Top Fast Withdrawal Online Casinos in Ireland 2022

Fast Withdrawal Casinos Explained

As the name suggests, fast withdrawal casinos offer their customers fast or even instant payout times. This is the time it takes from the moment a customer makes a withdrawal request to the moment their cash is received in their account. Traditional banking methods at online casinos, such as credit and debit cards, can have withdrawal times as long as five working days at some online casinos.

PayPal users typically experience quicker withdrawal speeds, with casinos that offer support for PayPal and other e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill often delivering quicker payouts within 24 hours. Using e-wallets removes the need for bank approval of any transactions, which usually only occur on working days.  

Know Your Customer Checks

Know Your Customer (KYC) checks take place when you register at a new online casino. These checks are used as a way of verifying a person’s identity and banking information, undertaken to ensure customer safety and to stop potentially fraudulent behaviour. There are certain things to remember when it comes to the KYC stage of registration, so let’s take a look at these now. 

• Fast withdrawal casinos will ask for your name, age and photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence;
• You will need to provide a bank statement or a utility bill that’s addressed to you at your current place of residence from within the last three months;
• The casino may undertake a soft credit check. This is to help verify your identity and won’t have an affect on your credit scores;
• KYC checks are a legal requirement of all fast withdrawal casinos and are part of the terms attached to any UKGC licence. 
• If you move house or change your name following registration, it’s a good idea to let the casino know so they can update your records;
• The casino will store your information according to data privacy laws. As such, your data remains password protected and secure within an encrypted system. 

Please note that if you select an open banking payment method, KYC data is collected and verified without the need for you to submit additional documentation. This is because open banking operators, such as Trustly, connect directly to your bank account which mitigates the need for additional verification.  

How We Rate Fast Withdrawal Casinos

We take a comprehensive approach to reviewing the best online casinos around, and we also believe that it’s important for our users to understand the process behind the rankings. Click here to learn more about our editorial policy.

Licensing

There will never be an unlicensed operator listed on TopRatedCasinos.ie, so you can be sure that every site we highlight in our rankings is regulated, regularly audited, offers fair games, and protects your transactions.

Payout Speed

Fast withdrawals are a huge draw for all online casino players, and payout speeds are a major factor for all of our reviews. We take a look at a casino’s withdrawal pending times, their estimates for different payment options, and any other contextual details such as how quickly jackpot payouts take to be approved. 

Reputation

Player opinion is one of the best indicators of how effective an operator’s offering and setup is, so we keep our ears to the ground for any shifts in a site’s reputation amongst its playerbase. 

Customer Support

Even the very best sites will see the occasional issue arise that players need help with. The accessibility and availability of customer support is therefore something we always look at when ranking online casinos — after all, the sooner an issue is resolved, the sooner you can get back to enjoying the games on offer.

Games Selection

Every site has a varying number of games available, as well as differences in the software developers represented by their libraries. We take a look not just at how many games and categories are available, but who made the games, what their reputation is like and what the overall quality of the games offered is like.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Another major consideration is how many payment options are accepted by each site, with a wider range being more player-friendly and likely to open the doors to faster payouts via e-wallets.

Bonuses

The best online casinos will offer an introductory welcome bonus to draw new players in, and every operator approaches things slightly differently. We look at the relative value of each bonus, their terms and conditions, and what you can use the bonuses on to assess who’s offering the best incentives.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

Welcome bonuses and promotions are often the cherry on the cake for many players, but it’s always important to understand the terms and conditions for each freebie and offer. Wagering requirements, the number of times a bonus’s value must be played before unlocking withdrawals, can range from non-existent to steep, for example, so we make sure that our recommendations factor in such matters.

Site Design

Another area that’s important in reviewing the best fast withdrawal casinos is how operators choose to design, and lay their site out – is it easy to navigate, does it look appealing to players? We also like to see a solid range of filtering options and a decent search system to make it easy for you to find the games you’re looking for.

Mobile

Irish casino players are right to believe that any online casino worth its salt will work seamlessly on mobile devices — we wholeheartedly agree. A well-optimised mobile website is a must, with all the features you’d expect from the desktop version, but bonus points are available to sites offering native apps. Downloadable smartphone apps offer highly tailored features, smoother functionality, regular updates, and push notification to keep you abreast of the latest offers, so we’re always pleased to see them.

