Responsible Gambling

Advice and resources to help prevent problem gambling

Playing at online casinos is an entertaining pastime, but the problem arises when that pastime becomes an addiction. Responsible gambling is a means to combat potential problem gambling. Below, we examine the policy and tools available.

What is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible Gambling policies advise on how to recognise if you or someone else is a problem gambler. There are also external resources players with this problem can contact for help.

Do You Possibly Have a Gambling Addiction?

Ask yourself the questions below, and if your answers are mostly “Yes,” perhaps consider getting help.

• When you gamble, do you have feelings of guilt about the money you spent?
• Do you need to spend increasingly larger amounts of money for the same level of excitement?
• Do you find that you keep gambling after several losses?
• Are you or your household experiencing financial troubles due to your gambling?
• Are your personal relationships affected negatively due to your gambling?
• Do you experience stress, anxiety or other health problems due to your gambling?
• Do you find that if you’re not gambling, you become more restless?
• Are you worried that you might have a gambling problem?

Recognising Gambling Addiction

Here are some signs to identify whether loved ones are problem gamblers.

Financial Signs:

• Their bank account or wallet has missing money
• Valuable and other household items are going missing
• If they have financial troubles despite a stable income
• If they take out multiple loans for no discernible reason
• If the bills remain unpaid
• Frequently asks to borrow money
• Don’t want to share their financial records or transaction history
• If there’s often no food available at home

Behavioural and Mood Signs:

• Worsening work performance
• Their personality changes for no reason
• They withdraw from their loved ones and personal relationships
• Their behaviour becomes more manipulative
• They show agitate, upset and stressed behaviour for no discernible reason
• Start lying and threatening others to manipulate them
• They tend to spiral into depression, fits of hopelessness and frustration

Time Indications:

• They increase the hours they spend gambling
• It takes them longer than normal to complete basic tasks
• They disappear for periods of time and become secretive
• Consistently start showing up late for appointments
• Taking leave of absence from work to instead go gambling

The Legal Gambling Age and Protecting Minors

The legal age you’re allowed to gamble can differ depending on the country, but usually you need to be 18 years old or over. In some countries, you need to be at least 21 years of age. 

Online casinos also want to ensure underage people don’t gamble on their platforms. KYC (know your customer) procedures ensure they can verify the person’s identity and age so no minors can gamble. There are also tools online casinos recommend parents use to protect minors:

• GamBlock – Blocks all casino websites, even while using a VPN
• Net Nanny – Blocks any risky websites from minors

Tools for Responsible Gambling

We examine online casinos’ different tools to help control your casino habits.

Deposit Limit

Deposit limits are daily, weekly and monthly limits you choose when you sign up at an online casino. It restricts how much you can deposit in the selected period to ensure you don’t exceed your bankroll. Once you reach your set deposit limit, the casino will not allow you to make another deposit until the period ends. 

Loss Limit

This is another part of your limits you can set daily, weekly and monthly. You choose a maximum loss threshold and when you reach that threshold, your account won’t allow you to gamble until the period has passed. 

Session Limit

Session limits enable you to control how long your playing sessions are. It varies from casino to casino, but usually you can set the session limit between one and 23 hours. The session starts when you log in and after you’ve reached the session limit, it’ll freeze your account until the next day.

Time Out

Time out, also known as a cool-down period, is when you choose to freeze your account temporarily. The time out can range from a few days to under six months. You won’t be able to end the time out prematurely or use your account. 

Wagering Limit

This is an adjustable limit where you choose how much you can wager in a day, week or month. Once you’ve wagered up to the limit you set, your account won’t allow any further wagering until the period ends. 

Transaction History

Your transaction history gives you a detailed account of all your deposits and withdrawals at the online casino in the last few months. You can track how much you’ve gambled and spot if you have significantly higher deposits than withdrawals.

Self Exclusion

Self-exclusion is similar to a cool-off period, except for a period longer than six months. You use self-exclusion to freeze your account for longer periods or indefinitely. You often have to ask the casino’s support for self-exclusion, or go directly to a licencing commission.

Self-Assessment

Many online casinos offer self-assessment to determine whether you have an addiction. The casino will provide a quiz or series of questions you can ask yourself to see whether you’re developing a problem.

Time Alert

Time alerts, also known as reality checks, take the form of a pop-up notification that reminds you how long you’ve played. You need to click on this notification to continue playing. Some casinos allow you to adjust the time alert between a few minutes to a few hours.

Global Organisations that Provide Counselling and Help

No matter which country you’re in, you’ll be able to find help with gambling problems. We’ve listed a few reputable organisations below.

