Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can affect anyone. These are some of the most common warning signs:

  • Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
  • Feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling
  • Chasing losses — trying to win back money you have lost
  • Borrowing money or selling belongings to fund gambling
  • Lying to family or friends about how much you gamble
  • Gambling interfering with work, studies, or family responsibilities
  • Gambling to escape problems or relieve stress
  • Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop gambling
  • Feeling guilt or shame after gambling sessions
  • Continuing to gamble despite experiencing financial hardship

If you recognise three or more of these signs, we encourage you to take the self-assessment below and consider reaching out for support.

Self-Assessment Quiz

Answer these 5 questions honestly. This quiz is not a clinical diagnosis — it is a tool to help you reflect on your gambling habits. No data is stored or transmitted.

1. In the past 12 months, have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?

2. Have you ever tried to cut back on gambling but found it difficult?

3. When you are not gambling, do you feel restless, irritable, or anxious?

4. Have you ever gambled to escape personal problems, stress, or to improve your mood?

5. Have gambling losses affected your ability to pay for essential expenses (rent, food, bills) in the last 12 months?

How to Self-Exclude from Maxim88

If you feel you need to take a break from gambling, Maxim88 provides several self-exclusion options that take effect immediately:

1

Log In to Your Account

Sign in to your Maxim88 account on the website or app.

2

Go to Account › Responsible Gambling

Navigate to the Responsible Gambling section within your account settings.

3

Choose Your Limit or Exclusion Period

Select from deposit limits, cooling-off periods (24 hours to 6 months), or permanent self-exclusion. Permanent self-exclusion cannot be reversed — your account will be closed and all funds will be returned.

4

Contact Live Chat if Needed

If you cannot access your account settings, contact Maxim88 live chat and request immediate account suspension or self-exclusion. This will be actioned without question.

Available Self-Regulation Tools

Daily Deposit Limits Weekly Deposit Limits Monthly Deposit Limits Session Time Reminders Loss Limits Cooling-Off Periods Reality Check Alerts Temporary Self-Exclusion Permanent Self-Exclusion

Help Organisations & Helplines in Malaysia

All services below are free, confidential, and available to Malaysian residents.

OrganisationContactHours
NCPG Malaysia (National Council on Problem Gambling) 1800-6-368-3946 24/7
Befrienders KL (emotional support) 03-7627-2929 24/7
MIASA (Mental Illness Awareness & Support) 03-7782-5499 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
AADK (Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan) 1800-88-0123 24/7
GamCare (international) gamcare.org.uk 24/7 (online chat)
Gamblers Anonymous Malaysia gamblinganonymous.org See website for meetings

Tips for Healthier Gambling

  • Set a budget before you start — Decide how much you can afford to lose and stop when you reach that limit.
  • Never chase losses — Trying to win back money you have already lost is a primary driver of problem gambling.
  • Treat it as entertainment, not income — Online casino games are designed to return less than 100% to players over time. They should be played for fun, not as a financial strategy.
  • Use deposit limits — Set daily, weekly or monthly limits in your Maxim88 account to stay within your budget automatically.
  • Take regular breaks — Enable session time reminders to step away every hour.
  • Do not gamble when upset or stressed — Emotional gambling typically leads to larger bets and more losses.
  • Balance gambling with other activities — If gambling is becoming a primary leisure activity, it may be time to introduce other hobbies.

Parental Controls

If you share devices with children or teenagers, enable parental controls to prevent access to gambling sites:

  • iOS: Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions › Web Content › Limit Adult Websites
  • Android: Google Family Link or device-level parental controls in Settings › Digital Wellbeing
  • Router-level: Configure DNS filtering on your router (e.g., CleanBrowsing, OpenDNS) to block gambling categories for your entire home network.