Separate entertainment money
Choose an amount you can afford to lose after essential bills and savings. Never use rent, credit or borrowed money. If no money is comfortably spare, the appropriate betting budget is zero.
Set limits before you begin
Set deposit, loss and time limits before a session. A stake of R10 from a R200 entertainment budget is 5% of that budget, but no percentage makes gambling safe or profitable. Use smaller stakes or do not bet if losses would matter.
Record the whole picture
Track deposits, withdrawals, stakes and net losses, not just winning slips. Count the time spent too. Review your record away from the action, and do not increase your budget to recover a loss.
Have a stopping rule
Stop when you reach your time or spending limit. Chasing losses can turn a manageable loss into a serious problem. Use a cooling-off period or self-exclusion if limits become difficult to follow; our responsible gambling page lists support.