Responsible gambling

If you gamble

• Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and decide the amount before you start.
• Set deposit, loss and time limits in your account. Every licensed operator must offer them.
• Never chase losses, and do not gamble when you are upset, tired or have been drinking.
• Gambling is not a way to make money or pay off debt. The house edge means the average player loses over time.

Warning signs

Spending more than you planned, hiding gambling from people close to you, borrowing to gamble, or feeling anxious or irritable when you try to stop are all signs that it is time to get help.

Where to get help

• United Kingdom: National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, and the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme.
• United States: National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER.
• Everywhere: Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings in most countries, and Gambling Therapy offers free online support in many languages.

Self-exclusion

Licensed operators must let you block yourself from their sites, and several countries run national schemes that cover every licensed operator at once. If a site will not let you self-exclude, that is a strong sign it is not properly regulated. Our guide to checking whether a gambling site is licensed explains how to verify this.

Under 18

Gambling under the legal age is against the law. Our gambling coverage is written for adults.