Responsible play · 21 September 2026
How to Set a Gambling Budget
A useful budget is decided before play, kept separate from essentials and treated as fully spendable entertainment money.
Start after essential costs
Cover housing, food, transport, debt payments, savings and dependants first. Do not use credit, borrowed money or funds reserved for bills. If no genuine surplus remains, the appropriate gambling budget is zero.
Set hard boundaries
Choose a session amount and a longer-period limit. Use any available deposit, loss or time controls, but keep your own record too. A win does not increase what you can afford to lose, and a loss is not a reason to add funds.
Review behaviour, not outcomes
After the session, ask whether you stayed within both money and time limits. Repeated limit changes, secrecy or chasing are signs to stop. Seek support from a qualified local service if gambling causes distress or financial harm.