Set limits that actually hold
A budget tool that starts from what you can really afford, ten rules for safer play and a checklist for the moment the urge hits.
Budget tool
Work out a ceiling you can afford
Enter your monthly figures in any currency. Nothing is sent or saved; it is calculated in your browser.
Ten rules
Ten rules for safer play
- 1
Decide the limit before you start
Choose an amount and a time while you are calm. Never decide it in the middle of a session.
- 2
Bet only spare money
Rent, food, bills, debts and family money are off the table, always.
- 3
Treat the limit as already spent
Think of it as the price of an evening out. If it is gone, the evening is over.
- 4
Never chase losses
Betting more to win back what you lost is how small losses become big ones. A loss is a reason to stop, not to continue.
- 5
Set a time limit too
Decide how long you will play. Long sessions wear down judgement.
- 6
Do not bet when you are upset, tired or drinking
Low mood, anger, boredom and alcohol all push stakes up and judgement down.
- 7
Keep a bet-free day, then more
Start with one day a week with no betting. Add days when that feels manageable.
- 8
Write it down
Keep a simple log of amount, time and mood. What is written down is harder to explain away.
- 9
Never borrow to bet
If you notice yourself asking to borrow, selling things or delaying bills, that is the signal to stop and talk to someone.
- 10
Use a second pair of hands
Ask someone you trust to hold your spare cash, to know your limit, and to ask how it went. If you top up through an agent, tell them your cap.
Many licensed operators offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion in the account settings. When money moves through an agent or in cash, those controls may not apply, so the limits above have to come from you.
When the urge hits
A six-step cool-off checklist
- Put the phone down for ten minutes. The urge usually peaks and falls.
- Do not top up and do not ask anyone to top up for you.
- Message or call one person, even just to say you are having a hard moment.
- Move: step outside, drink some water, wash your face.
- Write down the amount you want to chase. Seeing the number helps.
- Wait 24 hours before any new top-up. If you still want to bet tomorrow, keep to your cap.
Finding it hard to keep to your limits is a signal, not a failure. Try the three-minute self-check and see where to get support. If you top up through an agent, read how that changes the picture.