Responsible gambling

Free, confidential help

These services are free and do not judge. You can call about your own gambling or about someone else's.

What a slot really costs

Every slot pays back less than it takes over time. That gap is the cost of playing, and RTP tells you how big it is: at 96% RTP, every 1,000 wagered loses 40 on average. At 1 per spin and 10 spins a minute, an hour of play wagers 600 and costs about 24 on average, and a single hour can cost much more.

Wins do not make a game "due" to pay or not to pay. Every spin is independent, and no system, pattern or time of day changes the odds.

Work out the cost of a session before you play with the RTP calculator and how long a budget lasts with the session budget calculator.

Limits that work

1. Set a money limit before you start, and only use money you can afford to lose. Never use money meant for rent, bills or food.
2. Set a time limit too. Use a phone timer; time passes quickly on fast games.
3. Treat losses as the price of the entertainment. Never chase them: playing on to win money back is how small losses become big ones.
4. Do not gamble to solve a money problem, or when you are stressed, low, angry or have been drinking.
5. Take regular breaks and keep gambling one activity among many.
6. Use the casino's own tools. Licensed operators usually offer deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders, time-outs and self-exclusion in the account settings. Set them up while you feel in control.

Warning signs

Gambling may be becoming a problem if you:

• spend more money or time than you planned, more and more often
• play on to win back what you lost
• borrow money, sell things or miss payments to gamble
• hide your gambling or lie about it to people close to you
• feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down
• gamble to escape worries, stress or low mood
• let gambling get in the way of work, study, family or sleep

One sign is reason enough to talk to someone. The services above help people at every stage, not only in a crisis.

Self-exclusion and blocking

Self-exclusion closes your access to gambling for a period you choose, usually from six months to several years. You can self-exclude with a single operator in its account settings, and in some countries with every licensed operator at once: in the UK through GAMSTOP, which is free. Ask your local helpline which schemes cover where you live.

Blocking software on your phone and computer adds a second barrier by stopping gambling sites and apps from loading. Banks in several countries also let you block gambling transactions on your card from the banking app.

Worried about someone else

Gambling harm affects families and friends too. Talk at a calm moment, describe what you have noticed without blaming, and listen. Avoid paying off their gambling debts: it often keeps the gambling going.

The helplines above also support family members and friends, and they can explain how to protect your own money and wellbeing.

Under 18? Not here

WildmarkSlots is for adults aged 18 or over, and you must meet the legal gambling age where you live, which is higher in some places. Parents can keep children away from gambling content with the parental controls built into phones, browsers and home routers.

Frequently asked questions