Responsible Gambling

18+ only. GoalStatsHub publishes statistics and probabilities, not certainties. If gambling stops being fun, stop.

Why predictions are never a sure thing

Even the most likely outcomes in football regularly fail to happen:

• a team with a 70% chance of winning will, on average, fail to win three games in ten;
• an accumulator of five 70% picks lands only about one time in six (0.7 × 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.7 ≈ 17%);
• bookmakers build a margin into every price, so over time the odds favour them.

No statistical model, tipster or "system" can remove that uncertainty. Treat any money you bet as the price of entertainment, not as a way to make money. Our guide to the numbers explains what probabilities can and can't tell you.

Keeping it under control

• Set a budget before you start. Only use money you can afford to lose, never money meant for bills, rent or food.
• Use your bookmaker's tools. Licensed operators must offer deposit limits, loss limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
• Don't chase losses. Raising your stakes to win back what you lost usually means losing more.
• Keep a limit on time as well as money. Take regular breaks and don't let betting crowd out work, family or sleep.
• Don't bet under the influence of alcohol or when you feel upset, stressed or low.
• Never borrow to gamble.

Warning signs

Gambling may be becoming a problem if you:

• spend more money or time than you planned, often;
• feel you need to bet more to get the same excitement;
• hide your betting from people close to you, or lie about it;
• feel anxious, irritable or guilty about gambling;
• borrow money, sell things or fall behind on bills because of betting;
• have tried to cut down or stop and couldn't.

If any of these sound familiar, talking to someone early makes a real difference. The organisations below are free and confidential.

Where to get help

• BeGambleAware (UK): Free, confidential advice and support, plus the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day.
• GamCare (UK): Support by phone and live chat, and treatment for anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends.
• GAMSTOP (UK): A free self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from online gambling sites licensed in Great Britain.
• Gamblers Anonymous: Peer support meetings for people who want to stop gambling, available in many countries.
• Gambling Therapy: Free online support in several languages for people outside the UK.

Outside the UK, your national gambling regulator lists local helplines and self-exclusion registers.

Blocking gambling

Several tools can put distance between you and betting:

• many banks let you block gambling transactions on your card from their app;
• blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker stops gambling sites and apps on your devices;
• self-exclusion schemes such as GAMSTOP stop you opening or using accounts with participating operators.

Protecting minors

Gambling is for adults only. If children use your devices, use parental controls or filtering software to block gambling content, and never share your betting account details.