Responsible Gaming Guide — Practical Tools and Warning Signs

This guide goes beyond our short Responsible Gaming policy page with practical, actionable tools: a self-check, a longer list of warning signs, and where to look for support.

A quick self-check before you play

Ask yourself honestly:

• Have I decided my time and money limit for this session before opening the app?
• Am I using only money I could fully afford to lose?
• Am I playing because it’s fun, or because I’m hoping to recover a previous loss?
• Is this affecting my sleep, work, studies, or relationships?

If any answer gives you pause, it’s worth stepping back before you start.

Building a limit-setting habit

Our bankroll limits guide walks through a concrete method for setting a session budget and stopping rule. The habit matters more than any single session — building it into how you approach every session, not just occasionally, is what makes it effective.

Warning signs to take seriously

• Spending noticeably more time or money than you planned, repeatedly.
• Chasing losses — increasing stakes specifically to “win back” what was lost.
• Feeling anxious, irritable, or preoccupied with gaming between sessions.
• Hiding the amount of time or money spent from people close to you.
• Borrowing money, or using funds meant for essentials, to keep playing.
• Neglecting responsibilities (work, studies, family) because of gaming time.
• Playing as a way to escape stress, sadness, or other difficult feelings.

None of these on their own is necessarily a crisis, but noticing a pattern across several of them is a signal worth acting on.

What to do if you notice these signs

1. Take a deliberate break — a day, a week, whatever feels meaningful — and notice how it feels.
2. Talk to someone you trust about it. Saying it out loud often clarifies things.
3. Reach out to a qualified local support organisation or health professional. These vary by country and region, so search for services available where you live rather than relying on any single source.
4. Consider using your device or app-level tools (screen time limits, spending limits, self-exclusion features where offered) as a structural aid alongside your own decisions.

For friends and family

If you’re concerned about someone else’s gaming, focus on a specific, non-judgmental conversation about what you’ve noticed, rather than broad statements. Encouraging them toward a local support service is often more effective than trying to resolve it within the relationship alone.

This is general guidance, not a diagnosis

This guide provides general, educational information. It is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or financial advice. If gaming is causing real difficulty, please speak with a qualified professional or local support service.