Responsible Gambling

1. Understanding problem gambling

Avia Masters and every other casino game are paid entertainment. Over time the house keeps an edge – a game with a 97% RTP still returns less than is staked – so gambling cannot be a way to make money, pay bills or clear debts.

Problem gambling is when gambling starts to cause harm: to your finances, your health, your work or your relationships. It can affect anyone, and fast games with short rounds make it easy to play longer and stake more than planned.

Recognising it early makes it easier to deal with. Most people who get help do so after noticing small changes in how they play, not after a crisis.

2. Warning signs

Ask yourself honestly:

• Do you spend more money or time on gambling than you planned?
• Do you raise your stakes to win back what you lost?
• Do you borrow money or sell things to gamble?
• Do you hide your gambling from family or friends?
• Do you feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down?
• Does gambling affect your sleep, work, studies or relationships?

One or more yes answers is a reason to take a break and talk to someone.

Other signs include thinking about gambling most of the day, lying about how much you spend and feeling relief only when you play.

3. Tips for playing responsibly

• Set a budget before you start and only use money you can afford to lose.
• Set a time limit and take regular breaks.
• Never chase losses by raising your stake.
• Do not gamble when you are upset, tired or have been drinking.
• Treat any win as a bonus, not as money to play again.
• In Aviamasters, use Autoplay's stop on loss and stop on win to keep to your session budget.

Keeping a simple log of how much you spend and how long you play shows you your real habits, not the ones you remember.

4. Self-exclusion and limits

Licensed online casinos offer tools to stay in control. Look for them in your account settings:

• Deposit limits – a daily, weekly or monthly cap on deposits.
• Time limits and reality checks – reminders of how long you have been playing.
• Time-out – a break from your account, from a day to several weeks.
• Self-exclusion – closing your account for months or years.

In the UK, GAMSTOP lets you self-exclude from all licensed online gambling sites in one step. Your bank may also offer a gambling block on your card.

5. Getting help

Free, confidential support is available:

• National Gambling Helpline – run by GamCare, free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
• GamCare – advice, live chat and counselling for anyone affected by gambling.
• BeGambleAware – information, self-assessment and links to treatment.
• Gambling Therapy – free online support in many languages.

Family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling can use the same services.

Your GP can also refer you to NHS gambling clinics, which offer specialist treatment for people with gambling problems.

6. Protecting minors

Gambling is for adults only. If children use your devices, keep casino logins private, do not save passwords in the browser and log out after playing. Blocking software such as Gamban or Net Nanny and your device's parental controls can restrict access to gambling sites.

Talk to teenagers about gambling openly. Many crash games look like arcade games, which makes it easy to forget they involve real money.

Explain that the odds are always in the house's favour.