Playing Within Your Means: Our Standards for Every Session
Money staked at a casino is money spent, and a win is never owed to the player. We build our responsible play standards around the session itself, because each phase of it calls for a different decision.
Before the session
Decisions made before play are the ones most likely to be kept. Settle three things first: the sum you can afford to lose, the time you will give, and what you will do when either is used up.
| Decision | Tool in your account | Note |
|---|---|---|
| How much | Deposit limit per day, week or month | Set it before the first deposit |
| How long | Session reminder | Prompts you to continue or stop |
| Whether to play at all | Time-out | Blocks the account for a chosen period |
Use only money that is not needed for rent, bills or food. Avoid playing when tired, upset or under the influence of alcohol. If children share your devices, keep your login private and lock the screen.
During the session
Watch for the behaviour that signals a loss of control while it is happening.
- Raising stakes to win back a loss.
- Playing past the time you set.
- Depositing again after a limit was reached, on another card.
- Thinking about the next bet instead of the game in front of you.
When you notice one of these, stop the round and leave the table. A reminder from the account is a prompt to decide, and the decision is yours. If you want to stop at once, a time-out takes effect from the moment you confirm it.
Setting a limit
- Sign in and open the responsible play settings.
- Choose the limit type and the period.
- Enter an amount in pounds that you can afford to lose.
- Confirm. The account shows the limit in force.
After the session
Look at the transaction history. It lists every deposit, withdrawal and result, and it is the plainest answer to the question of how much play has cost. Do not return the same day to recover a loss; the urge to do so is one of the clearest signs that gambling has taken over.
If a session ended with distress or debt, take a longer break or exclude yourself. Self-exclusion closes access for a period you choose, and we stop sending marketing to the account while it runs. Our support team confirms your request in writing at [email protected], and any balance belonging to you is returned after verification. Returning afterwards requires a fresh request from you.
Banks can block gambling payments on a card on request. Removing stored card details from the phone and installing blocking software on shared devices also help.
Where independent help is found
- GamCare runs a free helpline on 0808 8020 133, with online chat.
- BeGambleAware gives information and signposting.
- GAMSTOP offers multi-operator self-exclusion for UK players.
- A doctor can advise on support for gambling harm.
These services are confidential and do not depend on playing with us. If gambling has left you in debt, in distress or thinking of harming yourself, do not wait: speak to a doctor, call a helpline or tell someone you trust today.
Questions to ask yourself at the end of a session
| Question | A “yes” suggests |
|---|---|
| Have I spent more than I planned? | The budget is not holding |
| Did I play past the time I set? | The time limit is not working |
| Did I feel I had to win it back? | Chasing losses has begun |
| Would I be uneasy if someone saw my history? | Play is being concealed |
Two or more “yes” answers are a reason to take a break and to speak to an independent service.
Gambling and mood
Play that begins as a way to pass time can become a way to avoid feelings. If you reach for the app when you are anxious, lonely or angry, pause. Talking to a friend, a doctor or a free helpline addresses the cause, whereas gambling adds a money problem to it.
What happens after you ask us for a break
- You choose a time-out or self-exclusion in the account area, or write to [email protected].
- We confirm the request in writing and apply it to the account.
- Access to play and to marketing messages stops for the period you chose.
- Any balance belonging to you is returned after verification.
If someone close to you gambles
Speak calmly and without accusation, suggest the tools above, and do not give money to cover debts. GamCare supports those affected by another person’s gambling, and you do not need the player’s agreement to call.
A plan for the next session
Write down three answers before you play again: the sum set aside, the time you will give, and what you will do when either runs out. A plan made in advance is easier to keep than a decision taken while a round is in progress. If you cannot answer the third question, that is a reason not to start.
What a break does and does not do
A time-out or self-exclusion stops play on the account. It does not remove the reasons that made you want a break, and it works best when combined with talking to someone. Do not open another account with us during a break; accounts opened to avoid a restriction are closed.
Where to start if you are unsure
If you are not sure whether your play is a problem, begin with the table above and the tools in your account. Set a deposit limit, use the session reminder for a week and read the history at the end of it. Many players find that the figures answer the question more honestly than memory does.
Players under 18
Persons under 18 may not gamble with us. We close accounts that belong to minors, and parental control software can restrict gambling websites on family devices.
What we do
We watch for patterns that suggest harm. Where we see them we may contact you, set a restriction or close the account. What you tell our support team about your gambling is used to help you and to meet our obligations, and it is not used for marketing while a restriction is active.