Every point on this site rests on one fact: a return below 100% means the game costs money over time. Everything else follows from deciding how much that is worth to you.
The arithmetic, stated plainly
At 98% RTP, a thousand drops of one unit has an expected cost of twenty units. Variance
around that is very wide — you may finish far ahead — but the direction over enough rounds is
not in question. Anyone describing these games as an income source has either not done this
arithmetic or is not sharing it.
Signals worth taking seriously
Playing longer than intended, repeatedly.
Raising stakes to recover a deficit rather than because you chose to.
Playing with money set aside for something else.
Concealing the amount or the time from people close to you.
Relief rather than enjoyment when a session ends.
Practical measures
Deposit limits set in advance at the operator, which cannot be raised immediately.
Session time reminders.
Self-exclusion, available at licensed operators and usually irreversible for the chosen
period — which is the point of it.
Where to get help
BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) and Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org) offer free,
confidential support internationally. Gamblers Anonymous operates local groups in many
countries. Licensed operators are required to provide links to support services.
18+. If gambling stops being entertainment, stop. The game will be
there later; a bankroll spent chasing losses will not.