Online casino games are built so that the casino keeps a share of what is staked over time. Treat any money you gamble as the price of entertainment, never as a way to earn, and only play if you are 18 or older, or older where your local law sets a higher age. Some licences set their own minimum: casinos licensed in Estonia, for example, accept casino players only from 21.
Free, confidential help
- Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings in many countries and online: gamblersanonymous.org.
- Gambling Therapy offers free online support and chat in several languages for anyone affected by gambling, including family members: gamblingtherapy.org.
Your country may also have a national helpline; your doctor or local health service can point you to it.
Tools every casino we list should offer
- Deposit limits per day, week or month. Set them before your first deposit, when you are calm.
- Loss and session limits or reality-check reminders that show how long you have been playing.
- Time-out for a short break, from a day to several weeks.
- Self-exclusion that closes your account for months or permanently.
Use them from the account settings or ask live support. A casino that refuses to apply a limit or reopens a self-excluded account is breaking the rules of most licences: see our complaint routes by licence.
Self-exclusion has gaps at international casinos
National self-exclusion registers usually bind only casinos licensed in that country. If you have registered with your country’s scheme, an international casino licensed elsewhere will normally not see it, and you will need to self-exclude at each brand separately. Many brands share one operator and one platform, so ask support whether exclusion covers every sister site. Blocking software for gambling sites on your phone and computer adds another layer.
Warning signs
- Chasing losses or depositing again to win back what you lost.
- Gambling with money meant for rent, bills or debt repayments.
- Hiding how much or how often you play.
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to stop.
If any of these sound familiar, take a break and talk to one of the services above. More on how we choose casinos: about us. Payment tools such as card blocks can help too: see casino payment methods, and our restricted countries guide explains why some brands are closed to you in the first place.