Fast Payout Banking Options

Each payment method available at online casinos offers a different lead time for deposits and withdrawals. Below is a brief breakdown of what to expect timewise from each option.

e-Wallets

e-Wallets are a great choice for players looking to make withdrawals as quickly as possible. Once you’re through your operator’s withdrawals process, funds will ordinarily be made immediately available in your e-wallet of choice. e-Wallets are often considered to be a more secure option than bank cards, as you only need to enter your email address into your online casino’s banking portal to set payments up. Not only that, but many e-wallets have additional security layers and fraud protection capabilities to help you play with confidence.

Visa Fast Funds

If you’re a Visa card holder, it’s worth keeping your eye out for the Fast Funds service. It’s not supported at every fast withdrawal casino, but Visa claims transactions carried out via Fast Funds can settle within half an hour of request — that’s a stark contrast to the usual 3–5 days for regular debit card withdrawals and puts Visa debit cards on par with e-wallets for the quickest withdrawals. Of course, this is subject to the casino’s processing times as with any other payment method. Deposits with Visa are also instant.

Bank Transfer

Bank transfers, sometimes known as BACS payments or wire transfers, may take slightly longer than bank card processing, depending on your bank’s own processing setup. This method can also be subject to charges depending on your bank and your account type, so be sure to read your bank’s terms and conditions before settling on bank transfers as your payment method of choice.

Credit Cards

Like debit cards, credit cards offer instant deposits, but payout times are much slower than other methods. While credit cards have been one of the most widely accepted and commonly used banking methods at online casino sites for a long time, Flutter Entertainment has banned their use at its online casinos, including PaddyPower, SkyBet, PokerStars, and Full Tilt Poker to name a few, and it’s expected that more operators will soon follow suit. Credit card payments were also banned by the UKGC in April 2020, so any sites operating in Ireland on a UKGC licence will almost certainly make credit card payments unavailable.

Trustly

Swedish company Trustly acts as an intermediary between banks and operators, meaning you can make quick, secure payments without exchanging any personal data. There’s no need to register an account if you use Trustly, as it processes payments straight from your bank account via Open Banking. Just watch out for fees;  these are unlikely to be charged by your online casino but may be added by your bank. 

AstroPay

If you prefer to make your deposits with prepaid cards but want to use the same method to withdraw, AstroPay is a fantastic option. This method is a little newer than others so you won’t find it at as many sites, but there’s a host of benefits to using it. Not only will you get similar functionality to an e-wallet such as PayPal — which can be used for online casino deposits and fast withdrawal — but you can also create virtual prepaid cards for your transactions. That means you’ll never have to share any banking information with the online casino, making AstroPay a highly secure method. Withdrawals are speedy and will usually arrive within a day, but it’s worth checking if this method is eligible for claiming a welcome bonus if you’re using it to deposit — e-wallets often find themselves on the payment exclusions list. 

Cryptocurrencies

Licensed casinos that offer support for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are few and far between. With a cryptocurrency, there is no third-party involvement whatsoever, meaning that transaction processing times are instant in both directions, with high limits on both. However, if you’re interested in using cryptocurrency payments, you should conduct some research first – their volatility means they aren’t as stable as trading with real money, and you won’t receive any customer support services.

Factors that Affect Casino Wait Times

One of the few drawbacks to playing at online casinos over land-based establishments is that withdrawal processing takes a little longer. There are a few factors that impact how quickly you’ll be able to access your winnings once you’ve made a withdrawal request, as we detail below.

Casino Processing Times

Once you have made a withdrawal request, your casino will then need to review, process and approve the transaction. Each operator is different in this regard, with some promising a 24-hour turnaround and others requiring several days to get things sorted. Fast withdrawals are becoming increasingly common, with sites coming under pressure from the competition to deliver player winnings as quickly as possible.

Your Chosen Payment Method

Different payment methods have varying payout speeds. Traditional payment methods tend to be slower, with wire transfers and card payments generally taking 3-5 days or more. Ewallets, alternatively, tend to be faster, typically ranging from instantaneous to 48 hours.

Withdrawal Limits

Operators generally place limits on how much a player can withdraw over a specified timeframe, whether that be days, weeks, or months. You may, for example, have a withdrawal limit of €5,000 per day. As a result, your withdrawals may be staggered to accommodate these limits. Sites occasionally raise or waive these limits for VIP members or jackpot winners, although this is dependent on the operator in question and their terms and conditions.

Jackpots

Some operators have longer processing periods for jackpot winnings to ensure the funds have been claimed legitimately, although this again varies between different sites. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your operator of choice to make sure you’re aware of their specific way of doing things.

