Responsible Gambling: Keep Betting Affordable
Betting is for adults and should stay something you can afford. You must be at least 18, and older if the legal age for betting where you live is higher. Set limits before you start, never chase a loss, and ask for help early if betting stops being fun. Free support is available online from any country.
Before you bet
- Set a budget you could lose without it touching rent, bills or savings, and keep it apart from your normal money.
- Set your own deposit limit and time limit, and write the rule down before the first bet.
- Treat every deposit as spent. Money that comes back is a windfall, not income.
- Do not bet when you are angry, tired or after drinking.
Exchanges and risk
Backing a bet risks your stake. Laying a bet risks your liability, which can be many times the stake you collect. For example, a lay at 5.00 for £10 risks £40. Check the liability line before you confirm, every time.
Decide the most you will risk on a lay before you place it, and do not raise it to win back a loss. Commission and thin markets also change what you keep. An exchange changes who takes your bet. It does not make you win.
Tools that help
Limits and exclusion tools work best when you set them before you need them. Ask your broker what limit and cool-off tools it offers, and use them. For example, the AsianConnect account dashboard has an entry called Self-Exclusion.
Warning signs
- Betting more than you planned, or for longer than you planned.
- Chasing losses with bigger stakes.
- Borrowing money or selling things to bet.
- Hiding how much you bet, or lying about it.
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not betting.
One sign is enough to stop and talk to someone.
Where to get help
These organisations offer free support. Their reach differs, so check which one serves you:
- Gambling Therapy, a global service with practical advice and emotional support online, in many languages.
- GamCare, a free and confidential helpline and chat for people in Great Britain.
- GambleAware, free and confidential advice, tools and support for people in Great Britain.
Elsewhere, search for your country's national gambling helpline. Gambling Therapy is open to anyone, wherever they live. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
If someone close to you gambles
You do not have to wait for them to ask. Gambling Therapy has a section for family and friends, and GamCare supports relatives and friends as well as people who gamble. Talking to an adviser first can help you decide what to say.