Gambling should be entertainment you pay for, like a movie ticket, not a way to earn money. The house edge means that over time the operator wins. This page covers how to keep it under control and where to get free help.
The basics
- 21+ only. The legal gambling age in the Philippines is 21.
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, never with money for rent, bills, school fees or debts.
- Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach either one.
- Never chase losses. Trying to win back what you lost is how small losses become big ones.
- Do not gamble when stressed, drunk or upset.
Warning signs
It may be time to take a break or get help if you:
- spend more money or time than you planned, again and again;
- borrow money, sell things or use bill money to gamble;
- hide your gambling from family or friends;
- feel anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling;
- gamble to escape problems or to win back losses.
Tools you can use today
- Deposit limits. Most betting sites, including Melbet, let you set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits in your account settings.
- Time-outs and self-exclusion. Ask the operator’s support to block your account for a set period or permanently.
- Block gambling sites and apps on your phone with parental-control or blocking apps, and remove saved cards and e-wallet links.
- Tell someone you trust, and let them help you keep to your limits.
Free help
- NCMH Crisis Hotline (Philippines): 1553 (toll-free from landlines) or 0917-899-8727 (Globe/TM), free and confidential, 24/7, in English and Filipino, for emotional distress and mental health crises.
- Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org): free, confidential online support and chat for anyone affected by gambling, in English.
- PAGCOR responsible gaming: PAGCOR runs responsible-gaming and exclusion programmes for its licensed operators. Note that these do not cover offshore sites such as Melbet.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
About this site
Melbet Casino Guide is an independent guide, not a gambling operator. Melbet is licensed in Curaçao, not by PAGCOR; read Is Melbet legal in the Philippines? for what that means.