KYC Checks

As part of your fast withdrawal casino registration, the site will need to complete KYC checks, which may involve the submission of ID and financial information. You can choose from a list of documents, such as passport or driving licence, plus something proving your address like a recent bank statement or utility bill. Sometimes there is a requirement to make secondary checks at the point of withdrawal which can cause a slight delay to your instant payments. 

Slow Casino Payment Methods

Even at fast withdrawal casinos there can be some payment methods that take a little while to process. Here are the withdrawal methods that are among the slowest options. 

Bank Cards

While they’re the most commonly available and popular payment method, bank cards can be a little slow for withdrawals. You can typically expect to wait 3-5 days for funds to be put in your account, on top of your casino’s own withdrawal approval time. Bank cards are a quick and easy way to make payments, and the likes of Visa add further security measures to keep your transactions secure.

Bank Transfer

Bank transfers are not recommended if you’re looking for a fast payment from a casino. These kinds of transactions tend to take from two to five working days as the money has to be processed by the casino, leave the casino’s bank account, then go through a process of fraud checks before it’s finally credited to your bank account.

However, some people still like bank transfer withdrawals as they’re simple. In other words, you don’t have to go through the extra step of withdrawing from an e-wallet to your bank, or exchanging cryptocurrency into regular currency. 

Cheque

Some online casinos give you the option of receiving your winnings as a cheque. However, cheques have downsides for both the player and the casino. Some banks charge their customers fees for writing cheques, so casinos will usually set a high minimum withdrawal amount.

The casino also has to process, issue and post the cheque to you, a process which can take several days depending on the speed of their admin team. Once received, you then have to cash the cheque, which generally takes up to five working days if it was issued at an Irish bank. Unless you’re very patient, you might want to compare casino banking methods and choose something a little speedier.   

Cryptocurrencies

It’s worth noting that not all cryptocurrencies are created equal. For example, research has shown that Ethereum transactions can often be processed more rapidly than Bitcoin transactions. 

It’s also important to remember that, even when you’re using a fast withdrawal casino, if the blockchain network for your cryptocurrency is congested due to high traffic, transaction times will slow down.

Plus, if you’re planning to swap your crypto for real money, bear in mind it can take a few days to make the exchange and withdraw the money to your bank account.

Fast Payout Slots

Slots are perhaps the most popular casino game available and, with such quality selections available at top online casinos, it’s easy to see why. Whether you’re into classic three-reelers, the increasingly common five-wheelers, progressive slots, or video slots, there are plenty of fast withdrawal casino options out there to try your luck on. 

There are a number of factors to consider as you eye up your next slots destination, and the volume of slots available is chief among them. The more options you have, the better. It also matters who makes the games.

Top software developers such as NetEnt, Playtech, and Microgaming, among others, work tirelessly to bring you the very best slots experiences, so be sure to keep an eye out for these big names as you scan the reels for your next spin.

Keep an eye out, too, for free slots as they’re a great avenue for practice. Finally, a great mobile app is always a plus for playing slots, as they add a great tactile element to playing, keep you up to date with the latest offers through push notifications, and enable you to take the fun wherever you like.

The Best Slots to Play at Fast Payout Casinos – Our Picks

Regardless of which game you choose to play, fast payout casinos will always return your funds at speed. But if you’re most interested in spinning the reels, here are some of the industry’s most popular titles, all of which are regularly targeted with free spins welcome bonuses.

Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead

The Rich Wilde series is one of Play’n GO’s most beloved products, following the adventures of the eponymous hero — an explorer inspired by Indiana Jones. In Book of Dead, players join Rich in the search for Egyptian treasure, delving deep within ancient temples to find the hidden scroll. The tumbling drums in the background and immaculate symbols deliver an authenticity to the game, with ancient Egyptian iconography sparkling on the 5×3 grid. The book of dead itself serves as the game’s scatter, and landing three of them on the reels will trigger ten free spins, as well as paying up to 200x the stake when forming a winning combo. Book of Dead is a highly volatile slot, which means wins tend to be large but infrequent, while the return to player (RTP) stands at 96.2%. 

Immortal Romance

Although Microgaming’s Immortal Romance appears to be a standard 5×3 slot, its 243 paylines increase the number of ways in which players can find winning matches across the reels. These reels are laid over the walls of a gothic castle, where ominous gargoyles watch over proceedings — any fans of vampiric pop culture will be right at home here. The scatter symbol launches the Chamber of Spins bonus round when three or more appear on the reels; the more of these bonus rounds you unlock, the better they’ll become. There’s also a wild desire bonus that’s triggered at random, converting one column entirely into wilds for increased winning potential. With an RTP of 96.9%, this medium volatility slot is a classic of the genre. 

