Gambling support

Chicken Road is a game that costs money to play for real. It cannot be relied on for income and it is no way to clear debts. This page covers the warning signs, the tools British casinos have to give you and where to find free, confidential help. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over.

Why crash games need firm limits

A round of Chicken Road can be over in three seconds, and the next one is a single tap away. That pace makes it hard to keep track of how much has gone in. Decide on a budget and a time limit before you start, write them down if it helps, and stop when either is reached.

Warning signs

• Sessions run longer, or stakes creep higher, than you meant them to.
• You play on to win back what you have lost.
• You borrow money or put off bills so that you can gamble.
• You find yourself keeping your gambling secret.
• You feel restless or short-tempered when you cannot play.

If any of these sound familiar, take a break and talk to someone. There is no shame in asking for help early.

Tools every licensed casino has to provide

• Deposit limits by day, week or month. A lower limit applies at once; a higher one only after a cooling-off period.
• Time-outs that lock your account for a short spell.
• Reality checks that pop up to show how long you have been playing.
• Self-exclusion from a single operator for at least six months.

GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is free and covers every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain. Signing up blocks you for six months, one year or five years, and the block stays in place until the period ends, even if you change your mind.

Where to get help

• National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free, confidential and open around the clock, run by GamCare. Live chat is on the GamCare website.
• GamCare offers advice and counselling for gamblers and for the people around them.
• NHS gambling harms clinics treat more serious problems, and your GP can refer you.
• GambleAware has self-assessment tools and a directory of local support.

Myths worth dropping

• ‘A win must be coming.’ Each lane is drawn independently; past rounds do not count.
• ‘The right staking plan beats it.’ The house edge applies to every stake you place.
• ‘Free play shows the safe lanes.’ It shows the rules, never a pattern.

Quick self-check

Ask yourself honestly: have I spent more than I planned in the past month, have I gambled to escape worries, and has anyone commented on how much I play? A yes to any of them is reason enough to try GambleAware's self-assessment or ring the helpline.

If you need to stop right now

Close the game and put the phone down. Before you think about winning anything back, set a deposit limit, take a time-out or sign up to GAMSTOP. Then ring the National Gambling Helpline or speak to someone you trust. Reaching out early makes the way back much easier.

Habits that keep it in proportion

• Keep gambling money in a separate pot from rent, bills and food.
• Leave your card out of reach while you play, so topping up takes effort.
• Play only when you are calm and sober, never to cheer yourself up.
• Plan days with no gambling at all, every week.

If someone close to you gambles

Friends and family often notice first. Choose a calm moment, talk about what you have seen rather than making accusations, and get support for yourself too; GamCare helps relatives as well as players. If children share your devices, use separate profiles, switch on parental controls and never save casino log-ins in the browser.