Your online gambling year in review
YIf you’re anything like us, your social media feeds are currently being taken over by everyone’s shares of their Spotify Wrapped for 2025. And while it’s fun (and often illuminating) to find out what everyone listens to throughout the year, we thought it could be just as revealing to do the same for our online gambling. Which is why we’re here to initiate a ‘2025 Gaming Year in Review’!
Of course, it’s nothing quite as formal as Spotify or other apps, but we think that going back over our gambling behaviour, patterns and habits over the past year could be hugely helpful in guiding how we gamble in the year ahead. And we encourage you to do the same kind of self-reflection.
So, as the year winds down, let’s all take a minute to ask ourselves, how did our gambling really go? And let’s leave the shame and self-recrimination out of it. This isn’t a negative exercise. It’s one that we want to use to look at our gaming in a balanced, freeing and empowering way.
Whether you logged onto your casino once a month or a few times a week, this kind of contemplation is your chance to end the year with a clear head and start the next one rejuvenated and refocused. No guilt. No drama. Just awareness, insight, and a fresh start. Let’s do this!
1. Let’s start with the basics – budget year
We know it’s probably the one you want to think about the least, which is why we’re starting with it first on purpose. Your budget! Come on, let’s rip that band-aid off together and take a look at where we’re at.
As you know, every successful gambling session starts with a clear budget. An amount that you can not only afford to spend, but afford to lose as well. Whether you choose to break your gambling budget up into a monthly, weekly or per session amount, it’s crucial that you have a specific amount of money set aside solely for your gambling. An amount that comes out of your entertainment budget. And doesn’t affect the money you’ve set aside for other financial responsibilities.
We can’t stress just how important this is. Not only for your financial health, but for your mental health as well.
So, have a think back over the past year as far as your budget goes, and ask yourself these questions:
Did you set yourself a budget?
Were you able to stick to the budget you planned?
Did you sometimes go a little over your budget?
Ever chase your losses?
Your gambling ever eat into any money set aside for something else?
Gambling for Your Budget This Year
Two things are important here. One. That you answer every question honestly. And two. That you don’t assign any guilt or blame to the answers. What’s done is done, and even if things didn’t go exactly according to plan. If you’re able to learn from the experience and move forward as a better, more responsible gambler. There was still value in the lesson.
Even if you struggled considerably, going back over your actions is still a hugely helpful exercise. You’ll be able to pinpoint where and why you went wrong. And you’ll be able to set firmer boundaries next year, such as:
Lowering your monthly limit
Using built-in casino tools like deposit limits or loss limits to help manage your finances
Splitting your gambling money into smaller weekly or session portions
Only depositing an amount that you can afford to lose
Of course, if you were able to stick to your budget consistently throughout the year, then well done! That’s literally a win, and a sign that you’re a responsible, self-aware, financially conscious player.
But whether your year went well, or there’s room for improvement, remember that budgeting isn’t about restriction. It’s about the freedom to play with zero stress or anxiety. Focus on that, and financial management should come a lot more easily to you in the year ahead.
2. How did your gambling make you feel?
Have you even stopped to ask yourself that question? Let’s do it now, then. Did you actually ENJOY your online gambling? Was it fun, entertaining, thrilling, all the things?
We hope so, because the ultimate objective of online gambling is that it should feel like a welcome break – an exciting activity to take part in during your day that adds value and enjoyment to your life. The way any other much-loved hobby or pastime would.
If, however, you realize that your gambling over the past year has felt more like:
A habit you do without thinking
A way to pass the time when bored
A coping mechanism
A pattern you fall into passively rather than choose actively
When Gambling Stops Feeling Like a Choice
Then there’s a problem. Because online gambling shouldn’t feel like a chore. It should feel like fun. There’s no point wasting time and money on something if you’re not at least enjoying it. So to make sure you get the most entertainment value from your gambling as possible over the next year, start thinking about the answers to these questions:
Which games did you genuinely enjoy?
The games made you feel frustrated or stressed?
And the games that felt repetitive or boring?
How often did you play because you actually wanted to?
How often did you play because you were stressed or restless?
Just thinking a little about your gaming behaviour over the past year can help you reframe it more positively going forward. For example:
If a certain game makes you feel frustrated or emotional, just stop playing it
If you enjoyed playing in tournaments, join in more going forward
If you wanted to feel more of a social vibe than a solo one, give live dealer games a shot
Your gaming should always be enjoyable. So if you’ve started forgetting what that means, just refine your definition a little. 2026 is the year of having fun. That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it!
3. What did you learn over the past year?
You might not even realize that you’ve learned anything. But think about it. If you’ve been playing throughout the year, even sporadically. Something’s bound to have stuck with you. So let’s figure out what that is.
Maybe you’ve learned:
How volatility affects your slot experience
Why bankroll management matters
That some providers suit your playing style and others don’t
That you prefer long, low-stakes sessions to short, high-stakes ones
That chasing giant jackpots just isn’t your vibe
How to understand bonus terms and conditions (FINALLY!!)
How live blackjack strategies actually work
That autoplay just isn’t for you (you really like hitting that spin button)
That certain games drain your balance faster (who knew?)
Or maybe you’ve learned things we haven’t even listed. Either way, no matter how big or small, every lesson you’ve taken on board is valuable, and one that you can use to help build a more successful gambling journey for yourself in the year ahead.
