Responsible Gaming at pokie

1. Our Commitment to Responsible Gaming

pokie is built on the principle that gaming should be entertaining, safe, and conducted within personal limits. We understand that for the vast majority of our players across Bangladesh — from Dhaka and Chittagong to Sylhet and Rajshahi — online casino games and sports betting are a recreational pastime enjoyed responsibly. However, we also recognise that for a small number of people, gambling can develop into a problematic behaviour that affects their finances, relationships, and mental well-being.

Our commitment to responsible gaming is not simply a policy document — it is embedded into the way we design and operate the pokie platform. Every tool described on this page is a real, actionable feature that players can access directly through their account settings or by contacting our support team. We review and update our responsible gaming measures regularly to ensure they reflect best practice and genuinely serve our players' welfare.

pokie complies with the standard responsible gaming principles adopted by reputable online gaming operators worldwide. We do not target vulnerable individuals, we do not market aggressively to players who have shown signs of problematic behaviour, and we actively monitor for patterns that may indicate a player is at risk.

2. 18+ Age Restriction

The pokie platform is strictly for adults aged 18 years and above. Gambling by minors is illegal and harmful, and pokie takes its age verification obligations seriously. We operate a zero-tolerance policy toward underage gambling.

2.1 Age Verification at Registration

All new pokie accounts are required to complete an age verification process as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure. Players must submit a valid government-issued identification document — such as a National ID Card, passport, or birth certificate — confirming that they are 18 years of age or older. Accounts that cannot complete age verification will not be permitted to deposit, wager, or withdraw funds.

2.2 Parental Controls

If you share a device with children or other household members, we strongly recommend enabling device-level parental controls to prevent access to gambling websites. Third-party filtering software can be used to block access to online gambling platforms. Please ensure that your pokie account credentials — including your username and password — are kept strictly private and are not accessible to minors in your household.

2.3 Reporting Underage Access

If you believe a minor has accessed or is attempting to access the pokie platform, please report this immediately by emailing [email protected]. We will investigate all such reports promptly and take immediate action to prevent access.

3. Recognising the Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can develop gradually and is not always easy to recognise in oneself. The following self-assessment questions are designed to help you honestly evaluate your relationship with gambling. If you answer "yes" to several of these questions, we strongly encourage you to use one or more of the player protection tools described in the sections below, or to contact our support team for guidance.

4. Player Protection Tools Overview

pokie provides a comprehensive suite of responsible gaming tools that are available to all registered players at no cost. These tools are designed to empower you to set meaningful boundaries around your gambling activity. You can access most of these tools directly from the Account Settings section of your pokie profile, or by contacting our support team via email.

5. Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is the most comprehensive player protection tool available on the pokie platform. When you activate self-exclusion, your account is fully suspended for the duration of your chosen exclusion period. You will not be able to log in, deposit, wager, or access any real-money features of the platform until the exclusion period has fully expired — and even then, reactivation requires a deliberate request rather than happening automatically.

5.1 How to Request Self-Exclusion

To activate self-exclusion on your pokie account, contact our support team at [email protected] with the subject line "Self-Exclusion Request". Please state your registered email address, your preferred exclusion duration, and confirm that you understand the terms of the exclusion. Our team will process your request and confirm the suspension within 24 hours. During business hours, most requests are actioned within a few hours of receipt.

5.2 Available Exclusion Periods

• 30-day exclusion — A short-term break recommended for players who feel they need a brief period of reflection.
• 90-day exclusion — A medium-term break suitable for players who have identified concerning patterns in their gambling behaviour.
• 6-month exclusion — A longer-term suspension for players who feel they need a substantial break to address gambling-related difficulties.
• 12-month exclusion — A one-year suspension that provides significant distance from the platform.
• Permanent self-exclusion — An indefinite account closure. This is irreversible and the account cannot be reopened under any circumstances. Recommended for players who believe they have a serious gambling problem.

5.3 What Happens During Self-Exclusion

During a self-exclusion period, your pokie account will be locked and you will be unable to log in. Any pending withdrawal requests that were in progress before the exclusion will be processed normally so that your funds are returned to you. pokie will also suppress all marketing communications to your registered email address during the exclusion period. Any remaining balance in your account at the time of exclusion will be held securely and returned to you upon verified request.

5.4 Reactivating After Exclusion

Temporary self-exclusions (30 days, 90 days, 6 months, or 12 months) do not automatically reactivate at the end of the period. You must contact our support team to request reactivation, and our team may ask you to confirm that you are comfortable resuming play and are aware of responsible gaming resources. Permanent exclusions cannot be reversed under any circumstances.

6. Deposit & Spending Limits

One of the most effective ways to manage your gambling budget is to set a deposit limit on your pokie account. Deposit limits cap the total amount you can add to your account over a defined rolling time period, helping you stay within a budget that is comfortable for your financial situation.

