Responsible Gaming

When Gambling Becomes a Problem

Recognising the Warning Signs

Online gambling is designed to be engaging. That's not inherently bad—entertainment should be enjoyable. But the same mechanics that make gambling exciting can also make it compulsive.

Most people gamble recreationally without issues. But for some, gambling shifts from entertainment to obsession. Here are the warning signs that gambling may be becoming a problem:

Financial Warning Signs

Gambling with money you can't afford to lose – Rent money, bill payments, savings meant for essentials

Chasing losses – Depositing more to try to win back what you've lost

Borrowing money to gamble – Loans, credit cards, or asking friends/family for funds

Lying about spending – Hiding gambling losses from partners, family, or friends

Neglecting bills – Missing payments because gambling took priority

Behavioural Warning Signs

Gambling for longer than intended – Logging in "for 20 minutes" and still playing hours later

Inability to stop – Wanting to quit but finding yourself unable to

Preoccupation with gambling – Constantly thinking about your next session, even when not playing

Neglecting responsibilities – Skipping work, missing family commitments, or ignoring obligations

Using gambling to escape – Gambling to avoid stress, anxiety, depression, or other problems

Emotional Warning Signs

Guilt or shame – Feeling bad about your gambling but continuing anyway

Irritability when not gambling – Restlessness or frustration when unable to play

Mood swings tied to wins/losses – Extreme highs after wins, severe lows after losses

Lying about gambling habits – Downplaying how much time or money you've spent

Gambling to cope – Using gambling as your primary way to handle negative emotions

If multiple signs resonate, it's time to take action. Problem gambling doesn't resolve itself—it requires intervention, support, and often professional help.

Setting Healthy Limits

Play Smart: Practical Boundaries That Work

Responsible gambling isn't about never gambling—it's about gambling in a way that's sustainable, controlled, and doesn't interfere with your life. Here's how to set boundaries that protect you:

1. Set a Budget (And Stick to It)

How It Works:

‍Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you start gambling. Treat this as entertainment spending—like going to a movie or dining out. Once it's gone, it's gone.

‍Practical Steps:

Determine your monthly entertainment budget
Allocate a specific portion to gambling (e.g., 10-20% of discretionary income)
Never gamble with money needed for rent, bills, food, or savings
Use deposit limits offered by casinos to enforce your budget automatically

Reality Check:

‍If you're thinking "I'll just win it back," that's chasing losses—a major red flag. The house always has an edge. Budget accordingly.

2. Set a Time Limit

How It Works:

Decide in advance how long you'll play. Set a timer. When it goes off, log out—win or lose.

‍Practical Steps:

Use your phone's timer or alarm
Enable session time reminders in casino settings (many sites offer this)
Schedule gambling sessions like you would any other activity
Avoid "just one more spin" thinking—it's a trap

Why It Matters:

Time flies when you're gambling. What feels like 30 minutes can easily become 3 hours. Time limits protect you from marathon sessions that drain your bankroll and blur your judgment.

3. Never Chase Losses

How It Works:

Accept that losses are part of gambling. When you lose, don't immediately deposit more to try to win it back.That's the fastest path to problem gambling.

‍Practical Steps:

Set a loss limit before you play (e.g., "If I lose $100, I stop")
Walk away when you hit that limit—no exceptions
Recognize that "winning it back" is a cognitive trap
Take a break after a losing session (at least 24 hours)

Why It Matters:

Chasing losses is driven by emotion, not logic. The odds don't change because you lost. Every spin, hand, or rollis independent. Chasing losses only deepens the hole.

4. Take Regular Breaks

How It Works:

Step away from gambling regularly—both during sessions and over longer periods.

‍Practical Steps:

Take a 10-minute break every hour of play
Schedule "gambling-free days" each week
Take extended breaks (weeks or months) periodically
Use self-exclusion tools if you need enforced time off

Why It Matters:

Continuous gambling without breaks clouds judgment, increases impulsivity, and makes it harder to recognise when you're losing control.

5. Don't Gamble Under the Influence

How It Works:

Never gamble when you're drunk, high, or emotionally compromised (angry, depressed, stressed).

Why It Matters:

‍Alcohol and drugs impair judgment. Emotional distress drives impulsive decisions. Both lead to reckless gambling and regret.

6. Keep Gambling in Perspective

How It Works:

Gambling should be one of many activities you enjoy—not your primary source of entertainment, social connection, or emotional regulation.

‍Practical Steps:

Maintain hobbies and interests outside of gambling
Spend time with friends and family who don't gamble
Don't let gambling replace other meaningful activities

Why It Matters:

When gambling becomes your main (or only) source of enjoyment, it's a sign that balance has been lost.

