Responsible gambling
If gambling has stopped being something you choose, help is free and confidential, and the numbers below are answered by people.
Niekie exists to tell you whether a casino pays out. It is not here to tell you to gamble. Gambling carries real financial risk, it is designed so the operator wins over time, and for some people it becomes genuinely harmful.
National Problem Gambling Helpline, United States. 24/7, free, confidential. Text HELPLINE to 233-459, or use the chat at ncpgambling.org. In the UK, call GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Signs worth taking seriously
- Betting more than you planned, or more than you can afford to lose.
- Chasing losses, trying to win back what has already gone.
- Borrowing money, selling things, or hiding what you have spent.
- Gambling to escape stress, low mood, or boredom.
- Lying to people close to you about how much you play.
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
- Gambling getting in the way of work, study, sleep, or relationships.
One of these on its own is not a diagnosis. Several of them together, or one that keeps coming back, is worth a conversation with someone on a helpline above. They are not there to judge you or make you stop.
Habits that help
- Decide your deposit and loss limit before you start, not while you are playing.
- Set the limit with the operator's own tools so the decision is not yours to re-make later.
- Treat what you spend as the cost of entertainment, never as a way to make money.
- Take regular breaks, and never play to recover a loss.
- Keep gambling money separate from money you need for anything else.
- Use self-exclusion if limits are not holding. It is not a failure, it is the tool working.
Where to get support
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National Problem Gambling Helpline
Confidential, free, and open 24/7. Call, text, or chat any time.
1-800-522-4700Text HELPLINE to 233-459
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Gamblers Anonymous
A fellowship of people who share their experience and support each other through recovery from a gambling problem.
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National Council on Problem Gambling
Advocacy, education, and treatment referrals across the United States.
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SAMHSA
Federal agency with treatment locators and crisis support.
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BeGambleAware
Free, confidential advice and support in the United Kingdom.
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GamCare
UK support, including the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Where we stand
Whatever commercial arrangements exist, none of them can move a score: the number is computed by a published algorithm and no arrangement is an input to it. We would rather publish a low score for an operator that pays us than a high one, because the moment the number is for sale the whole site is worthless.
You must be 18 or over, or the legal age where you live, whichever is higher. How we score · Privacy
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my gambling is a problem?
Common signals are chasing losses, betting more than you planned, hiding how much you play, borrowing to gamble, and gambling to escape stress. One on its own is not a diagnosis. Several together, or one that keeps coming back, is worth taking seriously.
Where can I get help right now?
In the United States, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-522-4700, free and confidential, 24 hours a day. In the United Kingdom, GamCare is 0808 8020 133. Both are staffed by people, not bots.
What is self exclusion and how does it work?
Self exclusion asks an operator, or a scheme covering many operators, to block your account for a fixed period that you cannot shorten once it starts. Most licensed casinos must offer it, and many offer deposit limits and cooling off periods too.
Does a high Niekie score mean a casino is safe to gamble at?
No. A score measures whether an operator pays out and honours its terms. It says nothing about whether gambling is safe for you. Every casino game has a negative expected return, and a well run casino will still take your money over time.
Can Niekie block me from gambling sites?
No. We publish information and rate operators. We cannot exclude you from any casino. Self exclusion has to be set up with the operator or through a national scheme.