Responsible gambling
Warning signs, tools to stay in control and where to get help.
Short answer
Set a deposit limit before you play, never chase losses, and use time-outs or self-exclusion if gambling stops being fun. Free, confidential help is available in most countries; our country pages list the right organisation.
Gambling should be entertainment that you can afford, not a way to make money or to escape problems. These tools and organisations help you stay in control or get help.
Warning signs
- You spend more money or time than you planned.
- You try to win back losses (chasing losses).
- You borrow money or sell things to gamble.
- You hide your gambling from family or friends.
- You feel anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling.
If one or more of these apply to you, consider talking to a support organisation. Help is free and confidential.
Tools every licensed casino should offer
- Deposit limits: a daily, weekly or monthly cap on deposits. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately.
- Loss and session limits: caps on losses and on time played.
- Reality checks: reminders that show how long you have been playing.
- Time-out (cooling-off): a short break from 24 hours to several weeks.
- Self-exclusion: blocks your account for months or years. National schemes block you at all licensed operators of that market at once, for example GAMSTOP in Great Britain or Spelpaus in Sweden.
Help in your country
Every country page on Gambling Hero lists the minimum age, the national help line and the self-exclusion scheme, if there is one. See online gambling by country.
International support
- Gambling Therapy: free online support in many languages, run by the Gordon Moody charity.
- Gamblers Anonymous: self-help groups in many countries.
Blocking software
Blocking software and the gambling blocks offered by many banks stop payments to and access to gambling sites, including sites that a national self-exclusion scheme does not cover.
Under 18
Gambling is for adults only. In some countries the minimum age is 19, 20 or 21. Parents can use device-level filters to block gambling sites.
There is no advertising on this page or in our responsible gambling guides.