Play With a Plan

Casino games, slots and sports bets are built to be entertaining, and they are also built to cost players money over time. Both things are true at once. The way to enjoy them is to decide the rules for yourself before the game decides them for you. This page sets out the plan we suggest, the signs that play is becoming a problem and where to turn for help.

Adults only

Everything about gambling on this site is for readers aged 18 and over. In some places the legal age is higher, and then that age applies. Gambling is also restricted or banned in many countries and regions, so check the law where you live before playing anywhere, online or in person.

Four limits to set before you start

1. A money limit. Choose an amount for the week or month that you could lose entirely without it affecting bills, savings or anyone who depends on you. When it is gone, play stops until the next period.
2. A time limit. Decide how long a session lasts and set an alarm. Fast games can pack a lot of rounds into a short evening.
3. A stake limit. Keep each bet small relative to your budget, so the session lasts as long as you planned.
4. A stopping rule for wins. Decide in advance what you will do if you finish ahead, for example withdraw a set share and end the session.

Most licensed operators offer tools that make these limits stick: deposit caps, session reminders, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. Set them while you are calm, not in the middle of play. The planner further down this page can help you pace a budget across an evening.

Everyday habits for keeping play small

• Play with money set aside for entertainment, never with money meant for rent, food or debts.
• Never borrow to play, and never play to win back what you have lost.
• Avoid playing when you are upset, tired, lonely or have been drinking.
• Take regular breaks and do other things you enjoy.
• Pause for at least a day before raising any limit. Our guide to the 24-hour rule explains why that pause helps.

When play starts to hurt

Gambling problems often build slowly. Any of the following is a reason to stop and take stock:

• repeatedly going past the money or time you had planned;
• feeling the need to bet larger amounts to get the same excitement;
• hiding how much you play from family or friends;
• growing tense, short-tempered or low when you attempt to play less;
• using play to escape worries, stress or low mood;
• borrowing, selling belongings or missing payments because of gambling;
• thinking about gambling much of the time, even when you are doing something else.

Where to find support

If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and help is available. Most countries have free, confidential support services for people affected by gambling, often reachable by phone, online chat or in person. A doctor or local health service can point you to them, and licensed gambling sites usually list support organisations for their region on a dedicated safer gambling page. Family members affected by someone else's gambling can use these services too.

You can also block gambling sites on your own devices, use your bank's option to block gambling transactions where it exists, and register with self-exclusion schemes that cover several operators at once.

Our part

We do not promise wins, recommend systems or encourage anyone to spend more. If you think an article on this site falls short of that, please tell us through Write to the Academy.