Starburst

Famed for its win-both-ways payline structure, NetEnt’s Starburst has been a popular option at online casinos for over a decade. It takes place somewhere in outer space, and cosmic matter drifts across the background as players spin the 5×3 reels. This is another high volatility slot that comes with an RTP of 96.1%. The bonus features aren’t as comprehensive as the other games listed here, with just a re-spin feature and expanding wild on offer; when this wild appears on the reels, it will fill the entire column to help players form winning combos.

Gonzo’s Quest

NetEnt made waves with Gonzo’s Quest when they released the title over a decade ago in 2011, thanks to its thrilling Avalanche Reels mechanic where winning symbols are removed from the reels to make space for new ones. This ability to land long chains of wins certainly proved popular with players, and variations of this feature finds itself in many of today’s slots. 

In Gonzo’s Quest, players join an intrepid conquistador on a hunt through the jungle for riches. There are five reels and three rows, providing players with 20 fixed paylines on which to score a payout. The RTP of the game is a reasonable 95.97%, although the volatility is high so this title may not be so suited to new players or those on a smaller budget.

Big Bass Bonanza

Who would have thought a slot based on fishing would prove such a hit? We’re not sure Pragmatic Play did, but it’s certainly one of the developer’s larger successes, spawning a number of sequels. Big Bass Bonanza is the game that started it all, taking players out on the water in the hopes of landing a catch of the day, along with some sizable payouts. 

The most exciting feature of Big Bass Bonanza is the bonus round, where if the fisherman reels in the money symbols appear, payouts are boosted. Played on five reels and three rows, this slot has a decent RTP of 96.71% and high volatility, so you’ll likely see less frequent wins but of larger amounts.

Taxes on Gambling Winnings

Gambling winnings are not taxable in Ireland and you don’t need to declare any winnings as income on your tax return. If you gamble with sites based in other jurisdictions, you may be liable to pay tax on your winnings, so be sure to read up on the gambling tax laws of the country where your operator is based.

Your operator, on the other hand, pays the Irish government 1% of every wager entered into with Ireland-based players as ‘betting duty’.

Instant Withdrawal Casino Bonuses

Here’s a quick run-through of the most common bonuses and promotions you’ll encounter at top fast withdrawal casinos.

Matched Deposit Bonuses

One of the most common welcome bonuses you’ll find are matched deposits. They’ll usually look something like this: 100% up to €200. This means that, up to €200, the casino will double your first deposit at no extra cost. You could therefore, deposit €200 and get your wallet topped up to €400.

These bonuses almost always come attached to wagering requirements, meaning you must play the value of your bonus a certain number times in order to make withdrawals. Each operator is different, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before settling on a matched deposit bonus.

• At Luckster right now, there’s a 100% bonus up to €200, plus 100 free spins. Terms and conditions apply, including 35x wagering requirements.

Reload Bonuses

Once a player has signed up, received their welcome bonus, and started playing, the site will be keen to incentivise them to stick around. Reload bonuses, simply put, are bonuses applied to any further deposits you make, and the shape they take depends on the casino in question. You may get a matched deposit, free spins, free bets, or another site-specific bonus that will reward you for becoming a casino regular. 

• Silverplay currently offers a 50% up to €100 reload bonus every week. Simply submit the promo code and make a minimum €20 deposit to be eligible. Terms and conditions are attached so read through carefully.

Free Spins Bonuses

Free spins are, as you might have guessed, wager-free spins on a selection of slots. This freebie typically comes as the garnish for your welcome bonus, or you may be given a set number of free spins as a weekly bonus for use on the likes of Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest.

• The Clubhouse Casino offers its customers up to 50 free spins each weekend on Book of Dead. Deposit €20-39 and you’ll receive 15 free spins; €40-59 offers 30 free spins; and to get the full 50 free spins, you’ll need to deposit €100 or more. The spins can be accepted on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Terms and conditions apply, such as 35x wagering requirements. 

No Deposit Bonuses

Most bonuses are only doled out to players as they make deposits, but there are often deposit-free options out there. New sites, in particular, tend to offer no deposit bonuses as a risk-free way for players to try out their offering before committing with their first deposit.

