Gambling is not allowed for anyone under 18. Gambling is entertainment with a risk of loss, not a way to earn money or to solve financial problems.
How gambling affects thinking
Games of chance are built to feel closer to a win than they are. A few well known thinking traps explain why it is hard to stop:
- The near miss. Missing by one number or one match feels like a sign that a win is close, although the odds of the next game are the same as before.
- The gambler’s fallacy. After a run of losses it seems that luck “has to turn now”. Every bet is independent: past results do not change the next one.
- The illusion of control. Knowing the sport, a system or a “lucky” way of playing creates a feeling that the outcome depends on you more than it does.
- Chasing losses. The urge to win back what was lost straight away leads to bigger stakes and longer play, which usually makes the loss bigger.
- Remembering wins. Wins are remembered better than losses, so the overall result looks better than it is.
A budget and playing time set in advance, breaks, and the deposit limits licensed operators offer in account settings all help. Gambling should not be a way to lift your mood or solve a money problem.
Signs that gambling is becoming a problem
- You play longer or for larger amounts than you planned.
- You try to win back lost money by playing again.
- You borrow money to gamble or fall behind on bills because of gambling.
- You hide how much you play from family and friends.
- You feel restless or irritable when you are not playing.
Where to look for help
- The Games of Chance Administration publishes a gambling risk self-assessment test and guidelines on protection from illegal gambling (in Serbian).
- Its responsible betting page lists the responsible gambling pages of licensed operators, which describe deposit limits and self-exclusion.
- For professional help, contact your general practitioner or local health centre: gambling addiction is treated like other addictions.
The Games of Chance Administration is the regulator, not a help service: Balkanska 53, 11000 Beograd, +381 11 765 2701, igre.na.srecu@uis.gov.rs.
For webmasters
Promote only licensed operators, always with the 18+ mark and a responsible gambling message, and never target minors or present gambling as a way to earn money.