Responsible Gambling: Recognize Risk and Find Support

What responsible play means

Responsible play begins with a clear distinction: games of chance are entertainment, not a strategy for earning money or recovering losses. A person can encounter harm through spending, time commitments, secrecy or emotional distress even when a platform describes its games as social or promotional.

Setting personal limits can help some people, but limits are not a substitute for exclusion or professional support when play feels difficult to control.

Signs that play may be causing harm

• Spending more time or money than intended.
• Trying to recover losses by playing more.
• Hiding activity from family or friends.
• Borrowing money, missing bills or neglecting responsibilities because of play.
• Feeling anxious, irritable or distressed when unable to play.
• Continuing despite harm to relationships, sleep, work or wellbeing.

These are warning signs, not a diagnosis. If even one is affecting your life, it is reasonable to seek support early.

Practical steps you can take today

• Stop playing and step away from accounts when you feel pressured or distressed.
• Avoid treating prizes or promotional balances as dependable income.
• Review your financial situation without using games to solve money problems.
• Ask a trusted person to help you create space between yourself and gaming.
• Use account controls and self-exclusion where available.
• Seek professional or peer support rather than managing persistent harm alone.

For a more structured break, read our self-exclusion guide.

Confidential support in the United States

The National Problem Gambling Helpline offers telephone, text and chat services throughout the year. The NCPG currently lists 1-800-MY-RESET as its national helpline number. Use its official website to confirm current contact details and local referrals.

Support is also available to family members and friends affected by someone else’s gambling. You do not have to wait for a crisis before contacting a specialist.

National Council on Problem Gambling help resources

If you are outside the United States

Gambling Therapy is a free international online support service for people affected by gambling harm. Availability of local clinical and crisis services depends on where you live.

If there is an immediate safety concern

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. In the United States, call or text 988 for a mental-health or suicide crisis, or visit SAMHSA crisis support. The problem-gambling helpline is not an emergency-response service.

Operator controls and independent information

Many gaming services provide their own break, limit or self-exclusion mechanisms. Shuffle.us describes responsible-social-gameplay resources and self-exclusion on its official site: Shuffle.us responsible social gameplay policy.

This informational publisher does not hold player accounts, process payments or activate an exclusion on anyone’s behalf. For an exclusion request, use the relevant operator’s official account controls.