Responsible Gambling
Gambling should remain optional entertainment—not a way to make money, recover losses, solve debt, or escape personal problems. Learn how to recognise warning signs, set practical limits, take a break, and find confidential support in Singapore.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline and Webchat are available daily from 8:00am to 11:00pm. Users may remain anonymous, and information shared is treated confidentially by the service.
Keep gambling within clear boundaries
Safer gambling starts before the first bet. Decide what you can afford, how much time you will spend, and when you will stop.
Use entertainment money only
Never gamble with money needed for food, housing, healthcare, education, bills, savings, or debt repayment.
Set limits before playing
Choose a fixed spending limit and time limit in advance. Do not increase either limit after gambling begins.
Never chase losses
A loss is not a debt owed back to you. Increasing stakes to recover previous losses can rapidly increase financial harm.
Avoid gambling under pressure
Do not gamble when stressed, angry, lonely, intoxicated, exhausted, or trying to avoid another problem.
Take regular breaks
Step away from screens, check the time, review spending, and avoid continuous gambling sessions.
Keep accounts private
Do not share accounts, payment methods, passwords, identity details, or one-time security codes with another person.
When gambling may be becoming a problem
One warning sign does not define a person, but repeated patterns deserve attention—especially when gambling affects finances, wellbeing, work, or relationships.
Spending more than planned
Depositing repeatedly, increasing stakes, or using money reserved for essential expenses.
Chasing previous losses
Continuing to bet because you feel you must recover money already lost.
Hiding gambling activity
Concealing time, deposits, debts, account statements, or losses from people close to you.
Gambling affects daily life
Missing work, losing sleep, avoiding responsibilities, or withdrawing from family and friends.
Borrowing or selling items
Taking loans, using credit, asking others for money, or selling belongings to continue gambling.
Feeling unable to stop
Repeatedly trying to reduce or stop gambling without being able to maintain the decision.
Create your stop rules before gambling
Write these limits down. A limit decided during a gambling session is easier to change or ignore.
Money limit
Choose the maximum amount you can lose without affecting essential expenses. Treat it as the total limit—not a starting point.
Time limit
Decide the exact end time before starting. Use a timer and leave the platform when the time is reached.
Stop-loss rule
Do not make extra deposits, borrow money, use credit, or move money from another budget after reaching your limit.
Cooling-off rule
Take a meaningful break after a session, a large loss, strong emotion, or repeated urge to continue.
A simple 24-hour pause plan
When the urge to chase losses feels urgent, create distance before making another financial decision.
- Log out and close all gambling tabs or applications.
- Do not make another deposit for at least 24 hours.
- Move available funds away from gambling payment methods.
- Tell a trusted person that you are taking a break.
- Review your actual deposits and losses without estimating.
- Contact NCPG if stopping feels difficult.
Consider self-exclusion when limits are not enough
Self-exclusion can create a formal barrier between a person and selected gambling activities. It may be appropriate when voluntary spending limits or short breaks have not worked.
Applications can cover casinos, jackpot machine rooms in private clubs, and Singapore Pools online account betting.
NCPG states that applicants must remain on self-exclusion for at least one year before they may apply for revocation.
Self-exclusion is a protective measure—not a punishment or a sign of personal failure.
Combining exclusion with counselling, financial controls, and support from trusted people can strengthen recovery.
How to support someone affected by gambling
Support does not mean paying gambling debts or hiding the problem. Focus on safety, facts, boundaries, and professional help.
Choose a calm time
Speak privately when neither person is angry, gambling, or under the influence of alcohol.
Use specific observations
Describe missed bills, unexplained borrowing, changes in behaviour, or long gambling sessions without attacking the person.
Protect shared finances
Review account access, payment permissions, credit exposure, and essential household expenses.
Do not fund continued gambling
Paying repeated gambling debts without safeguards may allow the pattern to continue.
Encourage professional help
Offer to sit with the person while they call the helpline, use webchat, or review self-exclusion.
Seek support for yourself
Family members can also contact NCPG for guidance on managing stress, boundaries, and next steps.
Check whether a remote gambling service is authorised
The Gambling Regulatory Authority states that Singapore Pools is the only operator licensed by GRA to provide remote gambling services. A licence issued in another country does not automatically authorise an operator to provide remote gambling to people situated in Singapore.
Read GRA guidance on unlawful remote gambling →Confidential help and protective tools
These links lead to official Singapore government or government-supported resources.
Responsible gambling FAQ
What does responsible gambling mean?
Responsible gambling means treating gambling as optional entertainment, using only affordable discretionary money, setting time and spending limits, avoiding loss-chasing, and stopping when gambling begins to cause harm.
What are common warning signs of problem gambling?
Warning signs can include spending more than planned, chasing losses, borrowing money, hiding gambling, missing responsibilities, and repeatedly being unable to stop.
Where can I get help for problem gambling in Singapore?
Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1800-6-668-668 or use NCPG Webchat. The services are available daily from 8:00am to 11:00pm.
Can I remain anonymous when contacting NCPG?
NCPG states that helpline callers and webchat users can choose to remain anonymous, and information shared is kept confidential.
What does self-exclusion cover in Singapore?
Individuals may apply to exclude themselves from casinos, jackpot machine rooms in private clubs, and Singapore Pools online account betting.
How long does self-exclusion last?
NCPG requires an individual to remain on self-exclusion for at least one year before applying for revocation. It remains active until successfully revoked.
What age applies to online account betting in Singapore?
Singapore Pools states that account betting is available only to people aged 21 and above.
Taking a break is a responsible decision.
Call or use webchat if gambling is causing financial stress, secrecy, conflict, anxiety, or difficulty stopping.