StakeGuide

Responsible Gambling

Gambling should always be a form of entertainment — not a way to make money, solve financial problems, or escape difficulty.

Golden rules

  • Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
  • Set a budget before you play — and stick to it.
  • Never chase losses.
  • Take regular breaks.
  • Don't gamble when you're stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol.

Know the Warning Signs

Problem gambling can affect anyone. Watch for these signs in yourself or someone you know:

  • Spending more money or time gambling than intended.
  • Gambling to recover previous losses (“chasing”).
  • Hiding gambling activity from family or friends.
  • Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
  • Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed when not gambling.
  • Gambling affecting your work, relationships, or mental health.
  • Repeatedly trying and failing to cut back or stop.

If any of these apply to you, please seek help. You are not alone.

Tools to Stay in Control

All reputable licensed casinos offer responsible gambling tools. We strongly encourage you to use them proactively.

Deposit Limits

Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much you can deposit.

Loss Limits

Restrict how much you can lose in a given period.

Session Time Limits

Set reminders or hard stops on how long you play.

Reality Checks

Pop-up reminders of how long you've been playing.

Self-Exclusion

Voluntarily block yourself from a casino for a defined period or permanently.

Cooling-Off Periods

Take a short break from your account without full exclusion.

Self-Exclusion Schemes

If you feel you need a break from gambling, national self-exclusion schemes allow you to block yourself from multiple operators at once:

  • GamStop (UK) — national self-exclusion scheme covering all UKGC-licensed operators.
  • MGA Self-Exclusion (Malta) — managed by the Malta Gaming Authority.
  • OASIS (Germany) — national exclusion register.
  • Spelpaus (Sweden) — national exclusion register for Swedish players.
  • SRIJ (Portugal) — exclusion register at srij.turismodeportugal.pt.

For other countries, contact your national gambling regulator.

Free Help & Support

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, these organisations offer free, confidential support:

BeGambleAware

UK players

0808 8020 133
GamCare

UK players

0808 8020 133
Gambling Therapy

International

1-800-522-4700

All services are free and confidential.

Protecting Younger People

Online gambling is strictly for adults. If you are under 18, you must not attempt to use any casino listed on this site.

Parents and guardians can use parental control tools to restrict access to gambling websites:

  • Gamban — blocks all gambling sites across all devices.
  • Net Nanny — parental control software.
  • Bark — parental monitoring for families.

Our Commitment

StakeGuide is an affiliate comparison site. We do not operate casinos or accept bets. As part of our responsible gambling commitment, we only list casinos holding a valid licence from a recognised regulator, display 18+ warnings on every page, show bonus wagering terms clearly, and list restricted countries on each casino page.

See how we evaluate casinos →

Questions about responsible gambling on our site? Email safety@stakeguide.io