Tools to Stay in Control

Casino Features That Protect You

Most reputable online casinos offer responsible gambling tools. Use them. These features exist to help you stayin control:

Deposit Limits

Set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on how much you can deposit. Once you hit the limit, you can't add more funds until the period resets.

Why Use It:

Prevents you from depositing more than your budget allows in the heat of the moment.

Loss Limits

Set a maximum amount you're willing to lose over a given period. Once reached, you're blocked from further play.

Why Use It:

Enforces your loss tolerance automatically, removing the temptation to chase losses.

Session Time Limits

Set a maximum duration for each gambling session. You'll receive reminders or be logged out automatically when time expires.

Why Use It:

Prevents marathon sessions that erode judgment and drain bankrolls.

Reality Check / Time Alerts

Receive periodic pop-up reminders showing how long you've been playing and how much you've won or lost.

Why Use It:

Breaks the flow state and forces you to assess whether you're still in control.

Self-Exclusion

Voluntarily ban yourself from a casino for a set period (6 months, 1 year, permanent). During this time, you cannot access your account or create a new one.

Why Use It:

If you recognize you've lost control, self-exclusion gives you enforced time away to reset.

National Self-Exclusion Programs:

Australia: National Self-Exclusion Register (BetStop)
New Zealand: Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion (MOSE) program
Ireland: Self-Exclusion Register (all licensed Irish operators)
Canada: Provincial self-exclusion programs (varies by province)

Permanent Account Closure

Close your casino account permanently if you recognize gambling is causing harm.

Why Use It:

Sometimes the healthiest decision is to stop entirely.

Support Resources by Country

You Don't Have to Face This Alone

If gambling has become a problem, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Here are trusted resources available in your region:

Australia

Gambling Help Online (National)

‍Website: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

Phone:
‍1800 858 858
‍(24/7, Free & Confidential)

Services:
Live chat, email support, phone counseling

Lifeline Australia

‍Phone:
‍13 11 14
‍(24/7 Crisis Support)

Services:
Crisis counseling, suicide prevention

Beyond Blue

‍Phone:
‍1300 22 4636

‍Services:
Mental health support, depression/anxiety resources

Gamblers Anonymous Australia

‍Website:
www.gaaustralia.org.au

Services:
Free peer support meetings across Australia

State Resources:

Victoria:
‍1800 858 858
New South Wales:
‍1800 858 858
Queensland:
‍1800 858 858

New Zealand

Gambling Helpline (National)

‍Website:
www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz

Phone:
‍0800 654 655
‍(24/7, Free & Confidential)
‍
Text:
‍8006 (Free text service)

Services:
Phone counseling, online chat, face-to-face referrals

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

‍Website:
www.pgf.nz

Phone:
‍0800 664 262

‍Services:
Free face-to-face counseling, family support

Gamblers Anonymous New Zealand

‍Website:
www.ganewzealand.org.nz

Services:
Free peer support meetings

State Resources:

Salvation Army Oasis – Addiction treatment programs
Te Whare Pounamu – Māori-focused gambling support

Ireland

Problem Gambling Ireland

‍Website:
www.problemgambling.ie

Phone:
‍1800 753 753 (Free & Confidential)

Services:
Counseling, support groups, online resources

Gamblers Anonymous Ireland

‍Website:
www.gamblersanonymous.ie

Services:
Free peer support meetings across Ireland

Dunlewey Addiction
Services

‍Website:
www.dunlewey.ie

Services:
Residential and outpatient addiction treatment

State Resources:

Salvation Army Oasis – Addiction treatment programs
Te Whare Pounamu – Māori-focused gambling support

Canada

ConnexOntario (Ontario)

‍Phone:
‍1-866-531-2600 (24/7)

Services:
Referrals to gambling support services

Responsible Gambling Council (National)

‍Website: www.responsiblegambling.org

Services:
Resources, self-assessment tools, treatment finder

Gambling Help Alberta

‍Phone:
‍1-866-332-2322

‍Services:
Counseling, treatment programs

Gamblers Anonymous Canada

‍Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org

Services:
Free peer support meetings nationwide

Provincial Resources:

British Columbia:
‍1-888-795-6111
‍(Problem Gambling Help Line)
Quebec:
‍1-800-461-0140
‍(Jeu: aide et référence)
Manitoba:
‍1-800-463-1554
‍(AFM Problem Gambling Help Line)

For Friends and Family

How to Help Someone With a Gambling Problem

If someone you care about is struggling with problem gambling, you're not powerless. Here's how to help:

Recognise the Signs

People with gambling problems often hide their behavior. Watch for:

Unexplained financial difficulties or secretive spending

Mood swings, irritability, or depression

Lying about whereabouts or activities

Neglecting work, family, or personal responsibilities

Frequent requests to borrow money

Start the Conversation

Do:

Choose a calm, private moment (not right after a gambling session)

Express concern without judgment: "I've noticed you've been stressed about money. I'm worried."