These bonuses tend to be very small, but they’re a player-friendly way to acclimate yourself with a new operator. Low wagering casinos are certainly more common, and they can be a pleasant middle ground if you’re struggling to find a no deposit bonus that works for you.

• A popular example of a no deposit bonus is 10 free spins on a particular game, such as Starburst. Although there’s no deposit required on these bonuses, there will still be wagering requirements to fulfil as well as other conditions. 

Rebate Bonuses

Rebate bonuses are awarded when you lose a wager or bet, letting you recoup a percentage of your losses to be used again. For example, you might get 15% of your stake back if you lose a hand of blackjack as a rebate bonus.

• Rebate bonuses are not as easy to come across, but some sites, such as PlayOJO, offer a percentage of your money back on every bet you make. 

Wager Free Bonuses

While most bonuses come with wagering requirements attached, wager free—or ‘no wagering’—bonuses have no such restrictions placed on them, meaning you can make withdrawals against your bonus straight away. As with no deposit bonuses, these tend to be small token bonuses, but they’re a welcome bankroll boost nonetheless.    

• PlayOJO offers 50 free spins on Book of Dead with no wagering requirements whatsoever. It’s a great opportunity to test out the game and the whole site itself. There will be terms attached, and it’s only eligible on a first deposit basis. 

VIP Bonuses

Most top online casinos have a dedicated VIP programme set up to reward their most loyal players. Some sites are public about their membership parameters, meaning you can either step onto the bottom rung from the day you sign up and work your way through a set of tiers, or at least have an understanding of what you’ll need to do to become eligible for the programme.

Alternatively, the site of your choice may have an exclusive, invite-only VIP structure, with the requirements for membership kept under tight wraps.

• 21 Casino offers a four-tiered VIP bonus programme that gives access to rewards such as 24/7 priority support, personalised weekly offers, birthday gifts, and withdrawal increases. VIP membership is by invitation only. 

Low Wagering Bonuses

Wagering requirements are often tied to a matched deposit offer and usually sit somewhere between 25-40x the value of a stake, but low wagering bonuses can significantly reduce this number. With these bonuses, the lower the better! Look out for other conditions applied to low wagering bonuses, such as a 30-day expiry. 

• Party Casino currently offers a welcome bonus of 100% up to €500 and 20 free spins. The wagering requirement of the free spins is only 10x which is lower than average for bonus terms and conditions. 

Cashbacks

Online casinos with fast withdrawals often offer cashback bonuses – a monetary return from a lost wager at a percentage of your stake. This percentage is typically around 10% and almost always has a limit, but the value of cashback bonuses can be boosted by VIP memberships.

• There’s a daily cashback of up to 20% at Bongo Bonga right now. This is based on your previous day’s deposit total, with the minimum cashback deposit being 10%. Wagering requirements and other T&Cs apply.

Fast Payout Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions

All fast payout casino bonuses will come with terms and conditions. Before you commit to a bonus by making a qualifying deposit, it’s important that you read these in full in order to understand what’s expected of you. Here are some of the most common conditions attached to casino bonuses. 

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements state how many times players must wager their bonus credit by multiplying the bonus amount at a specified rate. Here’s an example: you’ve capitalised on a matched deposit by depositing €10, which comes with a 40x wagering requirement. In this instance, you’d need to wager a total of €400 (10 x 40) before you could make a withdrawal of any winnings.

When wagering requirements are attached to free spins bonuses, they’ll be applied to the winnings generated by the spins. So, if you won €20 at the slots, again with a 40x requirement, you’d need to wager a total of €800 (20 x 40) before your funds are available as withdrawable cash.

Game Weightings

A consideration of the wagering requirements needs to be viewed in conjunction with game weightings — a condition that restricts the impact of wagers on certain games on the overall requirements. Slots tend to be weighted at 100%, but other categories such as table and live dealer games are often weighted much lower — often around 10%.

Time Limits

Your bonus at an instant withdrawal casino is likely to come with two time limits: one for the bonus as a whole, and another set against the completion of the wagering requirements. If you run out of time on either, any remaining bonus funds will be wiped. 

Minimum Deposits

Unless you’ve been offered a no deposit bonus, bonuses are typically unlocked with a minimum qualifying deposit, usually either €10 or €20.

Payment Exclusions

Unfortunately, you won’t always have free rein when it comes to making a qualifying deposit as part of a bonus. Many of the fastest methods like PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller will be excluded from claiming a bonus — this is a measure taken by online casinos to avoid fees levied by these services, and also to protect themselves from bonus abuse.

