Responsible gambling

Warning signs

Any of these is a reason to stop and talk to someone.

• Chasing losses. Betting more to win back what you lost, rather than accepting the loss and stopping.
• Betting money you need. Using rent, food or bill money, or borrowing to bet.
• Hiding it. Lying to family or friends about how much or how often you play.
• It stops being fun. Playing to escape stress rather than for entertainment, or feeling anxious when not playing.

Tools that actually help

• Deposit limits. Licensed operators let you cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month. Set it when you are calm, not after a loss.
• Self-exclusion. You can bar yourself from an operator for a set period or permanently. The operator must honour it.
• Time limits and reality checks. Session reminders that tell you how long you have been playing.