Whatever you are going through, you are not alone, and asking for help is a sign of strength.
Entertainment, Not Income
The most important rule is simple: gaming is a form of entertainment, never a way to earn money, pay bills or recover debts. Any game involving chance can go against you, and even skill-based games carry real uncertainty.
In India, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits offering, operating, advertising and facilitating online money games, whether based on skill, chance or both, and bars banks and payment systems from processing payments for them. It also promotes e-sports and online social games. Please check the law that applies to you.
Be wary of anyone promising easy income from gaming, because such claims are a common sign of a scam.
Setting Strict Limits
Healthy habits start with boundaries you set before you play, not during. Decide your limits when you feel calm, and stick to them.
- Time: Set a timer for each session and take regular breaks away from screens.
- Money: Keep a small, fixed entertainment budget for in-app purchases or paid content, and never borrow to spend more.
- Mood: Avoid playing when you are stressed, upset, lonely or after drinking alcohol.
- Priorities: Put sleep, work, studies and relationships first.
- Tools: Use your phone's screen-time or digital-wellbeing settings to track and cap app usage.
Write your limits down or share them with a friend; saying them out loud makes them easier to keep.
Warning Signs
Problems often build slowly. Be honest with yourself if you notice any of these signs:
- Spending more time or money than you planned, again and again
- Chasing losses or trying to "win back" money
- Hiding your gaming from family or friends
- Feeling restless, anxious or irritable when you cannot play
- Borrowing money or missing bills because of gaming
- Neglecting work, studies, sleep or relationships
- Thinking about gaming constantly, even during work, meals or time with family
If one or more of these feel familiar, it is a good moment to pause and reach out for support. Noticing the signs early is a real strength.
Seek Help & Self-Exclusion
Taking a break is a positive, practical step. These self-exclusion steps can help you create some distance:
- Close or self-exclude from any gaming accounts you hold, using the account settings.
- Delete gaming apps and block gaming websites with your device's content-blocking or parental-control tools.
- Unsubscribe from promotional emails, SMS messages and app notifications.
- Ask your bank about card or payment controls that limit unwanted transactions.
- Tell a trusted friend or family member and ask them to help you stay accountable.
Please consider speaking to a doctor or a licensed mental-health professional, who can offer confidential, judgment-free support. You can also call Tele-MANAS, the government mental-health helpline, on 14416. Support works best early, so there is no need to wait until things feel serious.
If you are worried about someone else, approach them gently, listen without judgment and encourage them to seek help.