Responsible gaming
River teaches poker without money: no real stakes, fictitious chips that cannot be bought, and nothing to win. But poker played for money, at a casino or online, carries risks: losing money and losing control of your play. This page summarises the essentials; the Responsible gaming module in the app goes further.
The Responsible gaming module in the app
The module is free and available at any time from the learning path and from Settings. It contains:
- an explanation of variance: why short-term results depend heavily on luck, even with good decisions;
- warning signs and a short self-assessment;
- the contact details of help services in each target country (Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Canada – Quebec), kept up to date in the app's content.
Good decisions do not guarantee winning
River judges your decisions, not your results. A good decision can lose a hand, a session or even a long run of sessions. No method guarantees winning at poker, and learning to play better does not make poker a reliable source of income.
Warning signs
- You bet more money or play for longer than you planned.
- You play again to try to win back what you have lost.
- You borrow, sell belongings or use money intended for essential expenses (rent, bills, food) to play.
- You hide your gambling from those close to you or lie to them about it.
- You think about gambling all the time, or you need to bet more to feel the same excitement.
- You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down or stop.
- You gamble to escape your problems, stress, sadness or boredom.
- You have tried several times to cut down or stop, without success.
- Gambling harms your work, your studies, your relationships or your health.
If you recognise yourself in one or more of these signs, talk to someone you trust or contact a help service.
Tips for staying in control
- Set yourself a budget before playing, only with money you can afford to lose, and stick to it.
- Set yourself a time limit and take regular breaks.
- Never try to win back a loss.
- Never borrow to play.
- Avoid playing under the influence of alcohol, when tired or when experiencing strong emotions.
- Consider the money you play with as the price of a leisure activity, never as an investment.
- Keep up other activities and look after your relationships.
- Use the limits and self-exclusion offered by operators and, where one exists, your country's national exclusion register.
Help services
The contact details below are to be verified before publication. The up-to-date list is in the Responsible gaming module of the app.
Switzerland
- Addiction Suisse: contact details to be verified
- SOS Spielsucht: number and website to be verified
- Centre du jeu excessif (CHUV, Lausanne): contact details to be verified
France
- Joueurs Info Service: number and website to be verified
- Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), voluntary gambling ban: procedure and contact details to be verified
Belgium
- Gaming Commission (Commission des jeux de hasard), player exclusion system (EPIS): contact details to be verified
- Help service for gamblers: to be determined (to be verified)
Luxembourg
- Help service for gamblers: to be determined (to be verified)
Germany
- Check dein Spiel: responsible body, number and website to be verified
- OASIS national player exclusion system: procedure and contact details to be verified
Austria
- Spielsuchthilfe: contact details to be verified
Canada (Quebec)
- Jeu : aide et référence: number and website to be verified
Other countries
Talk to your doctor or a local addiction help service.
In an emergency
If you or someone close to you is in danger, call the emergency services: 112 in the European Union and in Switzerland, 911 in Canada. In Switzerland, La Main Tendue answers on 143.
Our commitment
- No real stakes, no chips sold, no prizes to win.
- No advertising, no affiliation and no link to any gambling operator.
- No promise of winnings.
- An app restricted to people aged 18 and over.
- A Responsible gaming module that is free for everyone.