Responsible gambling
Practical ways to keep gambling under control, the warning signs to look out for, and where to get help in each market we cover.
On this page
Gambling is a form of paid entertainment. Over time, the house edge means players as a group lose more than they win. That is how casinos stay in business. If you go in expecting to pay for your fun, rather than to make money, you are starting from the right place.
This page sets out practical tools and habits that help, the signs that things are slipping, and where to find help.
Set a budget before you play
- Decide how much you can afford to lose this week or month, after bills, rent and savings. Treat it as spent the moment you deposit.
- Never use money meant for essentials, and never borrow to gamble.
- Do not chase losses. Trying to win back what you have lost is how small losses become big ones.
- If you win, consider withdrawing it rather than leaving it in your account to play through.
Use the limits licensed casinos offer
Licensed casinos in the markets we cover are expected to give you tools to control your play. Look in your account settings or the responsible gambling section of the casino for:
- Deposit limits: a cap on how much you can deposit per day, week or month.
- Loss or wager limits: a cap on how much you can lose or stake over a period.
- Session time limits and reminders: a prompt or a hard stop after a set time.
- Activity statements: a record of what you have deposited, staked and lost.
Set limits when you open an account, not in the middle of a session. Lowering a limit usually takes effect straight away; raising one is often delayed on purpose, so you have time to think.
Take a break: time-outs and self-exclusion
A time-out blocks your account for a short period, such as a day, a week or a few weeks. It is useful if you notice you are playing more than you meant to.
Self-exclusion is a longer, more serious step. It closes or blocks your access for months or years, and the casino should not let you back in or send you marketing during that period. Some markets also run schemes that let you exclude yourself from all licensed operators at once, so check with your regulator.
If you self-exclude, unsubscribe from casino emails, delete casino apps and avoid opening new accounts elsewhere.
Understand the games
Every casino game has a built-in edge for the house. A few examples:
- European roulette has a house edge of 2.70% (1 in 37). American roulette, with its extra double zero, has 5.26%.
- In baccarat, the banker bet has an edge of about 1.06% (with 5% commission), the player bet about 1.24%, and the tie bet paying 8:1 about 14.36%.
- Blackjack with basic strategy under common rules has an edge of around 0.5%, but a table paying 6:5 on blackjack adds roughly 1.4%.
RTP (return to player) is a long-run average over a very large number of plays. It does not tell you what will happen in your session, and no system or pattern changes the maths.
Warning signs
Gambling may be becoming a problem if you:
- Spend more money or time than you planned, regularly.
- Chase losses or gamble to win back money.
- Borrow money, sell things or skip bills to gamble.
- Hide your gambling from people close to you, or lie about it.
- Feel anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling, or when you try to cut down.
- Gamble to escape stress, boredom or other problems.
- Find gambling is affecting your work, studies, sleep or relationships.
If several of these sound familiar, it is a good moment to use the tools above and talk to someone.
Blocking software
Gambling blocking software can stop gambling websites and apps from opening on your phone, tablet or computer. Many products exist, some free and some paid. Your phone’s built-in parental or screen time controls can also block specific sites and apps. Your bank may let you block gambling transactions on your card; ask them or check your banking app.
Where to get help
Ontario
ConnexOntario: call 1-866-531-2600 or visit connexontario.ca for information about gambling support services in Ontario.
Peru
Visit the official website of the regulator, MINCETUR, at gob.pe/mincetur for information on online gaming rules and player protection. Licensed operators in Peru must offer self-exclusion; look for it in your account or the casino’s responsible gaming section.
Colombia
Visit the regulator, Coljuegos, at coljuegos.gov.co. Licensed operators must offer self-exclusion tools, which you will find in your account settings.
Portugal
Visit the regulator, SRIJ, at srij.turismodeportugal.pt for information on self-exclusion and player protection. Licensed operators must also offer self-exclusion tools in your account.
Anywhere else
Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings in many countries. Visit gamblersanonymous.org to find one near you.
If you ever feel at risk of harming yourself, contact your local emergency services.
Help for friends and family
Gambling problems affect the people around the gambler too. If you are worried about someone:
- Pick a calm moment to talk, and focus on what you have noticed rather than on blame.
- Do not lend money or pay off gambling debts. It usually makes things worse.
- Protect your own finances, for example by separating accounts.
- Encourage them to use limits, self-exclusion or one of the services above.
- Look after yourself. Many of the organisations above also support family members.
Our commitment
We only rank casinos licensed in the market we are covering, and our scoring includes the player protection tools each casino offers. You can read how on our How we review casinos page.