Staying in Control When You Bet Online

Gambling always carries a risk of losing money, even when you feel confident in your bets. Every stake should be an amount you can afford to lose without affecting rent, food, school fees, or other important expenses.

To protect your financial and emotional wellbeing:

• Treat betting as entertainment, not a source of income or a job.
• Decide your budget for gambling before you start to play and stick to that amount.
• Use time limits so gaming does not affect work, school, or family life.
• Avoid chasing losses by increasing your stakes after a loss.
• Keep separate money for bills, savings, and daily needs, and never use that for gambling.

Parimatch offers tools that support control, such as setting deposit limits, temporary breaks, and other responsible gaming settings in your account. These tools help you manage how often you play and how much you spend, so your experience remains safe and balanced.

Gambling addiction develops when betting stops being a game and starts affecting your life, finances, or relationships. It is a serious condition that needs attention and support as early as possible.

Warning signs that you or someone close to you may have a gambling problem include:

• Finding it hard to stop gambling, even after long sessions or big losses.
• Hiding betting activity or lying about how much time or money is spent on gambling.
• Using gambling to escape stress, sadness, anger, or other emotional problems.
• Spending more money than planned, or using funds meant for bills, rent, or family needs.
• Needing higher stakes or more frequent bets to feel the same excitement.
• Feeling restless, angry, or worried when trying to reduce or stop gambling.
• Chasing losses by placing more bets in an attempt to recover lost money.
• Ignoring work, school, studies, or family duties because of gambling.
• Borrowing money, selling property, or taking loans to continue gambling or pay gambling debts.
• Thinking constantly about betting, past games, or the next opportunity to play.

Recognising these signs early allows you to seek support and take steps to regain control of your betting behaviour.

Dealing with betting addiction requires honest self-reflection, clear limits, and, in many cases, professional support. You are not alone, and practical steps can improve control over your gambling.

Useful tips to manage your gambling safely include:

• Set a strict weekly or monthly gambling budget and do not exceed it under any circumstance.
• Fix a time limit for each betting session and log out when that time is up.
• Take regular breaks from the platform to reduce impulsive decisions and emotional betting.
• Avoid gambling when you feel stressed, angry, lonely, or after drinking alcohol or using substances.
• Keep track of all your deposits, bets, wins, and losses to understand your real spending.
• Turn off gambling-related notifications if they make it harder for you to take a break.
• Use responsible gaming tools in your account, such as deposit limits or temporary self-exclusion.
• Do not borrow money or use credit to fund your gambling activities.
• Talk openly to a trusted person about your betting habits and ask them to help you keep to your limits.
• Seek professional counselling or contact specialised support services in Nigeria if you find it hard to control your play.

Parimatch supports your decision to take a break or limit your activity and encourages you to make use of safe gaming tools at the earliest sign of difficulty.

If gambling begins to affect your mental health, finances, or relationships, reaching out for help is an important step. Confidential support, counselling, and practical advice are available through independent organisations in Nigeria.

Main support and help resources include:

• Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Centre, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos
  Offers mental health and addiction services, including behavioural addictions.
  Website: https://federal neuropsychiatrichyabalagos.gov.ng
  Phone: +234 815 481 4661
• Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna
  Provides assessment and treatment for addiction and related mental health issues.
  Website: https://fnphkaduna.gov.ng
  Phone: +234 703 061 8499
• Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Enugu
  Offers counselling and clinical services for addiction and other psychological conditions.
  Website: https://fnphenugu.gov.ng
  Phone: +234 803 338 0249
• Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Calabar
  Provides support for people facing mental health and addiction challenges.
  Website: https://fnphcalabar.gov.ng
  Phone: +234 803 383 9011
• Nigeria Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI)
  Offers emotional support and crisis response that may also cover gambling-related distress.
  Website: https://nigeria suicideprevention.org
  Email: [email protected]

Consider consulting a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor near you for structured, ongoing assistance.

If you are worried about your gambling habits or think you might be developing addiction, you can contact Parimatch customer support for guidance on responsible gaming tools. Support staff can explain available controls and how to apply them to protect your account and your wellbeing.

You can reach Parimatch support in Nigeria through:

• Live chat on the official site or mobile app for quick assistance on account and responsible gaming settings.
• Email support using the address provided in the Help or Contact Us section of the platform.
• In-app help centre where you can send a request or message to the support team.

Support agents can provide information on limits, breaks, and other safety options, and may also point you towards external help resources in Nigeria.