Responsible Gambling & Support

Get Support

If you are unsure which country applies to you, start with Gambling Therapy, which offers global support and guidance.

Support details, phone numbers, and availability can change. Check the organisation’s own website for the latest information.

International

Gambling Therapy
Global, free support and guidance
Website: https://gamblingtherapy.org

If your country is not listed below, these directories may help you find a local helpline or support service:

GamCare - International support contacts
Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/self-help/links-to-other-support-agencies/international-support-contacts/

Find A Helpline - gambling topic directory
Website: https://findahelpline.com/topics/gambling

Malta

Responsible Gaming Foundation - National Helpline 1777
Phone: 1777
Website: https://www.rgf.org.mt/

United Kingdom / Great Britain

GamCare - National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/

GAMSTOP - online self-exclusion for GB-licensed sites
Website: https://www.gamstop.co.uk

Ireland

GamblingCare.ie
Support and signposting in Ireland
Website: https://gamblingcare.ie

Spain

FEJAR - Federación Española de Jugadores de Azar Rehabilitados
Phone: 900 200 225
Website: https://fejar.org

Portugal

Linha 1414 - counselling, information, and referral service
Phone: 1414
Website: https://www.icad.pt

France

Joueurs Info Service
Help, chat, and phone support
Phone: 09 74 75 13 13
Website: https://www.joueurs-info-service.fr

Italy

Telefono Verde Nazionale Gioco d’Azzardo - ISS / TVNGA
Phone: 800 558 822
Info page: https://www.issalute.it/index.php/numeri-verdi/gioco-d-azzardo

Usciredalgioco - ISS helpline information
Website: https://usciredalgioco.iss.it/telefono-verde

Germany

BIÖG telephone counselling for gambling problems
Phone: 0800 1 37 27 00
Website: https://www.bioeg.de/service/infotelefone/gluecksspielsucht/

Austria

Play Responsible - advice centres in Austria
Website: https://www.playsponsible.at/en/kontakt/spielerschutz-kontakt/advice-centres-in-austria

Spielsuchthilfe - counselling and therapy centre in Vienna
Website: https://www.spielsuchthilfe.at/englisch.html

Switzerland

SOS Gambling Addiction / SOS Spielsucht
Phone: 0800 040 080
Website: https://www.sos-spielsucht.ch/

Netherlands

Loket Kansspel - Gambling Help Centre
Website: https://www.loketkansspel.nl

Dutch government page on gambling help
Website: https://www.government.nl/topics/games-of-chance/question-and-answer/help-with-gambling-problems

Denmark

StopSpillet - Danish Gambling Authority helpline
Phone: 70 22 28 25
Website: https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/en/stopspillet-stopgambling-helpline-about-responsible-gambling

ROFUS - Denmark self-exclusion register
Website: https://www.rofus.nu/en/

Norway

Hjelpelinjen - Norwegian gambling helpline
Phone: 800 800 40
Website: https://hjelpelinjen.no/en/front-page/

Spillavhengighet Norge - support for people affected by gambling problems
Phone: 477 00 200
Website: https://spillavhengighet.no/en/

Sweden

Stödlinjen - Swedish national gambling helpline
Phone: 020-81 91 00
Website: https://stodlinjen.se/en

Spelpaus - Sweden self-exclusion system
Website: https://www.spelpaus.se/en/faq/

Finland

Peluuri - gambling helpline and online support
Phone: 0800 100 101
Website: https://www.peluuri.fi/en

Belgium

Belgian Gaming Commission - Seek help in your area
Website: https://www.gamingcommission.be/en/zoek-hulp-in-je-buurt-brussel

United States

National Council on Problem Gambling - National Helpline information
Website: https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/

Canada

ConnexOntario - Ontario problem gambling support and referrals
Phone: 1-866-531-2600
Text: CONNEX to 247247
Website: https://connexontario.ca

Services vary by province. If you are outside Ontario, search for your provincial problem gambling helpline or use Gambling Therapy for global support.

Australia

National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 1800 858 858
Website: https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

New Zealand

Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0800 654 655
Text: 8006
Website: https://gamblinghelpline.co.nz

South Africa

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation
Phone: 0800 006 008
WhatsApp: 076 675 0710
Website: https://responsiblegambling.org.za/

What Responsible Gambling Means

Responsible gambling means staying in control of your time, money, decisions, and emotional response when gambling.

It means treating gambling as paid entertainment, not as a way to make money. It also means only gambling where it is legal for you to do so, only using money you can afford to lose, and stopping when gambling no longer feels controlled.

Responsible gambling does not make gambling risk-free. Casino games are designed around risk and can lead to losses, and bonuses can include terms that make the offer less useful than it first appears. If gambling starts affecting your finances, mood, relationships, work, sleep, or ability to stop, it is time to pause and get support.

Practical Steps to Stay in Control

Set limits before you start gambling, not after emotion takes over.

A practical safer gambling routine can include:

• Set a clear budget before playing.
• Set a time limit before you log in.
• Do not chase losses.
• Do not gamble with borrowed money.
• Do not use money needed for bills, rent, food, debt, or essentials.
• Avoid gambling when angry, stressed, drunk, upset, lonely, or under pressure.
• Treat gambling as paid entertainment, not income.
• Take breaks during longer sessions.
• Check your account history regularly.
• Stop if gambling stops feeling controlled.

Bonus terms can also affect behaviour. Wagering requirements, max cashout caps, expiry limits, and game restrictions can make a bonus feel more urgent or more valuable than it really is. If a bonus makes you feel pressured to deposit, play longer, or chase a target, step back before continuing.

