Last updated: 3 September 2026
If the game has stopped being fun, the services listed here are free, confidential and available today.
1 Tools inside your account
The responsible gaming section of a licensed operator gives you these controls for free, and they take a minute to set. They are far more effective than willpower in the middle of a session.
- Deposit and loss limits — a daily, weekly or monthly cap. Increases usually take effect only after a cooling-off period, which is exactly the point.
- Session reminders — a pop-up telling you how long you have played and what your net result is.
- Cooling-off periods — a short lock of 24 hours to several weeks, useful after a bad session.
- Self-exclusion — closing access for six months, a year or permanently. It cannot be undone early, by design.
- Account closure — a full exit with withdrawal of any remaining balance.
2 Warning signs worth taking seriously
Any one of these is a reason to pause; several together mean it is time to ask for help.
- Playing longer or for higher stakes than you intended, repeatedly.
- Depositing again to win back what you just lost.
- Gambling with money set aside for rent, food, school fees or repayments.
- Borrowing money — or selling belongings — to keep playing.
- Hiding how much you play from family or friends.
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
- Believing a “predictor” or “hack” can beat an RNG game. None can.
3 Supporting someone else
If you are worried about a family member, approach the money before the morality: shared visibility of accounts, no lending, no covering losses. Family support services can advise on how to have that conversation without turning it into an argument, and they are free to use.
4 Free, confidential support
These services are independent of any operator and cost nothing to contact.
- Gambling Therapy — free online support in multiple languages, available in India.
- Gamblers Anonymous — peer support groups, including online meetings and Indian chapters.
- BeGambleAware — self-assessment tools and advice.
- GamCare — 24/7 helpline and live chat.
If you are in immediate distress, contact your local emergency number or a mental-health helpline in your country straight away. In India, Tele-MANAS offers free mental-health support on 14416.
5 Taking a break the right way
Reality checks, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion are all available inside a licensed account, and none of them requires an explanation to support. Self-exclusion cannot usually be reversed early, which is exactly what makes it work. Start with the shortest option that feels slightly uncomfortable.
We keep this page short on purpose: policies nobody reads protect nobody.