Play safe
Responsible gambling
Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not income, not an investment, and not a way out of debt. This page covers the tools that help you stay in control and the free, confidential help available if you have lost it.
Free, confidential support is available 24/7 in most countries, and you do not need to have hit a crisis to use it. Scroll to where to get help for the organisations we would point a friend to.
The maths does not change
Every casino game has a built-in house edge, and every sportsbook prices in a margin. Over enough bets, that edge decides the outcome. No system, staking plan, hot streak or tip changes it. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
That does not make gambling wrong. It makes it a form of paid entertainment, and the useful question is the same one you would ask about any other: is the amount I am spending one I am comfortable losing? Our RTP and house edge guide explains the numbers in detail.
Set your limits before you start
Limits set in advance work. Limits set after a bad session do not. Every licensed operator has to offer these tools, and how well they work is 10% of our score for every site we review.
| Tool | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps what you can pay in per day, week or month. Increases should take effect only after a cooling-off delay. | Always. Set it on day one, before you have a reason to argue with yourself about it. |
| Loss limit | Caps net losses over a period, regardless of how much you deposit or win back. | If you find yourself redepositing after a loss. |
| Session limit | Logs you out after a set time. | If sessions run longer than you planned. |
| Reality check | Interrupts play with how long you have been on and what you are up or down. | Always. It is the cheapest intervention there is. |
| Time out | Locks the account for a short period, typically 24 hours to six weeks. | After any session that felt bad. |
| Self-exclusion | Closes the account for months or years and should block marketing. It must not be reversible on request. | When limits are not holding. |
Excluding yourself from one site does not stop the next one. Several countries run national schemes that cover every licensed operator at once - GAMSTOP in the UK, ROFUS in Denmark, Spelpaus in Sweden, OASIS in Germany. If a scheme exists where you live, use that rather than excluding site by site.
Warning signs
None of these on its own means you have a problem. Several together is worth taking seriously.
- Betting more than you planned, or more than you can comfortably lose
- Chasing losses - increasing stakes to get back to even
- Gambling to escape stress, boredom, or low mood
- Hiding how much you gamble, or lying about it
- Borrowing, selling things, or using money meant for bills
- Restlessness or irritability when you try to cut down
- Time on gambling crowding out work, sleep or people
- Relief rather than enjoyment when you win
Where to get help
All of these are free, confidential, and independent of any gambling operator. You do not need to be in crisis to contact them, and they will also talk to family members.
BeGambleAware
Free advice, self-assessment tools and a 24/7 National Gambling Helpline in the UK.
GamCare
Treatment, live chat and support groups for anyone affected by gambling, including friends and family.
NCPG (US)
US National Council on Problem Gambling. Helpline and chat on 1-800-GAMBLER.
Gamblers Anonymous
Peer support meetings, in person and online, in most countries.
ConnexOntario
Free 24/7 helpline and referral service for gambling, mental health and substance use in Ontario, Canada.
Responsible Gambling Council
Canadian non-profit focused on gambling harm prevention, with self-assessment tools and provincial resources.
Gam-Anon
Support specifically for the partners, family and friends of someone who gambles.
Blocking software
If you want gambling sites blocked at device level rather than relying on willpower, tools such as Gamban, BetBlocker and Gamblock cover phones and computers. BetBlocker is free. These work best combined with a self-exclusion scheme rather than instead of one.
Minimum age varies by country
The legal gambling age is 18 in most jurisdictions, but not all. In Canada it is 19 in most provinces including Ontario, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Several US states set it at 21. Always check the age that applies where you are - an operator will void an account and confiscate winnings if you registered under age, and no dispute process will help you.
Protecting under-age players
Gambling is restricted to adults everywhere it is legal, and this site is not intended for anyone under the legal gambling age where they live. If children use your devices, parental control tools can restrict access to gambling content. Operators are required to verify age, but the first line of defence is at home.
Gambling can be addictive. Only bet money you can afford to lose, set deposit and time limits before you start, and never chase losses. Free confidential help is available from BeGambleAware and GamCare.