Responsible Gaming

Gambling always carries a risk of financial loss. There is no guaranteed win, and every bet can result in losing money.

Responsible play means:

• Treating gambling as entertainment only, never as income or a way to repay debts.
• Using money that you can afford to lose, after covering rent, bills, food and savings.
• Setting clear time and spending limits before you start playing.
• Stopping when you reach those limits, even if you feel tempted to continue.

On TrueLuck (Afflinkers), you can:

• Set deposit limits to control how much you add to your account over a day, week or month.
• Set loss or wagering limits to manage how much you risk.
• Use time limits or reality checks to keep track of how long you are playing.
• Take a short cool-off period if you need a break from betting.
• Request self-exclusion for a longer period if gambling is affecting your life.

These tools help protect your financial and emotional wellbeing so you can enjoy gambling responsibly and stay in control of your play.

Gambling addiction can build up gradually. It often starts as harmless play and then becomes harder to control over time.

Warning signs that betting may be turning into a problem include:

• Thinking about gambling most of the day or planning your next bet all the time.
• Betting more money or more often to feel the same excitement.
• Chasing losses by continuing to gamble after losing, trying to win money back.
• Gambling instead of paying bills or using money needed for rent, food or other essentials.
• Hiding betting from family or friends, or lying about how much you have spent.
• Feeling stressed, irritable, low or anxious when you cannot gamble.
• Trying to stop or cut down but finding that you keep going back to gambling.
• Borrowing money, using credit, or selling belongings to fund gambling.
• Letting work, studies, relationships or hobbies slip because of betting.
• Gambling while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or to escape problems or difficult feelings.

Gambling addiction is a serious condition and needs attention. Asking for support early can limit harm and protect your health, your finances and your relationships.

Dealing with betting addiction starts by accepting that gambling is causing problems and that change is needed. Support, structure and practical tools can help you regain control.

Practical recommendations from TrueLuck (Afflinkers) to help prevent or address gambling addiction:

• Set strict deposit and loss limits and reduce them over time rather than increasing them.
• Plan your gambling budget in advance and treat it like any other leisure expense.
• Set a fixed amount of time for play and use reality checks to monitor how long you have been gambling.
• Avoid gambling when you feel stressed, upset, angry, lonely or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Take regular breaks during sessions and schedule gambling-free days each week.
• Turn off auto-play features and make considered decisions about every bet.
• Do not use credit cards, loans or borrowed money for gambling.
• Talk to someone you trust about your betting, such as a friend, family member or counsellor.
• Use cool-off or self-exclusion options if you find it hard to stop on your own.
• Contact specialised gambling support services in Ireland if you feel your play is out of control.

These steps can reduce harm, help you regain balance and support long-term healthy habits in your gambling behaviour.

Professional help and independent advice can be very useful if gambling is affecting your life. In Ireland, there are confidential services that offer guidance, counselling and support for you and your family.

Main external support organisations in Ireland:

• Problem Gambling Ireland – Information, self-assessment tools and referrals: https://www.problemgambling.ie/
• Gambling Care (Ireland) – Counselling and support services funded by the gambling sector: https://www.gamblingcare.ie/
• Gamblers Anonymous Ireland – Peer support meetings across Ireland: https://www.gamblersanonymous.ie/
• National Helpline for Drugs and Alcohol (HSE) – Also signposts gambling support: 1800 459 459 and https://www.drugs.ie/
• Samaritans Ireland – Emotional support if you feel distressed: freephone 116 123 and https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/
• Your GP or local health services – First point of contact for mental health and addiction support.

These services operate independently from TrueLuck (Afflinkers) and can provide confidential, non-judgmental support.

If you feel that gambling is starting to cause difficulties, you can contact TrueLuck (Afflinkers) customer support to discuss responsible gaming options. Our team can explain the available tools and help you apply limits or restrictions to protect your play.

Ways to contact customer support in Ireland:

• Email support: Reach the team through the official support email address listed on the site.
• Live chat: Use the live chat function on the website for real-time assistance during available hours.
• Contact form: Submit a request through the online contact form in the help or support section.

Support staff can help you set or adjust limits, arrange cool-off periods, or request self-exclusion in line with our responsible gambling policy.