Responsible Gambling

Merkur is dedicated to providing an enjoyable and secure online gaming environment. We understand that for most of our players, gambling is a form of entertainment. However, we also recognise that for a small percentage of individuals, gambling can become problematic. Our commitment to safer gambling is a core principle of our operations, ensuring that we offer tools, resources, and support to help our players maintain control and gamble responsibly. We adhere strictly to the regulations set forth by our licensing authority, implementing measures designed to prevent problem gambling and protect vulnerable individuals. Our policies are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices in responsible gaming. At Merkur, player well-being is paramount, and we strive to create a transparent and supportive atmosphere where responsible play is encouraged and facilitated.

Problem gambling can manifest in various ways, often subtly at first. Being aware of the signs, both in oneself and in others, is the first step towards seeking help. Merkur encourages all players to familiarise themselves with these indicators. Some common signs include:

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you can afford or intended.
• Feeling the need to be secretive about your gambling activities.
• Chasing losses, meaning you try to win back money you have lost by gambling more.
• Gambling affecting your relationships, work, or other significant areas of your life.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Neglecting responsibilities due to gambling.
• Gambling to escape from problems or uncomfortable feelings.

If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you know, it may be time to consider taking action and seeking support. Merkur provides various tools and resources to assist you in managing your play.

Maintaining control over your gambling activities is essential for keeping it a fun and harmless pastime. Merkur advocates for a balanced approach to online gaming. We recommend several practices to help you stay in control:

• Gamble for entertainment, not as a source of income. Treat gambling as a leisure activity, similar to going to the cinema or a concert.
• Set a budget and stick to it. Decide how much money you are willing to spend before you start, and do not exceed that amount.
• Set time limits. Determine how long you will play and adhere to that timeframe. Regular breaks are beneficial.
• Never chase losses. Accept that losing is part of gambling and do not try to win back money you have lost.
• Do not gamble when you are feeling stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Your judgment can be impaired in these situations.
• Balance gambling with other activities. Ensure gambling does not become your only hobby or interest.

By following these guidelines and utilising the tools available on Merkur, you can ensure your gaming experience remains enjoyable and responsible.

Merkur provides robust tools to help you manage your spending and activity proactively. You can set personal limits on deposits, losses, and wagers within your account settings. These limits are designed to help you stay within your budget and prevent you from spending more than you can afford.

• Deposit Limits: You can set a maximum amount you wish to deposit over a specific period (daily, weekly, or monthly). Once this limit is reached, you will not be able to deposit further funds until the period resets.
• Loss Limits: This feature allows you to define the maximum amount of real money you are willing to lose over a set period (daily, weekly, or monthly). If your net losses reach this threshold, you will be prevented from placing further wagers until the limit period expires.
• Wager Limits: You can set a maximum amount for the total value of bets you place over a selected period. This helps control the overall volume of your gambling activity.

Any request to decrease a limit will take effect immediately. Any request to increase or revoke a limit will only take effect after a cooling-off period, in line with regulatory requirements, to ensure you have time to reconsider your decision. We encourage you to utilise these tools to maintain healthy gambling habits on Merkur.

If you feel you need a short break from gambling, Merkur offers flexible Time-Out and Cool-Off options. These features allow you to temporarily restrict access to your account for a defined period, helping you step back and regain perspective without committing to a full self-exclusion.

• Time-Out: You can choose to take a break from your account for periods such as 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, or a custom duration up to 6 weeks. During a Time-Out, you will not be able to log in, deposit funds, or place bets. You will receive an email notification when your Time-Out period is about to end.
• Cool-Off Period: Similar to a Time-Out, a Cool-Off period allows for a temporary break. The duration and specific functionalities may vary slightly based on jurisdictional requirements, but the core purpose remains the same: to provide a short, temporary pause from gambling activities.

These temporary breaks are an effective way to manage your gambling if you notice your play becoming more frequent or intense than you prefer. Access these options easily within your account settings.

For individuals who feel their gambling has become problematic, Merkur offers comprehensive self-exclusion options. Self-exclusion is a formal process that allows you to voluntarily close your account and prevent yourself from gambling with us for an extended period. This is a serious step for those who need significant time away from gambling.

• You can choose to self-exclude for periods ranging from 6 months to 5 years, or even permanently.
• Once a self-exclusion is activated, your account will be immediately closed, and you will be prevented from accessing any gambling services on Merkur.
• We will take all reasonable steps to prevent you from opening new accounts during your self-exclusion period.
• Any remaining funds in your account, subject to withdrawal limits and verification processes, will be returned to you.
• Reversal of self-exclusion is not possible during the chosen period. After the period expires, you may request to reactivate your account, which will involve a mandatory cooling-off period and a review process.

We strongly recommend considering self-exclusion if you are struggling to control your gambling. Our customer support team can guide you through this process and provide further information.

Merkur is strictly committed to preventing underage gambling. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 (or the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction, if higher) to gamble on our platform. We employ robust age verification procedures during the registration process and continuously monitor for any attempts by minors to access our services.

• During registration, all players must confirm they are of legal gambling age.
• We utilise third-party age verification services to confirm the identity and age of our customers.
• Any account found to belong to a minor will be immediately closed, and any winnings forfeited.
• We advise parents and guardians to use filtering software to prevent minors from accessing gambling websites.
• It is important to keep your Merkur login details confidential and secure, especially if minors have access to your devices.

Our dedication to protecting minors is unwavering, and we continuously review and enhance our measures to ensure compliance and safety.

To help you stay aware of the time you spend gambling, Merkur offers Reality Check notifications. This feature provides periodic pop-up messages during your gaming session, reminding you how long you have been playing. You can set the frequency of these reminders to suit your preferences, for example, every 30 minutes or every hour.

• When a Reality Check appears, it will display information such as the duration of your current session.
• You will then have the option to continue playing, review your account history, or log out.

These reminders are designed to encourage you to take breaks, reflect on your play, and make conscious decisions about whether to continue. This simple tool helps maintain a healthy perspective on your gambling activity and supports responsible gaming habits on Merkur.

Understanding your gambling habits is a crucial step towards responsible play. Merkur encourages all players to periodically take a self-assessment to evaluate their relationship with gambling. This involves honestly answering a series of questions about your behaviour and feelings related to gambling.

Consider the following questions:

• Do you spend more money or time on gambling than you intended?
• Have you ever felt the need to hide your gambling from others?
• Do you gamble to escape from problems or feelings of boredom or loneliness?
• Have you ever tried to stop gambling but found you couldn't?
• Has gambling caused problems in your relationships or work life?
• Do you ever feel guilty or regretful after gambling?
• Have you borrowed money or sold possessions to gamble?

Answering "yes" to several of these questions does not automatically mean you have a problem, but it does suggest that you might benefit from reviewing your gambling habits and utilising the responsible gaming tools available on Merkur. If you are concerned about your results, please consider using our limit-setting or self-exclusion options, or seeking professional help.

If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential help is available. These organisations are independent of this site and of any operator:

International support (any country)

• Gambling Therapy (free global online support in 30+ languages)
• GamCare, National Gambling Helpline · Helpline: 0808 8020 133
• Gamblers Anonymous (international 12-step fellowship, find local meetings)