Responsible gambling: limits, warning signs and help

Where to get help

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s gambling, talk to someone about it. In Denmark, you can start in two places. Both services’ websites are in Danish, so if you would rather talk in English, ask when you get in touch.

StopSpillet

StopSpillet is the Danish Gambling Authority’s helpline on gambling addiction. The advice is free and the conversation is confidential: the Danish Gambling Authority does not pass on information from it to other authorities. You can call however long you have been gambling and however much money you gamble with.

• Phone: +45 70 22 28 25, Monday to Thursday 9:00–21:00 and Friday 9:00–17:00.
• Chat on stopspillet.dk: Monday to Thursday 17:00–21:00 and Friday 14:00–17:00.

Center for Ludomani

Center for Ludomani offers free and anonymous treatment and counselling for people with gambling problems and their closest relatives. You can contact the centre directly, because treatment needs no referral from a doctor.

• Phone: +45 70 11 18 10, Monday to Wednesday 8:30–15:00, Thursday 9:00–17:00 and Friday 8:30–12:00.
• Contact form on ludomani.dk: Ask to be called back.

The first meeting is a clarifying conversation of an hour and a half. If you start treatment, you are offered up to 12 sessions in Odense, Copenhagen, Aarhus or Esbjerg, or online, with follow-up sessions two and five months after treatment ends.

If you are in crisis

Gambling problems can take a heavy toll on your mental health. If you are having thoughts of suicide, tell someone. You can call Livslinien anonymously on +45 70 201 201 every day from 9:00 to 5:00 the next morning. If you are in immediate danger, call 112.

Set limits before you play

It is easiest to stay in control when you have set your limits before you start. While you are playing, it is easy to lose track of both time and money.

• Money: Only play with money you can afford to lose, and decide the amount in advance. Never gamble with money meant for rent, bills or food.
• Time: Decide how long you want to play, and stop when the time is up.
• Losses: Never try to win back lost money by playing on. All gambling is based on chance, so the next game cannot promise you anything.
• Worries: Do not gamble to push worries away. According to the Danish Gambling Authority, some people do exactly that while the problems are in fact growing.

Use the casino’s tools

At many casinos, you can limit your own deposits, losses or playing time. Look for these tools in your account or in the casino’s terms, and switch them on before you play for the first time. At Kahnawake casinos, for example, you can set a deposit limit per day, week or month by writing to the casino. If there are none, only your own decision will stop you, so consider whether you want to play there.

A licence does not set your limits

A licence tells you who supervises the casino. It does not decide how much you play, and it does not protect you from losing. A licence is no guarantee of particular tools either, so check what each casino offers before you open an account. Read more about what a casino licence tells you before you choose a casino.

Warning signs: are you gambling too much?

Gambling addiction, known in Danish as ludomani, makes it hard to manage your time and money, even when you want to. It can develop gradually over several years, but for some people it happens very quickly. According to the Danish Gambling Authority, gambling problems can show up in several ways. These are some examples:

• You think and talk a lot about gambling and are preoccupied with planning it.
• You play more and for higher amounts to feel excitement or win back lost money.
• You become irritated or stressed when that does not work.
• You hide your gambling and lie about the time you spend and the money you lose or owe.
• You keep away from other people to avoid questions about gambling.
• You notice that gambling is affecting your education, job, friends and family, interests, health or finances.

Thoughts to watch out for

While you are playing, it can be hard to see whether your gambling is out of control. The Danish Gambling Authority describes several thoughts as unrealistic. You may have thought something like this:

• “I am certain to win my lost money back if I carry on.”
• “I have special skills or a special way of playing that brings wins.”
• “I can predict when a game will pay out.”
• “I win more than I lose.” Many people believe this because they quickly forget their losses.

Take a test

If you are unsure, you can take a short test, in Danish. On stopspillet.dk there is a test with nine questions about your gambling habits, and on ludomani.dk Center for Ludomani has a short, anonymous test.

When gambling starts to take over

Center for Ludomani suggests some first steps, but also says that the vast majority of people need actual treatment. So contact one of the services above, even if you are starting on your own.

• Tell someone who matters to you about the problem and about your decision to stop.
• Start with small changes, such as one day without gambling.
• Set a date for when you will stop, and do not make it too far away.
• Make small rules for yourself, and avoid the places where you usually gamble.
• Reward yourself, for example with a trip to the cinema, when you have stayed away from gambling for a week.

Get help with your finances

According to Center for Ludomani, it is often easier to get gambling problems under control if someone else manages your finances for a while. That makes it harder to gamble, and the financial damage is smaller if you do.

• A friend, your partner or a family member can take over your finances.
• You can agree with your bank or municipality that only smaller amounts are paid into your account at a time.
• You can close your debit cards and set up a budget account, so that fixed costs are paid automatically.
• You can remove overdraft agreements and only carry small amounts of cash.
• You can get free debt advice. Call Center for Ludomani on +45 70 11 18 10 and ask how.

If someone close to you gambles too much

Gambling problems also affect those close to the person who gambles. Center for Ludomani estimates that 8–10 people are affected for every person with a gambling addiction. The Danish Gambling Authority lists several signs to look out for. These are some examples:

• The person easily becomes irritable, often ends up in conflict or seems mentally absent.
• The person is very preoccupied with gambling and results, and happily talks about wins but never losses.
• The person often lies or comes up with excuses and strange explanations.
• The person spends more than their income allows and often asks to borrow money.
• The person breaks agreements and stays away from work or school.
• The person withdraws from others, sleeps badly or seems low, worried and restless.

What you can do

• Tell the person how the situation affects you, and talk about your worries and about seeking help.
• Put your own life, work and interests first, and look for support from others.
• Get an overview of the financial consequences, and ask the bank for help with things like blocking accounts and payment cards.

You can also get help yourself. StopSpillet advises relatives about their situation, and Center for Ludomani holds meetings for relatives in Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen.

Gambling is for adults

Kasinolicenser is for players aged 18 or over. In Denmark, 18 is also the age limit for online casino games at companies with a Danish licence. We earn a commission when you open an account and deposit through our links, so decide for yourself whether to play, and always set a limit.