Signposting
Directing a person toward relevant help, tools, or support services at the moment they might need them.
Definition
Signposting is the practice of pointing people toward appropriate help — such as helplines, self-exclusion schemes, blocking tools, debt advice, or counselling — clearly and at the right moment. In player protection it appears throughout the journey: links to support in safer-gambling messages, prompts during a customer interaction, information beside limit-setting tools, and referrals from frontline staff or advisers. Effective signposting is specific and actionable rather than a buried disclaimer: it names the service, explains what it offers, and makes the next step easy, ideally reaching people before a situation becomes a crisis. Because relevant services differ by country and situation, good signposting is tailored — directing someone to their national helpline or to the tool that fits their need, rather than a generic catch-all. It is a small but pivotal link between recognising a problem and actually getting help.
Worked example
During a check-in with a player showing signs of distress, an adviser does not just express concern but shares the national helpline number, explains the self-exclusion option, and offers to walk through setting a limit — turning concern into a concrete next step.
Why it matters
Learners see the crucial bridge between awareness and action. Professionals should make signposting specific, timely, and easy to act on, because well-placed referral is often what actually connects a struggling person to help.