Responsible Gambling

Gambling is entertainment, not a source of income. Stake wants every player to enjoy betting without harming their finances, relationships, or mental health. This page explains how to stay in control and what options are available if gambling becomes a problem.
Players on the platform have access to responsible gaming tools, educational resources, and support channels to help them make informed decisions about their activities.

Tips for Responsible Gambling

Most people gamble without any problems, but some lose control over time. The best prevention is to develop healthy habits early on:

  • Set a budget before you play. Only use money that you can afford to lose. Never gamble with money intended for rent, bills, or necessities;
  • Set time limits. It’s easy to lose track of time when betting. Use an alarm clock and stop when the time is up;
  • Take regular breaks. Step away from the screen. Clear your head before continuing;
  • Never try to win back your losses. Losing streaks happen. Trying to win back lost money almost always makes the situation worse;
  • Avoid gambling when you are in an emotional state. Stress, anger, loneliness, or alcohol cloud your judgment. Wait until you calm down;
  • Treat winnings as a bonus. In the long run, the odds are in the casino’s favor. Any profit should be viewed as luck, not as an expected event;
  • Maintain balance in your life. Gambling should not replace hobbies, social activities, or time spent with family and friends.

Understanding the Odds

There are plenty of myths around gambling. Knowing how the odds actually work helps set realistic expectations. Stake offers both casino and sportsbook products, each with different probabilities and risk profiles:

  • House edge. Every game has a built-in advantage for the operator, expressed as a percentage of total bets;
  • Randomness. All games involve chance. The outcome of a spin or a match cannot be controlled;
  • Independent outcomes. Each game or spin stands on its own. Results do not depend on how much you have spent or how long you have been playing;
  • Odds and probability. These describe the likelihood of winning. Even when the numbers look favourable, nothing is guaranteed.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling addiction develops gradually and is not always obvious to the person experiencing it. Recognizing the early signs makes it easier to take action before the situation becomes serious. Common signs include:

  • Spending more money or time on betting than originally planned;
  • Thinking about gambling during activities unrelated to it;
  • Using betting as a way to relieve stress or negative emotions;
  • Hiding gambling from loved ones;
  • Borrowing money or selling possessions to continue gambling;
  • Feeling anxious or irritable when trying to quit;
  • Noticing a negative impact on work, studies, or relationships;
  • Continuing to gamble in an attempt to win back losses.

If several of these signs apply to you, it may be time to take a step back and rethink your approach.

Self-Control Tools

Stake offers several built-in tools to help players manage their activity. All of them can be activated at any time in your account settings.

Loss Limit

This feature sets a limit on the amount you can lose over a certain period (one day, one week, or one month). It works on a net basis, which means that any winnings during that period are not taken into account when calculating the limit. If you are in profit, you can continue betting until your losses reach the set threshold. Unresolved bets are also taken into account when calculating the limit.

Betting Limit

Betting limits restrict the total amount you can bet during a certain period (daily, weekly, or monthly). Unlike the loss limit, this limit is not net. Profits do not reduce the limit.
To change any limit, you must first delete the existing one and wait 24 hours before setting a new value.

Take a Break

For a temporary pause, Stake offers the Take a Break feature. Available timeframes for account suspension are as follows.

  • 1 day;
  • 1 week;
  • 1 month;
  • 2 months;
  • 3 months.

Self-Exclusion

For longer breaks, self-exclusion is available with the following options.

  • 6 months;
  • 1 year;
  • 2 years;
  • 3 years;
  • Indefinite.

Permanent self-exclusion blocks access to your account until you submit an active request for reinstatement. The minimum period is 6 months from the date of application. After that, the account can be reinstated following official review.

How to Apply Self-Exclusion

  1. Go to the Stake Smart page and select Self-Exclusion.
  2. In the bottom right corner, select Request Self-Exclusion.
  3. Choose your desired exclusion period from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Confirm your decision.

Account Closure

You can close your account at any time for any reason, whether you have lost interest in gambling or for personal reasons unrelated to gambling. Send your request via chat or email to [email protected]. Once closed, you will lose access to your account and will no longer receive bonuses or promotional offers.
To reopen your account, send an official written request via chat or email. It will take at least 24 hours to restore access. Stake may conduct an internal review before restoring access.

Protecting Minors

Stake strictly prohibits gambling by persons under the age of 18. Participation by minors is illegal, and no payouts will be made to underage players. Tips for parents and guardians include the following:

  • Do not leave your computer running casino software unattended;
  • Protect gambling applications with a password;
  • Keep casino account and payment card details out of reach of children;
  • Do not save passwords on shared devices;
  • Limit the amount of time children spend in front of a screen and use filtering software to block access to gambling sites.

Blocking Software

Several applications can help block access to gambling sites as an added layer of protection.

  • Betblocker;
  • Netnanny;
  • Gamblock.

Stake is not responsible for third-party software.

Where to Get Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with gambling, professional help is available:

  • Gamblers Anonymous;
  • [email protected];
  • National Council on Problem Gambling. Offers resources, including self-assessment tools, treatment information, and a national hotline;
  • Gamtalk. Provides information on helplines, treatment options, and online resources from organizations around the world.

Seeking help early on makes it much easier to regain control.

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