Responsible gambling: warning signs and tools

Risks specific to crypto gambling

Blockchain transfers are usually irreversible: a deposit sent to a wrong address, or to a platform that disappears, cannot be recovered with a chargeback. Volatility can also turn a small loss into a large one when your balance is held in an asset whose price moves.

A foreign licence is not authorisation in your country. Before depositing, check the local regulator’s register for the entity and domain; our profiles link those registers for Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

Warning signs

Consider seeking support if any of these apply:

• Betting more money or time than you decided.
• Chasing losses with bigger bets.
• Hiding gambling from family or friends.
• Borrowing money or selling belongings to gamble.
• Feeling anxious or irritable when trying to stop.

Control tools

Authorised operators should offer deposit and loss limits, time-outs and self-exclusion; switch them on before you start, not after a bad run. Software that blocks gambling sites on your device is also available.

Keeping gambling money apart from essential spending, setting a monthly budget and fixed time limits lowers risk. No strategy guarantees winnings.

Where to get help

Talk to a health professional, your country’s public mental-health or addiction services, or a specialist organisation. The regulators of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia publish information on illegal gambling and protection on their portals, which we link on each profile.

If you or someone close to you is in crisis, contact local emergency services.