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Responsible gaming

Responsible gaming at new online casinos

Play only if you are 18 or older and it stays fun. A casino in its first years has little history to judge it by, so the limits you set yourself matter more than at a site you already know.

18+ only Limits before the welcome offer Free help in many languages
Last updated
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2 min read
Table of Content 11
  1. Before your first deposit
  2. Why new casinos need extra care
  3. Set your limits before the welcome offer
  4. Test a new casino with a small amount
  5. Habits that help
  6. Warning signs
  7. Blocking tools
  8. Under 18
  9. The tools to look for in your account
  10. Where to get help
  11. Responsible gaming questions

Before your first deposit

  1. Budget

    Decide what you can afford to lose this month and treat it as spent.

  2. Limits

    Set a deposit limit in the account before you claim any bonus.

  3. Small

    Deposit a small amount at an unknown casino and request a small withdrawal early.

  4. Time

    Set a session reminder or time limit, and stop when it ends.

  5. Help

    If it stops being fun, stop, and talk to Gambling Therapy or a helpline.

So what

Why new casinos need extra care

  • No track record

    A new casino has not had time to show how it handles withdrawals and complaints. Keep your first deposit small.

  • Large offers, long wagering

    Big welcome packages usually carry high wagering, which keeps you betting long after the deposit is gone.

  • Offshore licences

    Many new casinos hold offshore licences, so national self-exclusion schemes may not reach them. A blocking app does.

  • Tools from day one

    If you cannot set a deposit limit in the account menu, do not deposit.

Full text

Responsible gaming means keeping control of the time and money you spend on gambling, so that it stays entertainment. Casino games are built so that the casino keeps a share of everything staked over time. Over many sessions, players as a group lose; budget for gambling as money you spend, the way you would on a night out.

Set your limits before the welcome offer

Welcome offers at new casinos are often large, and their wagering requirements keep you playing. A €100 bonus with 35 times wagering means betting €3,500 before you can withdraw it. Set a deposit limit in your account before you claim anything, and decide in advance what you will do if you lose your first deposit.

Lowering a limit usually takes effect at once. Raising one is often delayed, which gives you time to reconsider.

Test a new casino with a small amount

Deposit an amount you would accept losing if a withdrawal failed. Then request a small withdrawal early, before you build a balance, to the same method you deposited with. How the casino handles that first cash-out tells you more than its homepage. Our How we review page explains the six checks to run before a first deposit.

Habits that help

  • Play with money left after bills and savings, never with borrowed money.
  • Decide how long you will play before you start, and stop when the time is up.
  • Do not chase losses by raising your stakes.
  • Take breaks, and do not play when you are upset, tired or have been drinking.
  • Keep gambling as one activity among others.

Warning signs

Chasing losses, borrowing to gamble, hiding how much you play, or feeling restless when you try to stop are signs that gambling is becoming a problem. Our addiction help page lists the nine signs doctors use and what to do first.

Blocking tools

Self-exclusion at a casino closes your account there and nowhere else. To block gambling sites on a whole device, use an app such as Gamban or BetBlocker, which is free. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP excludes you from every online gambling company licensed there; casinos licensed elsewhere are not covered.

Under 18

Gambling is for adults only, and the legal age is higher than 18 in some countries. Casinos can ask for ID at any time, and new casinos often do before the first withdrawal. If children use your devices, parental controls and blocking apps keep them away from gambling sites.

The tools to look for in your account

Most licensed casinos offer some or all of these. Look for them before you deposit.

ToolWhat it doesWhen to use it
Deposit limitCaps how much you can deposit per day, week or monthBefore your first deposit
Loss limitStops play once you have lost a set amountWhen you start playing regularly
Session limit or reality checkLogs you out or reminds you after a set timeEvery session
Time-outLocks the account for a short break, from a day to a few weeksAfter a heavy loss or a bad day
Self-exclusionCloses the account for months or years at that casinoWhen you want to stop playing there
Blocking appBlocks gambling sites on the whole deviceWhen you want to stop playing anywhere

Free support

Where to get help

Free and confidential. You do not need to stop gambling before you contact them.

Numbers and opening hours checked on each service's own site in October 2026.

Responsible gaming questions

What limits should I set at a new casino?

A deposit limit before your first deposit, then a loss limit and a session time limit. Set them lower than you think you need; lowering a limit usually applies at once, while raising one is often delayed.

Should I take the welcome bonus?

Only if you have read the wagering. A bonus with 35 times wagering on €100 means betting €3,500 before you can withdraw it, which keeps you playing far longer than you planned.

More information