What Responsible Gaming Means

Responsible gaming means maintaining control over both money and time. It includes treating gaming as entertainment rather than income, using only disposable funds, setting firm limits and stopping when those limits are reached.

No strategy, prediction, sports knowledge or previous result can guarantee a future outcome. Every gaming activity involves uncertainty, so decisions should always be made with realistic expectations.

Make a Personal Plan Before Starting

Personal limits are most effective when they are decided before a session begins. A simple plan should answer the following questions:

• How much money can I comfortably afford to lose?
• How long will I remain active?
• At what point will I stop?
• What will I do if I feel frustrated or tempted to continue?

These decisions should be made calmly and should not be changed after a loss or during an emotionally intense moment.

Keep Essential Money Separate

Only disposable money should be used for entertainment. Disposable funds are what remain after important commitments have already been covered.

• Rent and housing expenses
• Food and household needs
• Utility and medical bills
• Education costs
• Debt repayments
• Savings and emergency funds
• Family responsibilities

Never use borrowed money, salary needed for bills, business funds or money belonging to another person. When no disposable budget is available, the responsible decision is not to participate.

Use Clear Personal Limits

Spending Limit

Decide the maximum amount you are prepared to use during a day, week or month. Do not increase this figure after a loss.

Time Limit

Choose a start and finish time before beginning. Use an alarm where necessary and avoid extending the session simply because an event remains active.

Stop Limit

Select the point at which you will stop, regardless of whether the result is positive or negative.

Frequency Limit

Keep regular gaming-free days so that gaming does not become a routine response to stress, pressure or boredom.

Use Account Controls Where Available

Some account environments may include controls designed to help users manage their activity. Available features can vary, so users should review their current account settings or recognised support route.

Deposit Controls

A deposit control may help restrict how much money can be added during a selected period. The limit should reflect what you can comfortably afford to lose.

Session Reminders

Session reminders can help users review how long they have been active and whether their original plan is still being followed.

Cooling-Off Period

A cooling-off period creates temporary distance from gaming activity. It may be useful when decisions feel emotional or personal limits have been broken.

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a stronger restriction for users who want to stop accessing gaming-related services for a longer period. Review the available conditions before selecting this option.

Never Chase Losses

Chasing losses means continuing or increasing activity in an attempt to recover money already lost.

It may begin with thoughts such as:

• One more result will bring the money back.
• I cannot stop while I am behind.
• A larger amount will recover the loss faster.
• The next result must be different.

A previous loss does not improve the chance of a future win. When the urge to chase appears, stop the session, avoid adding more money and move away from the device.

Do Not Treat Gaming as Income

Gaming should never be used as a salary replacement, investment plan, debt solution or emergency source of money.

Avoid claims promising:

• Guaranteed profit
• Fixed returns
• Certain results
• Recovery of previous losses
• Risk-free outcomes
• Private or insider information

No genuine service can guarantee that losses will be recovered.

Avoid Gaming During Emotional Stress

Avoid gaming when you are:

• Angry, anxious or depressed
• Lonely or emotionally distressed
• Physically exhausted
• Under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Facing immediate financial pressure
• Trying to escape a personal situation

When gaming is being used to change your mood rather than provide entertainment, it is time to step away.

Track Time and Money Honestly

Memory often focuses on individual wins while overlooking the total amount spent over time. A simple personal record can provide a clearer picture.

• Total deposits
• Total withdrawals
• Overall financial result
• Session duration
• Number of active days
• Broken personal limits
• Mood before and after each session

Review account history and bank statements regularly instead of relying only on memory.

Warning Signs to Notice Early

Financial Signs

• Using money needed for bills
• Borrowing to continue
• Relying on loans or credit
• Hiding transactions
• Missing repayments

Behavioural Signs

• Staying active longer than planned
• Repeatedly breaking limits
• Hiding activity from other people
• Returning immediately after losses
• Gaming during work or family time

Emotional Signs

• Anxiety connected with results
• Guilt or shame
• Mood changes after wins or losses
• Constant thoughts about gaming
• Irritation when unable to access it

Daily-Life Signs

• Disturbed sleep
• Reduced work or study performance
• Arguments about money
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Missed responsibilities

Complete a Private Self-Check

• Have I spent more than I planned?
• Have I tried to stop and failed?
• Have I hidden my activity or losses?
• Have I borrowed money to continue?
• Do I feel pressure to recover losses?
• Has gaming affected my sleep or mood?
• Have family members expressed concern?
• Has gaming affected work, education or relationships?
• Do I become restless when unable to play?
• Am I using gaming to escape stress?

Several “yes” answers suggest that a meaningful break and professional conversation may be helpful.

What to Do When Control Feels Weaker

Stop the Current Session

Log out and avoid adding more money. Do not wait for a different result before stopping.

Create Distance

Remove saved passwords, disable promotional notifications and delete shortcuts where appropriate.

Protect Essential Finances

Keep household money separate. Ask a trusted person to help protect essential funds when necessary.

Tell Someone You Trust

Speak with a family member, friend, counsellor or healthcare professional. Secrecy can make harmful behaviour more difficult to interrupt.

Seek Professional Support

Professional support may include counselling, structured treatment, peer groups or family guidance. Asking for help is a responsible decision.

Support for Family and Friends

Gaming-related harm can affect partners, relatives and friends as well as the person gaming.

What to Avoid

• Lending money for further gaming
• Sharing account access
• Covering up repeated financial harm
• Paying debts without a wider support plan
• Arguing during an emotional session

What May Help

• Choose a calm time to talk
• Describe specific concerns
• Protect shared finances
• Encourage qualified support
• Seek guidance for yourself

Protect Minors and Shared Devices

Gaming-related services should not be accessed by minors. Adults should take practical steps to protect account and payment access.

• Keep passwords and OTPs private
• Use device locks
• Protect payment applications
• Log out after every session
• Remove saved card details
• Avoid account use on a child’s device
• Use parental controls where available

Never create or operate an account on behalf of a minor.

Protect Personal and Payment Information

Never share:

• Passwords
• OTP codes
• Payment PINs
• Email passwords
• Complete bank credentials
• Identity documents with unknown contacts

Avoid unfamiliar links and messages promising guaranteed results, account unlocking or loss recovery. Use recognised website routes and verified support channels only.

99Exch Responsible Gaming Principles

• Follow local laws and age requirements
• Treat gaming only as entertainment
• Keep essential money separate
• Set clear money and time limits
• Take regular breaks
• Avoid borrowed funds
• Never chase losses
• Stop when wellbeing is affected
• Seek support early

No tool can remove every form of gaming-related harm. Limits and reminders are most useful when combined with honest self-monitoring and the willingness to stop.

Put Wellbeing Before Play

Gaming should never take priority over health, family, work, education or financial stability.

Set limits before starting, keep track of time and spending, avoid borrowed money and step away when decisions become emotional. When gaming creates secrecy, anxiety, debt or conflict, asking for help is the responsible choice.