Responsible Gambling Support and Tools at Duel

• Duel
• Duel Responsible gaming

Gambling should remain an optional activity rather than something that takes over your time, money or attention. Duel provides self-exclusion and cooling-off controls, while UK support services can help you pause, assess the situation and seek further assistance. Duel is restricted to players aged 18+.

Gambling as entertainment, not income

There is no guaranteed return from slots, live games or sports betting. A losing run can continue regardless of stakes, and winnings cannot be treated as dependable income. Decide what you can afford to spend before choosing a game, and stop when that limit is reached.

The same principle applies to time. A fixed session length can prevent an open-ended game from becoming the main activity of the day. Keep the activity separate from essential spending on housing, food, bills or savings.

When gambling stops being fun

Behaviour becomes a reason to pause when it starts affecting other parts of your life. Warning signs include:

• borrowing money to continue playing;
• spending more than the amount you intended to lose;
• chasing losses with larger or more frequent bets;
• feeling irritable or restless when you try to stop;
• using gambling to escape stress or difficult emotions;
• hiding betting activity from family or friends;
• playing longer than planned, including overnight sessions.

One sign does not establish a diagnosis. Repeated changes in behaviour, spending or mood are enough reason to step away and ask for support.

A short self-check

You can use these questions to assess whether your play still feels controlled:

1. Can you keep within the money limit you set?
2. Can you stop when your session time ends?
3. Are you using winnings to fund further bets?
4. Has gambling replaced another activity you used to enjoy?
5. Are you playing to recover money you have lost?
6. Have you hidden losses or betting activity from other people?

If you cannot answer these comfortably, take a break and speak with a support organisation. You do not need to wait for a serious problem before asking for help.

Duel's responsible gambling controls

Duel offers two ways to interrupt access to gambling. Self-exclusion locks an account for a minimum of six months and stops promotional material from being sent. A cooling-off period can be applied for seven days when you want a shorter break.

A self-exclusion period is not a temporary pause that can be ended early by contacting support. It is the stronger option when stopping has become difficult. Choose the duration and control that best fits the situation rather than treating either as a test of willpower.

Practical limits that work

• Set a deposit ceiling before beginning a session and write it down.
• Use a timer and stop when it sounds, regardless of the result.
• Keep essential money and savings in separate accounts.
• Take a break after a losing sequence instead of increasing stakes.
• Remove gambling shortcuts from your phone and browser.
• Ask someone you trust to hold you to your limits.

Keep a short record of deposits, withdrawals and session length. The purpose is to identify changes in behaviour without turning the exercise into another form of pressure.

National help in the UK

The National Gambling Helpline is available on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24 hours a day. It provides confidential support for people affected by gambling.

You can also contact:

• GamCare for information, support and practical guidance;
• Gamblers Anonymous for peer support meetings;
• Gambling Therapy for structured support;
• BeGambleAware for information about safer gambling and warning signs;
• GamStop for national self-exclusion from licensed gambling sites.

Blocking software

Gamban and BetBlocker can block gambling sites across supported devices. BetBlocker is free and available across multiple platforms. Either service can add a practical barrier during a period when your own control is under pressure.

Protecting minors

Duel is for players aged 18+. Anyone sharing a device with a child should use the built-in family controls in their operating system or parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio. Keep gambling accounts, payment details and live chat away from shared access.

Questions about this page can be sent to [email protected]. For personal support with gambling, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit BeGambleAware.org.

You must be 18 or over (18+) to use this site. If gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org.