Set a budget before you sit down and treat it as the price of an evening out. Never chase losses, never borrow to play, and never play to solve a money problem — poker has never solved one yet.
Every licensed operator offers deposit limits, session timers, cool-off periods and self-exclusion. Using them is not a sign of a problem; it is a sign of a player who intends to still be playing in ten years.
If you are worried about your own play or someone else's, the organisations below are free, confidential and independent of any operator.
Where to get help
♠GamCare — free support and a 24-hour helpline in the UK.
♠BeGambleAware — advice, self-assessment and self-exclusion tools.
♠Gamblers Anonymous — meetings in more than fifty countries.
♠GAMSTOP — one-step self-exclusion from UK-licensed sites.
♠National Council on Problem Gambling — helpline and treatment finder, USA.