Responsible Gambling & Player Protection

Responsible Gambling and Player Protection

Gambling should always remain a form of entertainment. When it begins to affect your mood, finances, or daily life, it is important to pause and reassess your habits. Problem gambling can develop gradually, and without attention it may lead to stress, financial pressure, or tension in personal relationships. Understanding how to set limits and recognizing warning signs early is an important part of staying safe.

Support is available in many regions for anyone who feels their gambling is becoming difficult to control. Independent organizations and helplines offer private assistance, guidance, and resources for players who need help. Speaking to a professional or reaching out to a trusted person can make a meaningful difference.

How to Gamble Safely and Responsibly

Developing safe habits from the start is one of the best ways to prevent gambling related problems. The following guidelines can help you stay in control:

Know Your Financial Priorities
Always take care of essential expenses before allocating money for gambling.

Set a Clear Budget
Decide how much you can safely afford to spend and treat this amount as entertainment cost.

Stick to Your Limits
Once your budget is set, do not chase losses or add more funds.

Avoid Borrowing Money
Never use loans, credit, or possessions to fund gambling activity.

Stay in a Supportive Environment
Keep company with people who encourage healthy decisions and balanced play.

Reach Out Early
If gambling begins to feel stressful or overwhelming, talk to a friend, family member, or a professional support service.

Recognizing a Gambling Problem

Identifying early warning signs can help prevent the situation from escalating. Some common indicators include:

• Spending more than you planned
• Increasing bet sizes to feel the same excitement
• Trying to recover losses by continuing to gamble
• Borrowing money to continue playing
• Feeling guilt, anxiety, or secrecy about gambling
• Friends or family showing concern about your behaviour

If any of these signs feel familiar, seeking help is an important step. Many respected organizations provide confidential assistance for individuals who need support managing gambling behaviour.

Responsible Gambling Helplines & Support

If you need professional support, various country-specific organizations can provide assistance:

International Gambling Support Resources

Australia: Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858, gamblinghelponline.org.au)

Austria: spielsuchthilfe.at

Belgium: SOS SPELEN (0800 35 777, gokhulp.be)

Canada: Canada Safety Council (613-739-1535, canadasafetycouncil.org)

Denmark: Danish Gambling Authority (spillemyndigheden.dk)

France: Adictel Prevention (adictel.com, contact@adictel.com)

Germany: Gluecksspielsucht Hotline (0800 0776611, glücksspielsucht.de)

Ireland: GambleAware (1800 753 753, gambleaware.ie)

Korea: Korea Center for Gambling Problems (kcgp.or.kr)

Malta: Responsible Gambling Foundation (rgf.org.mt)

Netherlands: AGOG Foundation (0900-2177721, agog.nl)

New Zealand: Gambling Helpline (0800 654 655, gamblinghelpline.co.nz)

Norway: Hjelpelinjen Helpline (800 800 40, hjelpelinjen.no)

Singapore: National Council on Problem Gambling (ncpg.org.sg, 800 6 66866)

South Africa: National Responsible Gambling Counselling (0800 006 008, responsiblegambling.co.za)

Sweden: Stodlinjen Support (stodlinjen.se)

Switzerland: Careplay Support (041 367 48 47, careplay.ch)

United Kingdom:

• GamCare (0808 8020 133, gamcare.org.uk)
• Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org.uk)