Gambling should stay fun, and in your control

Casinos are entertainment, not a way to make money. This page helps you spot the warning signs, check your own habits in a minute, use the limits casinos offer and find free, confidential help.

Take the 1-minute self-checkGet help now

Know the warning signs

Any one of these is worth taking seriously.

  • Losing track of time

    Sessions run longer than you planned, or gambling crowds out sleep, work and the people you care about.

  • Chasing losses

    Coming back to win back what you lost, or raising your stakes after a bad run.

  • Spending more than you planned

    Deposits over your budget, a second deposit in the same session, or money meant for bills.

  • Borrowing to play

    Using credit, loans or savings, or selling things, to keep gambling.

  • Hiding it

    Not telling the truth about how much you play, or feeling you can’t talk about it.

  • Playing to escape

    Gambling to get away from stress, worry or low mood, or feeling restless when you try to stop.

The 1-minute self-check

Nine questions about the last 12 months, from the Problem Gambling Severity Index used in public-health research.

In the last 12 months…

  1. Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
  2. Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same excitement?
  3. Have you gone back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
  4. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
  5. Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
  6. Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
  7. Have people criticised your betting or told you that you have a gambling problem, whether or not you thought it was true?
  8. Has your gambling caused any money problems for you or your household?
  9. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble, or about what happens when you gamble?

Score each answer: never 0, sometimes 1, most of the time 2, almost always 3. A total of 1 or 2 means a low risk, 3 to 7 a moderate risk, and 8 or more suggests gambling is causing you harm.

Private

Your answers are worked out on this page and are gone when you leave it. Nothing is saved or sent.

Not a diagnosis

It’s a screening tool, not a medical test. If your result worries you, talk to a help line or a doctor.

Stay in control

Simple habits that keep gambling a choice.

  • Set a budget first

    Decide what you can afford to lose before you start, and treat it as the price of a night out.

  • Use deposit limits

    Set daily, weekly or monthly limits while you’re calm. 701 of the casinos here list them.

  • Watch the clock

    Use session reminders or a phone alarm, and take a real break at least once an hour.

  • Never chase losses

    A loss is gone. Playing on to win it back usually makes it bigger.

  • Don’t play when you’re low

    Stress, alcohol and tiredness make risky bets look reasonable.

  • Know your way out

    Cool-off periods and self-exclusion lock your account for days, months or years. Use them without guilt.

What the casinos here offer

How many of the 1,160 casinos in our database list each tool. Every casino page shows its own tools under “Good to know”.

  • Self-exclusion1,089 of 1,160

    Locks your account for a set time, often six months to five years. It can’t be undone early.

  • Deposit limits701 of 1,160

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

  • Loss limits298 of 1,160

    Cap how much you can lose over a period.

  • Session limits273 of 1,160

    Log you out, or remind you, after a set time.

  • Wager limits65 of 1,160

    Cap how much you can bet.

A casino that doesn’t list a tool may still offer it. Check its own responsible gambling page before you sign up.

Free, confidential help

Talking to someone is the first step, and it costs nothing. When we know your country, its help line comes first.

What we do about it

  • Every casino page shows the tools it offers to stay in control, under “Good to know”.
  • We show which countries each casino accepts, and hide the ones that won’t accept yours.
  • Links that may earn us money never change a match, a group or the order of a list.
  • The 18+ notice and links to free help are at the bottom of every page.

Worried about someone else?

  • Pick a calm moment, and start with how you feel rather than with blame.
  • Don’t pay their debts or lend them money. It often keeps the problem going.
  • Suggest the self-check above, or a help line. Most of them support families too.
  • Look after yourself as well. You’re allowed to set limits.

Common questions

How do I stop myself from playing?

Use the tools at the casino: a cool-off period, self-exclusion or a deposit limit. In the UK, GAMSTOP blocks every licensed site at once. You can also block gambling sites on your devices and ask your bank to block gambling payments.

What is self-exclusion?

A request to a casino, or to a national scheme, to stop you playing for a set time, usually six months to five years. It can’t be undone early, which is exactly why it works.

Does this site encourage gambling?

No. We describe casinos so adults can compare them, and we put first the facts that matter most when something goes wrong, such as payout speed and licences. We never promise winnings.

Is the self-check a medical test?

No. It’s a short screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis. If your result worries you, talk to a help line or a doctor.

Are my self-check answers saved?

No. They are worked out in your browser and disappear when you leave the page.