Responsible Gambling

Gambling should stay fun. When it stops being entertainment and starts causing stress or financial problems, it’s time to step back. Responsible gambling means staying in control of how much time and money you spend.

15M Follows the Principles of Responsible Gambling

At 15M, we partner only with operators who meet high standards for player protection. That means working with platforms licensed by reputable authorities and committed to fair play.

We verify that our partners offer quality customer service, fast payouts, and responsible gambling tools. Every licensed operator should have a formal Responsible Gambling Strategy with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and annual public reporting. Transparency matters.

We also check that operators follow ethical marketing practices. Ads should include responsible gambling messaging and access to treatment services, and never target minors or mislead players about winning probabilities.

Our goal is simple: connect players with safe, trustworthy platforms that prioritize well-being over profit.

What Is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible gambling is about keeping the activity strictly for entertainment. It should never be seen as a way to make money. It requires discipline: setting limits before you play and sticking to them.

Core practices include setting clear time and money limits before you start, taking regular breaks during sessions, and only gambling with disposable income, money you can truly afford to lose.

Think of lost money like buying a movie ticket. You paid for the experience. You don’t expect a refund.

Problem gambling is different.
The DSM-5 classifies it as an addictive disorder, similar to substance addiction. It’s not just about losing money. It’s a behavioral and emotional problem where gambling becomes compulsive despite severe consequences to relationships, work, and mental health.

The “Three Cs” define gambling disorder: loss of Control (repeated failed attempts to stop), Continuation despite consequences (ignoring job or family obligations), and Craving or preoccupation (constant planning and thinking about gambling).

A common myth is that wealthy people can’t have gambling problems. That’s wrong. Problem gambling is defined by behavioral impairment and disruption to health and relationships, not bank account size.

Responsible Gambling vs. Gambling Disorder

Source: Adapted from DSM-5 criteria and behavioral research

How To Practice Responsible Gambling

Start with the right mindset. Gambling should only be for entertainment. If it stops being fun, ask yourself why you’re still playing. Don’t use gambling to cope with stress, boredom, or depression, that increases risk significantly.

Never gamble when you’re upset, financially strained, or drinking alcohol. Studies show people under pressure are more vulnerable to addiction.

Set a Budget First

Pay your bills and save for long-term goals before allocating any money to gambling. Only use money you can lose without affecting your daily life.

The strictest guideline? Limit gambling to no more than 1% of your monthly household income before tax. For example, if your household earns $70,000 annually, cap monthly gambling at around $58.

Take only cash to gambling venues. Leave credit and debit cards at home. This creates a physical barrier between impulse and action. You can’t chase losses if you can’t access more funds.

Follow the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGG)

Research supports three behavioral constraints that work together to minimize harm:

• Financial: Spend no more than 1% of monthly household income
• Frequency: Gamble no more than 4 days per month (roughly once a week)
• Diversification: Avoid regularly playing more than 2 types of games

All three guidelines must be followed together. Cherry-picking one or two won’t reduce risk effectively.

Take Breaks and Monitor Your Emotions

Set a time limit before you start. Take frequent, planned breaks to disrupt continuous play and help you recognize how much time and money you’ve actually spent.

Professional bettors risk only 1% of their bankroll per wager. This strict discipline prevents emotionally driven decisions and helps survive natural variance in any game. Recreational players should follow the same principle: risk control beats chasing wins every time.

How To Use Responsible Gambling Tools

Most licensed platforms offer built-in tools to help you stay in control. Use them proactively, not just when problems arise.

Self-Assessment Tests

Self-assessment quizzes ask pointed questions about loss of control, financial desperation, and emotional consequences. If you answer yes to even one question on a comprehensive screen, consider seeking professional help.

These tests can’t diagnose you, but they provide a confidential way to evaluate your habits. Take one every few months or whenever you feel your behavior is changing.

Deposit Limits

Deposit limits let you cap how much you can add to your account over a specific period, daily, weekly, or monthly. This prevents you from risking money needed for bills or other expenses.

Some regulators require players to set a deposit limit during registration or before their first session.

You can lower a limit immediately. But increasing or removing a limit triggers a mandatory delay: 24 hours for daily limits, up to 7 days for weekly limits, or 30 days for monthly limits.

That delay is intentional. It creates a cooling-off period to stop you from chasing losses in the heat of the moment.

Loss Limits

Loss limits define the maximum amount you can lose during a set period. Once you hit that limit, the system blocks you from placing more bets until the time resets.

Set a loss limit that won’t impact your lifestyle. Treat it like a budget for any other entertainment expense.

Time Limits

Time limits control how long you can gamble in a session. They prevent fatigue, poor decisions, and neglecting responsibilities.

Figure out how much time you can play without disrupting your daily routine. Set that as your limit. Stick to it.

Reality Checks

Reality checks are pop-up alerts that appear during play. They show how long you’ve been gambling and give you the option to stop.

Continuous play distorts your sense of time. Reality checks interrupt that trance and help you see the actual hours and money spent.

Enable them in your account settings. Set reminders every 30 or 60 minutes.

Self-Exclusion Tools

Self-exclusion is a voluntary ban. You prohibit yourself from entering land-based facilities or accessing online services for a defined period, typically six months to five years.

Research shows self-exclusion significantly reduces problem gambling thoughts and behaviors, especially when combined with professional treatment.

National programs like Gamstop (UK) block access to licensed operators within that jurisdiction. But unlicensed offshore sites remain a risk.

Third-party blocking software like BetBlocker extends protection globally, restricting access to thousands of gambling domains beyond national licensing schemes.

Important: Self-exclusion is voluntary and personal. You can’t sign someone else up, even if they’re struggling. Only the individual with the gambling problem can agree to self-exclusion.

If a casino or betting site doesn’t honor your self-exclusion request, report it through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) portal. Include all evidence. Licensed ADR services can approach operators on your behalf to resolve the issue.

How To Spot Signs of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction sneaks up. Warning signs vary, but they often include financial problems, emotional distress, legal trouble, damaged relationships, and social isolation.

Key behavioral markers include persistent preoccupation with gambling, feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop, and using gambling to escape depression, anxiety, or helplessness.

Financially, the problem shows up as escalating bets (needing more money to achieve the same thrill), borrowing money, or turning to theft or fraud to finance the activity.

Another destructive pattern: chasing losses. This is the compulsive need to immediately return to the game to win back money lost. It drives a downward spiral and separates compulsive players from casual gamblers who stop when losing.

Problem gambling often occurs alongside other mental health issues, including substance misuse, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or ADHD. Treatment must address all co-occurring conditions.

Common warning signs:

• Obsessively thinking about past games or planning the next session
• Inability to stop playing longer than intended
• Feeling down or restless when not gambling
• Denying the problem exists
• Intense guilt after failed attempts to stop
• Hiding where money is going or not paying bills
• Poor work performance due to gambling obsession

If you recognize these signs in yourself or someone you care about, reach out for help immediately.

Where To Get Help

In the U.S., the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) operates 24/7, offering call, text (800GAM), and online chat services. It’s available to individuals struggling with gambling and their loved ones.

In the UK, GamCare provides 24-hour support through a national helpline, live chatrooms, and forums for peer support.

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) offers a 12-step fellowship for peer-supported recovery. SMART Recovery provides a science-based, self-help alternative focused on overcoming addictive behaviors.

Since problem gambling often causes severe financial consequences, Debtors Anonymous (DA) helps individuals manage overspending and debt resulting from addiction.

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) funds independent research into gambling disorder, ensuring policy and treatment strategies are based on objective evidence.