Responsible gambling: tools and where to get help

Gambling should stay fun.

If it stops feeling like entertainment, that's worth noticing. Here's how to keep control, check in with yourself, and where to find free, confidential help.

Set a budget first

Decide what you can afford to lose before you start — and treat it as spent.

Set a time limit

Use a timer or the site's reality-check reminders.

Never chase losses

Trying to win it back is how small losses become big ones.

Take regular breaks

Step away, have a drink of water, check in with yourself.

A quick self-check

Answer honestly, thinking about the last 12 months. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

These six yes/no questions are a simple prompt for reflection, loosely based on common screening themes. They are not a clinical test (such as the nine-item PGSI) and can’t diagnose anything. If you’re worried, talk to one of the free services below.

Deposit limits

Cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month.

Time-outs

Pause your account for 24 hours up to six weeks.

Self-exclusion

Block access for six months or more — across many sites at once in some countries.

Reality checks

Pop-ups that show how long you've played and what you've spent.

Gamblers Anonymous

Peer support meetings, in person and online.

Gambling Therapy

Free online chat and forums in several languages.

GamCare

Free helpline, live chat and counselling.

NCPG · 1-800-MY-RESET

National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-697-3738): call, text or chat 24/7, confidential. It replaced 1-800-GAMBLER as NCPG’s national number in January 2026.