This term is a particularly important one to be aware of if the fast payout casino operates a ‘closed-loop’ system — that’s where you must withdraw your cash via the same method used to deposit it. In this case, you should look for an eligible fast withdrawal method such as Trustly, as e-wallets frequently find themselves excluded. Alternatively, if you’re a Visa user and the site supports Fast Funds, you’ll be able to use your debit card to make your qualifying deposit while retaining the possibility of a fast payout. 

Game Restrictions

Before claiming any bonus, you should always check the game restrictions to be sure the offer caters to your own interests. While a matched deposit bonus can often be used on a wide variety of genres at the site, free spins are exclusive to slots — and even then, you can typically only use them on one or two titles. Fortunately, casinos tend to choose popular games like Starburst or Book of Dead for these promotions. If you’re looking to play live dealer games, it’s worth looking for a specific live casino bonus, as this category is excluded from most bonus offers. 

Winnings Caps

One term that can particularly hamper the value of a bonus is a winnings cap, which stipulates the maximum amount you can take home from an offer. Say your bonus has a winnings limit of €100; even if you’re lucky enough to pick up a win in the thousands, anything above this limit will be forfeited. Thankfully, some casinos exclude jackpot wins from this cap, meaning you’ll get the full amount if you manage to bag the top prize. 

While it’s easy to see this limit as a hindrance, we’d consider taking home any profit from a casino bonus a success. If you manage to hit the winnings cap, it’s a great time to finish your session — and furthermore, you’ll be more likely to hit any attached wagering requirements!

Fast Withdrawal Mobile Casinos

Mobile casinos and instant withdrawals go hand-in-hand. Since many quick payout methods also offer their own native apps, switching between your casino’s app or mobile site and the app of your payment provider gives you seamless control over both, speeding up transactions on both ends. 

When you play at a fast payout mobile casino, you’ll get access to the same great library of games, as nearly all developers optimise their titles for smaller devices and touch screens. Other site functionality is often on par with the desktop casino as well, meaning you can manage your account or make deposits and withdrawals while you’re on the go.

It’s worth cautioning players that although mobile casinos offer a large degree of convenience, it can be easy to lose track of how much time and money you’re spending on gambling due to the casual nature of playing on your phone. As always, make sure you gamble responsibly and follow best practices at all times.

Best Fast Withdrawal Casino Apps

There are many apps associated with fast paying casinos these days, but which are the best? Let’s take a look at some of our favourites. 

Gambling Responsibly at a Fast Withdrawal Casino

At TopRatedCasinos, it’s our obligation to help aid the practice of responsible gambling, and we take this role in the industry very seriously. There are a number of measures you can take to help control your gambling habits, but this always starts by ensuring that you only place a bet at a licensed site, and only when you’re sober and of sound mind. 

Beyond this, it’s important that you resist the urge to chase your losses, and set clear boundaries and rules to abide by. Decide on a budgeting limit, and make use of the site’s on-site limiters to make sure you don’t deviate. Responsible gambling also involves reading the terms and conditions of bonuses and games, as well as trying out the free-to-play versions before you start committing real money to bets.

If you think that you might be suffering from problem gambling, here’s a list of professional organisations that can help:

• Visit BeGambleAware.org
• Visit GamCare
• Visit Gamblers Anonymous
• Visit GamblingCommission.gov.uk

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

One of the most important aspects of responsible gambling is recognising the warning signs of a problem — remaining eagle-eyed against certain behaviours is the best way to protect yourself from addiction and means you’re more likely to seek help if you need it. Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Prioritising gambling over other activities including socialising or hobbies.
• Neglecting responsibilities, whether it’s work, home, or relationships.
• Feeling the need to gamble increasingly large amounts to get the same enjoyment.
• Hiding your gambling activities or feeling ashamed.
• Gambling more than you can afford to lose.
• Borrowing money or, in the worst cases, stealing to fund your gambling habits.

Responsible Gambling Tips

Fortunately, there are many strategies you can take to ensure gambling remains a fun hobby:

• Make use of on-site limiters to restrict how much time and money you spend on gambling.
• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Never gamble if you’re upset or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as you might make decisions or take risks you otherwise wouldn’t.
• Use self-exclusion tools if you need to take a break.
• Don’t bet on markets or sports you’re unfamiliar with.
• Never chase losses — you’re never guaranteed or ‘owed’ a win, no matter what’s happened previously.
• Seek help as soon as possible if you feel gambling is impacting your life negatively.