Play it your way: responsible gambling

Keep it fun

Casino games are entertainment you pay for, like a night out or a concert ticket. The games have a built-in edge, so over time the site comes out ahead, and that’s the price of the fun. Played that way, with money you’ve set aside for it, a few spins or a round of Aviator is a good night in.

A few habits keep it that way:

• Decide your budget before you start, and set it as a deposit limit.
• Set a time to stop. Fast games make time fly.
• Treat winnings as a bonus, not a plan.
• Don’t chase losses. Another deposit to win back the last one is the moment to stop.
• Take breaks, and stop when it stops being fun.

You must be 18 or older to gamble in South Africa. Licensed sites verify your age, and that’s a good thing.

Tools every licensed site offers

Deposit limits. Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap. A limit set on a calm day beats willpower on a bad one.

Time-outs. Lock your account for a short, set period.

Self-exclusion. A longer or permanent block. Provincial gambling boards run self-exclusion for the sites they license, and the National Responsible Gambling Programme can explain how.

Account history. Your deposits, withdrawals and bets are all in your account. A quick look now and then keeps things honest.

Your bank. Several South African banks let you block gambling transactions on your card.

Signs it’s time to talk to someone

• Spending more than you planned, or more than you can afford
• Depositing again to win back what you’ve lost
• Using money meant for rent, food, school fees or debts
• Borrowing, or selling things, to gamble
• Hiding how much you gamble from the people close to you
• Feeling restless or irritable when you’re not gambling
• Gambling to cope with stress, low mood or boredom

If one or more sounds familiar, call 0800 006 008. It’s free and confidential, and the people who answer do this every day.

If it’s someone close to you

Family and partners can call the same helpline, without the person who gambles having to agree. Don’t lend money or cover losses, protect shared accounts, and get advice before you raise it with them.

Our part

We write about gambling as entertainment. We don’t promise wins, sell systems or “predictor” apps, or suggest gambling can solve money problems. We put bonus terms in rands so you can see what you’re signing up for, and we only cover sites licensed in South Africa, where help and complaints routes exist.

National Responsible Gambling Programme: 0800 006 008, or WhatsApp HELP to 076 675 0710. Winners know when to stop.