Withdrawal delays, pending periods, KYC checks, or payment friction can also create stress. They should not be a reason to deposit again, chase losses, or keep playing emotionally.

Warning Signs Gambling May Be Becoming Harmful

Gambling may be becoming harmful if it starts to feel difficult to control or begins affecting other areas of life.

Warning signs can include:

• chasing losses
• gambling for longer than planned
• spending more than planned
• hiding gambling from other people
• borrowing money to gamble
• using money needed for essentials
• feeling anxious, angry, guilty, or unable to stop
• increasing stakes to feel the same excitement
• gambling to escape stress, boredom, sadness, or pressure
• neglecting work, study, family, health, or sleep
• trying to cut down but not managing to
• arguing with others about gambling
• returning to gambling after promising yourself you would stop

Noticing one or more of these signs does not mean you should feel ashamed. It is a reason to pause, put barriers in place, and speak to someone or contact a support organisation.

Safer Gambling Tools You Can Use

Many regulated or licensed casinos offer safer gambling tools, although names and availability vary by casino, country, device, bank, and payment provider.

Deposit limits

A deposit limit caps how much you can add to your account during a set period. This is one of the most useful tools because it creates a boundary before the money reaches the casino account.

Loss limits

A loss limit caps how much you can lose during a set period. It can help reduce overspending, but it only works if the limit is realistic and you do not raise it when you feel tilted or frustrated.

Time limits and reality checks

Time tools help reduce long, automatic sessions. These may include session timers, forced breaks, or reality check pop-ups that remind you how long you have been playing.

Cooling-off periods

A cooling-off period is a short temporary break from gambling. It can be useful when you feel emotional, frustrated, or tempted to chase losses.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is a stronger block that restricts access for a longer period. It is designed for moments when you need a firm barrier, not just a reminder.

Marketing and bonus opt-outs

If promotions, bonus emails, free spins, or deposit offers trigger you, turn off marketing messages and bonus offers where the casino allows it. Removing triggers can reduce urges to return.

Blocking tools and banking blocks

If you keep returning to gambling sites automatically, add barriers outside the casino account.

Examples of device or app blocking tools include:

• Gamban
• BetBlocker

These are examples, not endorsements. Availability, pricing, and features vary by device and country.

Some banks and card issuers also offer gambling transaction blocks. These may be available through app settings, card controls, spending controls, or customer support. Some e-wallets may also offer merchant-category restrictions, depending on the provider and region.

Extra friction steps

You can also:

• remove saved cards from casino accounts
• remove saved payment details from browsers and payment apps
• restrict app installs on your phone
• use device-level blocking tools
• ask your bank about gambling transaction blocks

A practical “friction stack” can help if you tend to gamble automatically: combine a deposit limit, a blocking tool, and a bank/payment block. One tool may help, but several barriers together can make it harder to act on impulse.

If You Feel Unable to Stop

If gambling feels out of control, do not wait for the next session to go differently. Add barriers now.

Practical steps include:

• stop depositing
• log out
• take a break from the site or app
• use a cooling-off period or self-exclusion
• remove saved payment methods
• use a gambling-blocking tool
• ask your bank about gambling transaction blocks
• tell someone you trust
• contact a support organisation
• avoid trying to win back losses

If you are worried about your immediate safety, use local emergency or crisis support now.

If you are unsure where to start, use Gambling Therapy for global support or choose the support option for your country from the list above.

If You Are Worried About Someone Else

If you are worried about someone else’s gambling, try to approach the conversation calmly. Blame or shame can make the person more defensive, even if your concern is valid.

You can:

• choose a calm time to talk
• explain what you have noticed
• avoid accusing or threatening
• encourage them to use limits, self-exclusion, blocking tools, or support services
• avoid lending money for gambling
• protect your own finances and wellbeing
• seek support for yourself too

You do not need to solve the situation alone. Support organisations can often advise friends and family as well as the person gambling.

Casino Raccoons’ Responsible Gambling Standards

Casino Raccoons publishes casino reviews, bonus comparisons, guides, tools, and news, but gambling risk stays part of how that content should be framed.

We do not present gambling as income, use guaranteed-win language, or describe bonuses as risk-free. Our content aims to explain the practical details that can affect player decisions, including wagering requirements, max cashout caps, withdrawal rules, payment conditions, KYC checks, bonus limits, and responsible gambling tools.

Affiliate links are not encouragement to gamble beyond your limits. A casino ranking, review, guide, tool, or bonus explanation cannot remove gambling risk.

You can read more about our content standards in our Editorial Guidelines and how commercial relationships work in our Affiliate Disclosure.

What Casino Raccoons Cannot Do

Casino Raccoons provides information, reviews, guides, safer gambling explanations, and links to support resources. We are not a casino, treatment provider, regulator, or counselling service.

Casino Raccoons cannot:

• close your casino account
• process withdrawals
• approve KYC checks
• self-exclude you from casino sites
• block access to gambling websites
• provide counselling or treatment
• resolve casino disputes
• manage your casino account

For account-specific issues, contact the casino directly. For gambling support, use a support organisation in your country or start with Gambling Therapy if you are unsure where to go.

Related Pages

This page is part of the Casino Raccoons trust and safety layer.

You can read more about our site-use boundaries in our Terms of Use, how we review and score casinos, bonuses, and slots in our Review Methodology and Scoring, how commercial relationships work in our Affiliate Disclosure, and how to contact us on our Contact page.