Wellbeing & safer play

01Where serbuneru stands

serbuneru is a hotel guide and has no wish to steer anyone toward gambling. A trip to any of the ten makes sense with the casino door left shut. For readers who still want to play, a handful of habits keep matters under control.

02Habits worth keeping

• Learn the minimum gambling age for your destination first; serbuneru notes that it varies and that casinos ask for ID.
• Before leaving home, settle a loss ceiling you can comfortably afford, then keep bank cards locked upstairs.
• Name a stopping time in advance and take frequent pauses away from the tables.
• Money that is gone stays gone; chasing it, or borrowing to keep going, makes matters worse.
• Tiredness, low mood and a few drinks each argue for an evening away from the tables.

03Signals to take seriously

Blowing past a budget, keeping play secret from partners or friends, or growing restless on days without it can all suggest gambling is getting a grip. Many casino resorts let a guest sign up to be kept off the floor voluntarily; guest services will talk you through it.

04Help that is free

• Gambling Therapy answers by web chat and forum in a range of languages, wherever you happen to be (gamblingtherapy.org).
• Gamblers Anonymous hosts mutual-aid meetings in dozens of countries (gamblersanonymous.org).
• Gam-Anon is for partners, relatives and friends of someone whose gambling worries them (gam-anon.org).
• Your local helpline, too: most countries fund a free, confidential line, and a GP or local clinic can give you its number.