6.1 How Deposit Limits Work

You can set a daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limit by contacting our support team. Once a limit is set, pokie's payment system will automatically decline any deposit that would take your total deposits above the cap for that period. Limits are calculated on a rolling basis — for example, a ৳5,000 daily limit means you cannot deposit more than ৳5,000 within any 24-hour rolling window, not just within a calendar day.

6.2 Reducing and Increasing Limits

Reducing your limit takes effect immediately. If you decide you want to spend less, your new lower limit is applied as soon as our support team confirms the change. Increasing your limit, however, is subject to a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period. This delay is intentional — it gives you time to reconsider whether an increase is genuinely in your best interest, rather than acting on an impulse in the heat of a gaming session.

6.3 Recommended Starting Limits for Bangladesh Players

We recommend that all pokie players — especially those who are new to online gaming — begin their experience with a conservative deposit limit that reflects a realistic entertainment budget. As a general guide, a responsible monthly gaming budget should not exceed a small percentage of your discretionary income. pokie does not prescribe a specific figure, as financial situations vary, but we encourage every player to think carefully about what they can genuinely afford to lose before setting their limits.

7. Time-Out & Cooling-Off Periods

A time-out is a temporary suspension of your pokie account that gives you a structured break from gambling without the permanence of a full self-exclusion. Time-outs are ideal for players who feel they are spending more time or money on gambling than they intended, but who do not yet feel they need a full exclusion.

7.1 Available Time-Out Durations

• 24 hours — A one-day break to step away after an intense session.
• 7 days — A one-week pause to reset your habits and perspective.
• 30 days — A one-month break recommended for players noticing early warning signs.
• 6 weeks — The maximum temporary time-out, providing substantial distance from the platform before any re-evaluation.

7.2 How to Activate a Time-Out

To activate a time-out on your pokie account, simply email [email protected] with the subject line "Time-Out Request", stating your registered email address and your preferred duration. Time-outs are actioned within a few hours. During a time-out, all login attempts will be blocked and marketing communications will be paused. Unlike self-exclusion, a time-out can be ended at your request after the minimum duration has fully elapsed — but our support team will always encourage you to reflect before reopening access.

7.3 Combining Tools

Time-outs work best when combined with other responsible gaming tools. For example, you might use a time-out in conjunction with a reality check reminder, so that when your account is reopened you are immediately alerted to session duration. You could also set a new, lower deposit limit at the point of reactivation to give yourself a tighter budget going forward. Our support team is happy to discuss the best combination of tools for your individual situation.

8. Getting Help & Support

If you feel that gambling is becoming a problem for you or for someone you care about, reaching out for help is the most important step you can take. pokie's responsible gaming support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and all enquiries are handled with complete confidentiality and without judgement.

8.1 Contacting pokie's Support Team

To speak with a member of our responsible gaming team, send an email to [email protected] with "Responsible Gaming" in the subject line. You do not need to give a detailed explanation — simply stating that you need help is enough. Our team will respond promptly and guide you through the options available to you, whether that is setting a limit, activating a time-out, or initiating a self-exclusion.

8.2 Talking to Someone You Trust

Sometimes the most effective first step is simply telling a friend, family member, or trusted colleague about the difficulties you are experiencing. Problem gambling thrives on secrecy. Sharing your situation with someone close to you — even if that conversation feels difficult — can provide immediate emotional relief and practical support. If you are in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, or anywhere across Bangladesh and feel isolated by your gambling behaviour, please do not face it alone.

8.3 Professional Counselling and Support

For players who feel they need professional support beyond what pokie's in-house team can provide, we encourage you to seek help from a qualified mental health professional or counsellor with experience in behavioural addictions. Your general practitioner or a local health facility in Bangladesh can refer you to appropriate resources. Seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and is often the most effective path to a sustained recovery from problem gambling.

8.4 Tips for Keeping Gaming Enjoyable

• Set a budget before you start and treat it as the cost of your entertainment — not as money you expect to win back.
• Never chase losses. Increasing bet sizes in an attempt to recover money you have already lost is one of the clearest warning signs of problem gambling behaviour.
• Take regular breaks. Stand up, stretch, and step away from your screen at least once every hour during a gaming session.
• Balance gaming with other activities. pokie should be one of many leisure activities in your life, not the dominant one.
• Do not gamble when you are stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol. Emotional states impair judgment and make responsible decision-making much harder.
• Keep track of time and money. Use pokie's reality check feature to stay aware of how long you have been playing and how much you have spent.
• Remember: the house always has a mathematical edge. Gambling should be enjoyed as entertainment with an accepted cost — winning is a bonus, not a guaranteed outcome.