Affordability CheckA check an operator runs to judge whether a player can afford their gambling losses without falling into financial harm.advanced
Bank Gambling BlockA feature offered by many banks that lets a customer block gambling transactions on their card or account.core
Blocking Software (Gamban / Gamblock)Software installed on a device that blocks access to gambling websites and apps across the whole system.core
Chasing LossesContinuing to gamble — often with bigger or riskier bets — in an attempt to win back money already lost.core
Cognitive Distortions (Gambling)Systematic errors in thinking about chance and odds that lead people to over-estimate their chances of winning.advanced
Cooling-Off PeriodA cooling-off period is a short, temporary block a player puts on their own account to pause gambling for a set time, after which the account normally reopens on its own.core
Deposit LimitA deposit limit is a cap a player sets on how much money they can pay into their gambling account within a chosen period, such as a day, week, or month.beginner
Gambler's FallacyThe false belief that past independent outcomes change the odds of future ones — e.g. that a colour is 'due' after a run.core
Gambling HarmAny negative consequence of gambling to a person's finances, health, relationships, work, or wider community.beginner
GamCareA leading UK charity providing free information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm.beginner
GAMSTOPGAMSTOP is a free British scheme that lets a person block themselves, with a single sign-up, from every online gambling website and app licensed in Great Britain for a chosen period of at least six months.core
Illusion of ControlThe mistaken belief that one can influence the outcome of a game that is actually determined by chance.core
Interaction (Customer Interaction / RG Intervention)A deliberate contact an operator makes with a player showing possible signs of harm, to check in and offer support.advanced
Loss LimitA cap a player sets on how much they can lose (deposits minus withdrawals or winnings) over a chosen period.core
Markers of HarmObservable behaviours and account patterns that may signal a player is experiencing, or at risk of, gambling harm.advanced
National Gambling HelplineA free, confidential telephone and online support service for people affected by gambling, available in many countries.beginner
Near-Miss EffectThe tendency for an almost-win to feel encouraging and prompt continued play, even though it is still a loss.advanced
Problem GamblingA pattern of gambling that a person finds hard to control and that causes harm to themselves or others.core
Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)A short nine-item questionnaire that screens for the risk of gambling-related problems — a screening tool, not a diagnosis.core
Reality CheckA pop-up that interrupts play at set intervals to remind you how long you've been playing and, in most markets, how much you've won or lost.core
Responsible GamblingA set of practices, tools, and policies that help people keep gambling as affordable entertainment and reduce the risk of gambling-related harm.core
Safer Gambling ToolsAccount features — such as deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion — that let players set and enforce boundaries on the time and money they spend gambling.core
Safer-Gambling MessageStandardised on-screen or broadcast wording that promotes safer play and points people toward help and tools.beginner
Self-ExclusionA tool that lets a player choose to block their own access to gambling for a set period, during which the operator must refuse their play.core
Sensitivity to LossThe well-documented tendency for losses to feel more painful than equivalent gains feel pleasurable.advanced
Session ReminderAn on-screen prompt that periodically tells a player how long they have been playing and often how much they have spent.beginner
SignpostingDirecting a person toward relevant help, tools, or support services at the moment they might need them.beginner
Time LimitA player-set cap on how long they can play in a single session or over a day, week, or month.beginner
Time-OutA short, temporary break from an account — typically from 24 hours up to a few weeks — that a player can activate instantly.beginner
Voluntary vs Mandatory LimitsThe distinction between safer-gambling limits a player chooses to set and those imposed by an operator or regulator.advanced
VulnerabilityCircumstances or characteristics that make a person more susceptible to gambling harm or less able to protect themselves.core
Wager LimitA cap on the total amount a player can stake (turnover) over a chosen period, regardless of wins or losses.core
Youth ProtectionMeasures that prevent people under the legal age from gambling and shield young people from gambling harm.core
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Definitions stay evergreen; the rules around them don't. Get a short, cited note when something in iGaming changes. Independent, 18+, no hype.