Responsible gambling tools and help for Nigerian punters

Control tools sit in the account settings or the help centre of a bookmaker, and each one works best when you set it before a session starts, with a clear head.

• Deposit limit. A ceiling in naira on what the account accepts per day, week or month. Base it on what is left after rent, food and transport, and leave the bonus out of the sum.
• Time-out. A break of a length you choose, during which the account takes no bets or deposits.
• Self-exclusion. A block of months or years that closes the account for the whole period.
• Reality check. A reminder that pops up after a set time to show how long you have been logged in.

When a tool is missing from the settings, ask the bookmaker’s live chat to apply it and keep a copy of the chat. A self-exclusion at one bookmaker leaves your accounts at other sites open, so repeat it at each one you use.

Chasing losses is the clearest sign: a bigger acca placed straight after a losing slip to win the money back.

Others to watch for are betting with money meant for rent, school fees or food, borrowing from friends or a loan app to fund a deposit, hiding slips from family, and feeling restless when you try to cut down.

Losing track of time on live betting, or on Aviator rounds late into the night, belongs on the same list. So does treating a win as a reason to stake more the next day.

If two or more of these sound familiar, set a deposit limit today and tell someone you trust before your next deposit.

Gambling Therapy is a global service run by Gordon Moody, a charity registered in England and Wales. It gives free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by gambling, through support forums in more than 30 languages, English included.

BetBlocker is free software from a non-profit charity that blocks gambling websites and apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone. You pick a block from 1 day to 5 years, and it cannot be lifted before that period ends.

Responsible gambling also means talking early. A family member, a friend or your doctor can help you keep to a limit once you have set one, and a blocker on your phone covers gambling sites and apps in one step.