Responsible gambling
Written and reviewed by Alexander Korsager · last reviewed October 4, 2026 · corrections
The tools on actfap exist to show how gambling maths works, the house edge, expected value, variance and risk of ruin.
Read honestly, they all point the same way: over time, the house wins, and no staking system changes that.
If you do gamble, it should be entertainment you can afford and walk away from. It is meant for adults only, 21+ in the United States, this site's primary audience, matching the minimum age for casino-style gambling in most US states.
Not sure? Check
The Problem Gambling Severity Index is the nine-question screening instrument researchers and support services use to gauge this. It is hosted directly on this page rather than linked out to someone else’s version: scored the same way, with the resources below right beside your result, and nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Take the PGSI self-assessmentKeeping it in check
- Decide a budget before you start, and treat it as spent, never money you need.
- Set deposit, loss and time limits with the operator, and don’t raise them in the moment.
- Never chase losses. The next bet does not know what the last one did.
- Don’t gamble to escape stress, boredom or low mood, or while drinking.
- Take the money out. Withdraw winnings rather than rolling them over.
- Use blocking software (Gamban, BetBlocker) and bank gambling-transaction blocks if you need a harder stop.
Warning signs
It may be becoming a problem if any of these sound familiar:
- Betting more than you can afford
- Borrowing or selling things to gamble
- Lying about how much you gamble
- Chasing losses
- Feeling anxious or irritable when you try to cut down
- Gambling instead of spending time with people or on things you used to enjoy
These line up with the warning signs the National Council on Problem Gambling states in its own patient-facing material: gambling more money or more often than intended, chasing losses, and feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop or cut down are all named there directly. NCPG, FAQs: What Is Problem Gambling?, retrieved September 15, 2026.
Get help
Help is free and confidential. You do not have to be “in crisis” to use it.
National Problem Gambling Helpline (US)
Free, confidential, 24/7/365, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat online. Run by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
Gambling Therapy (global)
Free, anonymous, text-based support in over 200 languages, for players anywhere, including the US. Run by Gordon Moody.
National Gambling Helpline (UK)
Free, confidential, 24/7, call 0808 8020 133 or chat online.
GambleAware (UK)
Advice, self-assessment and a directory of local support services.
GAMSTOP (UK self-exclusion)
Free self-exclusion from every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Self-exclusion, voluntarily barring yourself from licensed gambling, is available in most US states, but there is no single nationwide program the way GAMSTOP covers Great Britain. Check your state’s gaming or gambling control commission for how to enroll.
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