Use "I" statements: "I feel concerned when..." instead of "You always..."

Listen more than you lecture

Offer to help them find professional support

Emotional Warning Signs

Don't:

Shame, blame, or accuse

Enable the behavior by lending money or covering losses

Issue ultimatums unless you're prepared to follow through

Expect them to stop immediately—recovery is a process

Set Boundaries

If gambling is affecting your life:

Don't bail them out financially (it enables continued gambling)

Protect your own finances (separate accounts, remove access)

Make consequences clear (e.g., "I can't lend you money anymore")

Take care of your own mental health—consider counseling for yourself

Encourage Professional Help

Offer to:

Research treatment options together

Attend a support group meeting with them (many allow concerned persons)

Help them set up self-exclusion or use casino tools

Connect them with a counselor or therapist specialising in gambling addiction

Remember: You can support them, but you can't force recovery. They have to want to change.

BetEdge's Commitment

How We Promote Responsible Gambling

At BetEdge, we rank casinos based on performance—but we only feature operators that meet minimum responsible gambling standards.

Our Requirements for Featured Casinos:

Licensed by credible regulatory authorities – We don't feature unlicensed or questionable operators

Offer deposit, loss, and session limits – Players must be able to set boundaries

Provide self-exclusion tools – Players must have an easy way to ban themselves

Display responsible gambling resources – Casinos must link to support organisations

Age verification – Strict enforcement of 18+ (or 21+ where applicable) requirements

Reality check features – Session time reminders or pop-ups that show win/loss status

If a casino fails these standards, we don't rank it—no matter how good the bonuses or games.

View Our Featured Casinos

Self-Assessment: Do I Have a Gambling Problem?

Take the Test

Answer these questions honestly. If you answer "yes" to several, it may be time to seek help.

In the past 12 months:

Have you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same excitement?
Have you felt restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling?
Have you made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling?
Have you been preoccupied with gambling (reliving past experiences, planning your next session, thinking of ways to get money to gamble)?
Have you often gambled when feeling distressed (anxious, depressed, guilty, helpless)?
After losing money, have you returned another day to "get even" (chasing losses)?
Have you lied to family, friends, or others to conceal the extent of your gambling?
Have you jeopardized or lost a relationship, job, or opportunity because of gambling?
Have you relied on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling?

Scoring:

0-2 Yes: Likely no problem, but stay mindful
3-4 Yes: At-risk gambling—consider setting stricter limits
5+ Yes: Problem gambling—seek professional help

This is not a diagnostic tool. If you're concerned, contact a professional.

Final Word

The Edge Is Knowing When to Stop

BetEdge exists to help you play smarter. That means finding trustworthy casinos, understanding bonus terms, and knowing where your money has the best chance.

But it also means recognising when gambling stops being entertainment and starts being a problem.

‍The smartest edge you'll ever have is self-awareness. If gambling is causing stress, financial harm, or damage to your relationships—it's time to step back. There's no shame in asking for help. There's no weakness in setting limits. And there's no prize worth sacrificing your well-being.

If you need support, reach out. The resources on this page are free, confidential, and ready to help.

Responsible Gaming Comes First

Recognising the Warning Signs

Play Smart: Practical Boundaries That Work

1. Set a Budget (And Stick to It)

2. Set a Time Limit

3. Never Chase Losses

4. Take Regular Breaks

5. Don't Gamble Under the Influence

6. Keep Gambling in Perspective

Casino Features That Protect You

Deposit Limits

Why Use It:

Loss Limits

Why Use It:

Session Time Limits

Why Use It:

Reality Check / Time Alerts

Why Use It:

Self-Exclusion

Why Use It:

National Self-Exclusion Programs:

Permanent Account Closure

Why Use It:

You Don't Have to Face This Alone

Australia

New Zealand

Ireland

Canada

How to Help Someone With a Gambling Problem

How We Promote Responsible Gambling

What We're Doing

Prominent responsible gambling messaging

Educational content

Transparent scoring

No predatory marketing

Take the Test

The Edge Is Knowing When to Stop