Responsible gambling: stay in control of the match

Responsible gambling: the basics before every session

Responsible gambling means playing for fun with money you can afford to lose. Crash games are games of chance: no strategy guarantees a win, and any round can end in a loss. Keep that in mind and you have already done the most important part.

Gambling is for adults only. You must be at least 18, and some operators require you to be 21 for online casino games. Check the operator's terms before you open an account.

Warning signs to watch for

Trouble rarely starts overnight; it builds up slowly. These are the simple signs I watch for in myself. If you recognise several of them, it is time to take a break.

• You stake more than the budget you set, or you top up your mobile money wallet in the middle of a session.
• You play to win back what you lost, not to enjoy yourself.
• You hide from the people around you how much time or money goes into the games.
• You use money meant for rent, food, school fees or a debt to play.
• Gambling is on your mind at work, in class or at night, and you feel restless when you cannot play.
• You start believing in a predictor, a signal or a "system" that wins every time.

My own budget and time rules

I set my budget before I open the game, never during play. For example, if I decide to spend 2,000 FCFA in an evening, I treat that money as already gone. When it runs out, the session is over.

• A separate pot. Gambling money never comes out of what is set aside for the household.
• Small stakes compared with the budget. For example, with 2,000 FCFA I keep each bet small, so a few lost rounds do not wipe everything out.
• A time limit. I pick a length of time, say one half of a football match, and I stop when it is up, whether I am ahead or behind.
• No play on bad days. Tired, angry, low or after a drink, I leave the games alone.
• Demo first. I always start with the demo to learn a game without putting money at risk.

Why chasing losses never works

Chasing losses means raising your stake to "get it back" after a run of losing rounds. The catch is that the game has no memory: each round is random and independent of the one before. A losing streak does not make a win any more likely.

Doubling up only means you lose faster if the streak goes on. Think of a defender who gets a yellow card and goes in even harder to get revenge: he ends up sent off. Once your budget is gone, walk off the pitch and come back another day, or not at all.

Self-exclusion tools from licensed operators

Licensed operators usually offer tools that help you stay in control. Names and options differ from one site to the next, so look in your account settings or ask the support team.

• A deposit limit per day, week or month.
• A cooling-off period that pauses your account for a few days or weeks.
• Self-exclusion, which blocks your access for a long period.
• A history of your bets and deposits, so you can see what you really spent.

Set these up before things get hard, not after. If a site offers none of them, that already tells you something about the operator.

Talk to someone

If gambling is weighing on you, do not carry it alone. Talk to someone close that you trust, such as a friend, a brother, a sister or a parent. Just saying it out loud often makes things clearer.

You can also speak to a doctor or visit a health centre. Problem gambling is a real health issue, and asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.

If you want to understand the games before you play, my guides to crash games in Ivory Coast explain the rules without any promises. And read my warning about fake Aviator predictors before you trust any paid signal.