No purchase is required to play, which makes the model sound harmless. The mechanics are the same as any casino game: variable rewards, near misses, and a coin pack one click away the moment a free balance empties. That last part is where the risk sits.

Signs worth acting on

• Buying a coin pack after deciding you would use free routes only
• Sessions running longer than intended, or losing track of time
• Chasing a floor after the games stopped being fun
• Keeping the time or money spent from people close to you
• Feeling restless or irritable when you cannot play

Controls every operator provides

• Purchase limits: a hard cap per day, week or month, and the single most effective control
• Session reminders: a prompt at an interval you set
• Cool off: a short lock from a day to a month
• Self exclusion: a long or permanent closure, requested in writing

Worried about someone else

Talk about the behaviour rather than the person, do not cover debts, and point them at the helpline rather than trying to manage it alone.

Under eighteen

These games are for adults only. If a young person shares your device, the parental controls in your operating system are worth ten minutes.