USA – The National Council on Problem Gambling

An organisation that strives to help all people affected by problem gambling, focusing on the US market.

• Website: https://www.ncpgambling.org/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 1-800-522-4700
• Email: ncpg@ncpgambling.org
• Other Channels: Live Chat, Text

UK – BeGambleAware

A UK-based organisation that offers free, confidential help for people with a gambling addiction.

• Website: https://www.begambleaware.org/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 0808 8020 133
• Email: info@gambleaware.org
• Other Channels: Live Chat

Argentina – Juego Responsable

A website for Argentinian gambling addicts providing advice, help and counselling for the last 15 years.

• Website: https://juegoresponsable.com.ar/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 0800-333-0333 or Whatsapp 011-1524416058
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Contact Form

België – VAD

A Belgium organisation dedicated to helping people with all types of addictions, from alcohol and drugs to gaming and gambling.

• Website: https://www.vad.be/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 02 423 03 33
• Email: vad@vad.be
• Other Channels: Contact Form

Brazil – Jogadores Anônimos

Players in Brazil can contact this organisation anonymously to receive advice and attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

• Website: https://jogadoresanonimos.com.br/
• 24/7 Phone Support: (11) 3229-1023
• Email: jogadoresanonimossaopaulo@uol.com.br / jogadoresanonimos@yahoo.com.br
• Other Channels: N/A

Canada – CAMH Problem Gambling

The CAMH is dedicated to spreading awareness, preventing and providing counselling for all addictions and mental illnesses.

• Website: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/problem-gambling
• 24/7 Phone Support: 1-866-531-2600
• Email: kmb@camh.ca
• Other Channels: N/A

Chile – Psicólogos Ludopatía Chile

This organisation specialises in all mental illnesses and addictions, with more than 10 years of experience in the field.

• Website: https://www.psicologosludopatiachile.cl/ludopatia.htm
• 24/7 Phone Support: 9 222 3860
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Live Chat, Contact Form

Deutschland – BZgA

This organisation provides counselling for problem gambling and overall mental health for Dutch players.

• Website: https://www.bzga.de/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 0800-1 37 27 00
• Email: poststelle(at)bzga.de
• Other Channels: N/A

España – FEJAR

Spanish players can contact FEJAR if they believe they have a gambling addiction to receive advice, help and support.

• Website: https://www.fejar.org
• 24/7 Phone Support: 900 200 225
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Contact Form, Live Chat

France – IFAC

This organisation is a unit related to the Nantes University hospital dedicated to researching, preventing and helping all addictions.

• Website: https://ifac-addictions.chu-nantes.fr
• 24/7 Phone Support: + 33 (0)2 40 84 76 20
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Contact Form

Italia – TVNGA

Italian players can contact this dedicated helpline for any gambling problems, with professionals offering anonymous advice and support.

• Website: https://www.iss.it/web/iss-en/green-telephone
• 24/7 Phone Support: +39 800 55 88 22
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: N/A

Nederland – AGOG

Receive free dedicated and professional help with this organisation while remaining anonymous. 

• Website: https://www.agog.nl
• 24/7 Phone Support: 0900-2177721 (€0.10 per minute)
• Email: info@agog.nl
• Other Channels: Contact Form

Norge – Hjelpelinjen

This anonymous helpline will support gambling problems and explain their responsible gambling policy. 

• Website: https://hjelpelinjen.no/en/front-page/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 800 800 40
• Email: post@hjelpelinjen.no.
• Other Channels: Live Chat

Österreich – Spielsuchthilfe

This institute provides therapy for problem gamblers, as well as online consultations.

• Website: https://www.spielsuchthilfe.at/index.html
• 24/7 Phone Support: (1) 544 13 57
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Contact Form

Portugal – Jogo Responsável

Players in Portugal can receive advice, explanations, counselling and support from this organisation while maintaining anonymity. 

• Website: https://jogoresponsavel.pt/
• 24/7 Phone Support: 213 950 911 / 211 332 775
• Email: geral@jogoresponsavel.pt
• Other Channels: N/A

Schweiz – Sucht Schweiz

This is a Switzerland research centre focused on the understanding and prevention of problem gambling, which also offers support to problem gamblers.

• Website: https://www.suchtschweiz.ch
• 24/7 Phone Support: 021 321 29 11
• Email: info@suchtschweiz.ch
• Other Channels: N/A

Sverige – Stödlinjen

This is a helpline for gambling addicts run by the Centre for Psychiatric Research, dedicated to preventing and supporting gambling problems.

• Website: https://stodlinjen.se/
• 9 am to 9 pm Phone Support: 020-819 100
• Email: N/A
• Other Channels: Live Chat