Responsible gambling: keeping video poker in proportion

Why video poker needs a plan

Video poker moves fast. A hand is dealt, held, drawn and paid in a few seconds, and there is no wheel to watch or dealer to wait for, so a session can run to hundreds of hands before you look up. Because every hand asks you to choose which cards to keep, it can feel like a test of skill. Good choices do cut the house edge, but the edge is still there on every deal, and the machine always has the longer run.

Near misses add pressure. Four cards to a royal flush look like a prize that almost happened, and Double or Nothing offers a quick way to win back a bad patch. Both are reasons to set limits before the first deal, not after.

Warning signs worth taking seriously

• Sessions regularly run longer than you meant, or you play to escape stress or boredom.
• You move up to 5 coins or a higher coin value to win back what you have lost.
• You take Double or Nothing mainly to recover losses.
• You use money meant for rent, food, transport or debt, or you borrow to keep playing.
• You hide your play from people close to you, or feel restless and irritable when you cannot play.
• You think of video poker as a way to fix money worries.

One of these on its own is a signal to pause. Several together are a reason to call the helpline.

A budget that suits video poker

1. Choose a rand amount for the session that you can afford to lose completely, and treat it as spent.
2. Pick a coin value that lets that amount last. Five coins at the top coin value is R25.00 a hand.
3. Set a timer or a hand count, because video poker gives you no natural break.
4. Decide whether you will use Double or Nothing at all, and stick to that.
5. When the amount is gone, stop. Do not top up the same day.

Springbok's own limits and self-exclusion

Springbok's responsible-gaming page lists self-exclusion for a period of the player's choice (minimum one month) and daily or monthly deposit limits, both arranged by contacting Springbok Verified · 9 Oct 2026 (opens the source). Support answers by live chat in the lobby and by email at help@springbokcasino.co.za. A Springbok article also says support can send session reminders on request; that is Springbok's own description of the service.

A deposit limit is easiest to set when you feel calm about your play, so it is there when you need it. Self-exclusion is for when you want a firm break: ask for a period long enough to matter, and remove saved logins from your phone so the lobby is not one tap away.

Where to get help

• NRGP helpline: 0800 006 008, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselling, assessment and referral to treatment are free.
• WhatsApp: 076 675 0710 to ask for a counsellor.
• In crisis: the SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567, 24 hours a day.
• Family members: the programme also supports relatives affected by someone else's gambling. More at responsiblegambling.org.za.

You do not need to be sure you have a problem before you call. Asking early is the point.