in a casino account, the signs that play is getting out of hand and free help that is available internationally. Gambling is only for adults 18+.
Know what you are using
Before playing, check where you are allowed to play: local law decides whether online gambling is permitted for you, and the operator's licence can be checked in the regulator's public register named in its footer. This guide does not state that any operator is licensed.
Account tools
- Deposit limits per day, week or month. Decreases usually apply at once; increases often take effect only after a waiting period.
- Loss and wager limits where offered.
- Session reminders that show how long you have been playing.
- Time-out — a short break from a day to several weeks.
- Self-exclusion — a longer block of the account, explained on the self-exclusion page.
The tools available and their exact options are set by the operator and shown in the account settings.
Habits that protect your money
Decide the budget before the session, not during it. Leave bonuses aside when they would make you play longer than planned. Treat a withdrawal as the end of a session, close the game after requesting it, and avoid cancelling pending withdrawals to keep playing. Never borrow to gamble and never chase losses.
Warning signs
- Spending more money or time than you intended, more and more often.
- Hiding gambling from people close to you.
- Playing to win back losses or to escape problems.
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop.
Free help
- Gambling Therapy — free global online support for gambling problems, with chat, forums and groups in many languages.
- Gamblers Anonymous — a mutual-help fellowship with a meeting finder; it is not a hotline.
If you are worried about someone else, these services also support family and friends. Back to the guide home.