18+

Responsible gambling

Betting on esports should be entertainment, never a way to make money or to solve money problems. These simple rules help you keep it that way.

Play safely

  • Set a budget before you start and only bet money you can afford to lose.
  • Set limits: every licensed bookmaker offers deposit, loss and time limits. Use them.
  • Never chase losses. Raising your stakes to win back what you lost (for example with the Martingale system) leads to bigger losses.
  • Take breaks and do not bet when you are stressed, tired or have been drinking.
  • Keep betting separate from your bills, savings and borrowed money.

Warning signs

Think about getting help if you:

  • bet more money or more often than you planned;
  • borrow money or sell things to bet;
  • hide your betting from family or friends;
  • feel restless or irritable when you try to stop;
  • bet to escape problems or to feel better.

Tools that help

  • Self-exclusion: lock your account for a set time, at one bookmaker or (in many countries) at all licensed ones, for example GAMSTOP in the UK, OASIS in Germany or Spelpaus in Sweden.
  • Blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker stops gambling sites on your devices.
  • Reality checks: switch on the reminders that show how long you have been playing.

Minors

Gambling is only for adults aged 18 and over (21 in some countries). Esports are popular with young people: if you share a device with children, use parental controls and keep your betting accounts locked.

Free, confidential help

If betting is causing you problems, talk to someone. The organisations below help for free and in confidence.