Scored on terms, not on the headline bonus
The score comes from wagering rules, withdrawals, verification and licence – not from the biggest advertised percentage.
Basic rules
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, never with money for rent, bills or debts.
- Set a budget and time limit before playing and use the limit tools in the casino account.
- Never try to “win back” losses.
- Do not play under the influence of alcohol, out of boredom or to suppress problems.
- Gambling is entertainment with costs, not a source of income. In the long run, the casino wins.
Set limits correctly
Most online casinos offer several types of limits in the account: a deposit limit per day, week or month, a loss limit, a betting limit and a time limit or reminder of the length of play. Swiss casinos with an ESBK license must offer such instruments; For foreign providers they are voluntary and structured differently. Set the limits before you deposit for the first time and choose a monthly limit that suits your leisure budget. A reduction usually applies immediately, an increase often only after a waiting period. This delay is intentional: it protects against decisions at the moment of a loss.
Warning signs
You play longer or with more money than planned.
After losses, increase bets to make up for them.
You hide your gambling behavior or borrow money to play.
Playing becomes more important than family, work or leisure.
If you recognize any of these warning signs, it's nothing to be ashamed of, but it is a reason to take a break. The free online self-test on sos-spielsucht.ch takes a few minutes and provides an initial assessment. Relatives can also contact the counseling centers if they are worried about someone close to them.
Game ban in Switzerland
Swiss casinos and their online offerings maintain a common blocking register. You can request a gaming ban at any Swiss casino. It then applies to all licensed casinos, land-based and online. This block does not apply to foreign providers. Use the self-exclusion function in the account and additional blocking software or bank blockages for gambling payments.
The Swiss gambling exclusion (Spielsperre) is deliberately not intended for a short break: it is valid indefinitely and a lifting is only possible upon application and with the involvement of a specialist agency. The break function or the temporary self-exclusion in the account are suitable for a shorter break. Casinos can also impose a ban on their own initiative, for example if there is evidence of excessive indebtedness, and relatives can report their observations to a casino.
ESBK blacklist
Regardless of the personal gaming ban, the Federal Casino Commission (ESBK) publishes a list of unauthorized online gambling offers that are blocked by Swiss internet providers. Players are not punished, but with such providers they lose the protection of Swiss law. To the ESBK blocked list.
Offers of help
| position | contact | Offer |
|---|---|---|
| SOS gambling addiction | 0800 040 080 · sos-spielsucht.ch | 24-hour helpline, free & anonymous, self-test, chat |
| Looking for Switzerland | addictionschweiz.ch | Information and addresses of advice centers |
| SafeZone | safezone.ch | Anonymous online addiction counseling |
| ESBK | esbk.admin.ch | Supervision, list of approved online casinos |