Responsible gambling for people who browse by theme

Talk to someone today

The National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) runs a toll-free line on 0800 006 008, open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. It offers free, confidential counselling, an assessment and, where it helps, a referral to treatment. If writing is easier than talking, send a WhatsApp to 076 675 0710 to ask for a counsellor. You do not need to have lost everything to call; any worry about your gambling is reason enough. More about the programme is on responsiblegambling.org.za.

If you feel hopeless or unsafe, call the SADAG suicide crisis helpline on 0800 567 567 straight away. It is toll-free and answers around the clock.

Why collections can pull you along

Browsing by theme is meant to make choosing easier, but it has a side effect worth naming. A shelf of fifteen Halloween games can feel like a set to complete, and a seasonal free-spins coupon can make one more session feel like the sensible thing to do. Neither is true. There is nothing to collect, and a bonus with wagering attached is a reason for caution, not for a bigger deposit.

• Choose one game for the session and stay with it, instead of hopping down the shelf after every loss.
• Write down a rand limit and a finish time before you open the lobby.
• Treat the limit as already spent. A win is a bonus to keep, not new money to play.
• Skip a night when you are tired, upset or have been drinking.

Signs play is turning into a problem

• Chasing: raising stakes or playing longer to win back losses.
• Money meant for food, rent, school fees or debt going into a deposit.
• Borrowing, or selling things, to keep playing.
• Hiding sessions or amounts from family and friends.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.

One of these is enough reason to call the NRGP. Worried about someone else? The programme supports family members as well, and after an assessment it offers a set of free outpatient counselling sessions.

Springbok's own limits and self-exclusion

Springbok says that players can set daily or monthly deposit limits and can exclude themselves for a period of their choice, with a minimum of one month, by contacting its support team. Its responsible gaming page also points players to the national programme above. Source: Springbok's responsible gaming page, checked 9 October 2026.

Ask for a limit while you feel in control, not after a bad night. A limit is easier to keep than a promise to yourself. Winners know when to stop.