Play responsibly
Learning a game with virtual coins is harmless fun for most people. It can still feed habits that are not, and real gambling is a different thing altogether. This page is about keeping it all in proportion.
What practice here does, and does not, mean
Nothing on this site costs money and nothing can be won. Your coin balance is a learning aid. A good run at the practice table is luck, the same as a bad one, and it tells you nothing about how you would fare in a casino. Every real baccarat bet carries a house edge, which lesson 3 explains, and that edge does not go away however well you know the rules.
Simple habits that help
- Decide how long you will play before you start, and stop when the time is up.
- Take regular breaks. Step away from the screen, stretch, have a drink of water.
- Do not play to escape worry, boredom or low mood.
- If you ever gamble for real, set a money limit you can afford to lose and never chase losses.
- Keep gambling, real or practice, away from children and young people.
Signs that gambling may be a problem
Gambling harm can creep up quietly. It may be worth talking to someone if you, or a person close to you:
- spend more time or money on gambling than intended, or feel restless when trying to cut down;
- borrow money, sell things or miss bills because of gambling;
- hide gambling from family or friends, or argue about it;
- gamble to win back what has been lost;
- feel anxious, guilty or low because of gambling.
Free, confidential help in the UK
- National Gambling Helpline
- Call 0808 8020 133, free, 24 hours a day, run by GamCare. Live chat is on the GamCare website.
- BeGambleAware
- Advice, self-assessment and routes into free treatment at begambleaware.org.
- GAMSTOP
- Free self-exclusion from online gambling sites licensed in Great Britain, for six months, one year or five years, at gamstop.co.uk.
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Peer support meetings across the UK, listed at gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
- NHS
- Specialist gambling clinics in England accept self-referrals. Search for "NHS help for problem gambling" or ask your GP.
Tools on this site
You can sign out at any time from your purse in the header, which clears your nickname and coins from this browser. If you would prefer not to visit at all, browser extensions and blocking software can stop this or any site from loading on your devices. Under-18s are not allowed to use Baccarat Instructions.