Responsible gambling

Gambling should be a form of entertainment, not a way to make money or deal with difficult feelings. There is no guaranteed way to win, and it’s possible to lose more than you planned. Take a moment to consider how gambling fits into your life and only play with money you can afford to lose.

A few habits can help you stay in control:

• Decide how much time and money you’re comfortable spending before you start.
• Set daily, weekly or monthly deposit, wagering and loss limits in your account.
• Keep gambling money separate from money needed for bills and essentials.
• Take regular breaks, and avoid playing when you’re upset, tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Don’t chase losses or borrow money to gamble.
• Use reality checks and session limits to keep track of time spent playing.

You can also set net-deposit limits, take a time-out or choose short- or long-term self-exclusion. If you want to self-exclude, contact customer support. The responsible gambling service aims to respond to self-exclusion enquiries within 24 hours. You can also use GAMSTOP to self-exclude from online gambling sites licensed in Great Britain.

It may help to pause and reflect if you notice that you’re:

• Spending more time or money gambling than you intended.
• Trying to win back money you’ve lost.
• Hiding your gambling or feeling worried or guilty about it.
• Using money meant for bills or other essentials.
• Finding it hard to stop, even when gambling is affecting your wellbeing or relationships.

If any of these feel familiar, consider taking a break, setting stricter limits or self-excluding. BeGambleAware and GAMSTOP are available as sources of support. You don’t have to wait until gambling feels unmanageable to ask for help.