Responsible gaming

Where we stand

poonersystes covers a hotel, and we would be glad if nobody gambled because of it. Our #1 pick is worth the journey with the casino left out entirely. Should you sit down at a table anyway, these routines keep the evening on your terms.

Useful habits

• Find out the legal gambling age and entry rules at your destination first; they vary, and identification is checked.
• Fix an amount you can lose without harm before you start, and leave your cards in the room safe.
• Pick a time to stop in advance and take regular breaks away from the tables.
• Treat losses as the cost of the evening; chasing them or borrowing to carry on only deepens the hole.
• Give the tables a miss after a few drinks, late at night or on a bad day.

Warning signs

Overshooting your budget, keeping play secret from the people around you, or growing tense on days without a bet may mean it is becoming hard to control. Ask casino staff about self-exclusion; most venues let you bar yourself voluntarily.

Free, confidential support

• Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org): trained advisers answer by live chat, and peer forums run around the clock, at no cost and in many tongues.
• Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org): local groups where people who gamble compulsively share experience and keep each other on track.
• Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org): meetings for spouses, relatives and close friends who feel the fallout of a loved one's betting.
• Your local helpline: search for the national gambling support line where you live, or ask a GP or pharmacist for the number.