Once you’ve thought about what you’ve learned, you can use that information to help put together some gaming goals for the new year, such as:
Trying a new game type (like moving from slots to table games)
Learning the basics of Blackjack strategy
Exploring different slot mechanics
Researching RTP and volatility, and understanding why they’re important to game selection
Understanding bonus terms and conditions
Once you’ve got your goals in place, you’ve got something to focus on for the year ahead, which means you’ll be playing with focus and purpose. Which is already a win in itself!
4. What would you like to do differently next year?
Ok, we’ve done the ‘looking back’ part. The reflection segment of the year in review. Now it’s time to look forward and set yourself strategies for success.
Obviously everyone (or at least most people) want to win more money at the casino. But that’s not a realistic goal, unfortunately, as online gambling outcomes can’t be controlled. They’re random and independent, which means if you’re basing your goals on something that’s hit or miss, you’re bound to end up disappointed and frustrated.
Now, we don’t want you going down that route. We want your gambling to bring you joy, thrills and excitement. So rather than setting an impossible goal like winning more money. Base your goals on actions or behaviours you can control, like:
Playing less frequently but more intentionally
Choosing games that stretch your budget further
Sticking to low volatility slots to reduce risk
Trying more skills-based games like Blackjack or Poker
Using deposit limits to help you manage your finances more responsibly
Avoiding bonuses with unreasonable wagering requirements
Taking regular gambling breaks throughout the year to give yourself a breather
Using reality checks to stay aware of your session length and gamble more responsibly
Stopping gambling when you’re tired, stressed or frustrated
Why are these goals achievable? Because they’re based on your behaviour, which you can control, rather than on outcomes, which you can’t. So, start thinking now about which goals you’d like to put in place for the year ahead. And start your new gambling journey from a positive, constructive space.
5. Celebrate the wins that aren’t about money
That’s right – winning at the casino isn’t about raking in huge jackpots, believe it or not. In fact, often healthy, successful gambling has very little to do with winning big, and more to do with controlling your behaviour, your habits and your responses. Because when you can make clear-headed, rational, informed decisions in any circumstances. That’s when you’ve hit the big time!
So think about it. What kind of wins can you celebrate that had nothing to do with winning money? Perhaps you:
Walked away from a game rather than chasing your losses
Stuck to your deposit, session, win or loss limits
Took a break when you needed one
Found a new game you loved
Resisted the urge to place big bets ‘just because.’
Involved in the community aspect of online gambling
Learned a new gambling strategy
Spent less time gambling and more time living
Played more mindfully and logically
Avoided going on tilt
Improved your discipline
Treated your gambling like entertainment, and not a way to generate income
You might not have realized it at the time, but all these wins matter. They’re signs of maturity and balance. The type of behaviour that can help you manage your bankroll effectively and make your gambling sustainable in the long-term. And those are wins worth celebrating!
6. Let go of the moments you regret
If you’re anything like us, while you do remember the high points of your gambling journey, you remember the low points even more vividly. And for some irritating reason, your brain just loves going back over them again and again, torturing you needlessly with the idea of ‘what if’. It’s beyond frustrating!
What might help is the realization that ALL of us, no matter how experienced we are. Have online gambling moments that we just wish had gone differently. Common missteps include:
Sessions that run for far too long, leading to overspending
Misplayed bonuses that eventually become null and void
Deposits are made when tired, leading to too much money being spent
Bankrolls are decimated through chasing losses
Games stayed in out of frustration, with more money spent than won
Expensive promotions that were entered without the terms and conditions being checked
Turning Regret Into Something Useful
Any of these sound familiar? Whether you’ve made some of these mistakes or completely different ones, don’t let the regret eat away at you. Guilt and remorse are completely normal consequences of poor decision-making (and we should know!) but they’re also completely unhelpful emotions. Rather, leave them in the old year where they belong, and carry a newfound sense of purpose and positivity with you into 2026.
Instead of replaying those moments again and again until they drive you mad, rather think about what those moments taught you. If you’re able to learn from them, you can turn a negative into a positive and use the lessons to:
Set firmer boundaries for yourself
Establish clearer limits for your gaming spend and session length
Develop more self-awareness about your gambling behaviour
Create stronger habits that help you become a better player
Remember, reflection isn’t about guilt – it’s about growth. Get that part right, and your mistakes become valuable teaching moments that ultimately boost your skills overall. And that’s the best lesson to learn here.
7. Set a gambling blueprint for the year ahead
Ok, you’ve done your reflection, and you’ve started strategizing. Now let’s continue that healthy momentum and start setting you up for the year ahead. A gambling blueprint is the best way to do this – a point-by-point plan of how you’re going to play, what you’re going to play, and how you’re going to work towards becoming a stronger, more successful player overall.
Now that you’ve reflected, it’s time to build a plan that sets you up for a healthy year ahead.
Here’s a simple blueprint you can use, or build on to create one of your own:
1. Decide how often you want to play. Do you log on randomly and play impulsively? Curb this behaviour by deciding just how often you actually want to play. Either weekly, monthly, or perhaps when a specific type of promotion is on offer. You’ll be able to streamline your gameplay and spend less recklessly as a result.
2. Set yourself firm budget limits. And decide whether you want to split that budget up into daily, weekly or monthly limits, or even session limits. By being strict with your budget and your spending, you’ll be able to manage your finances more responsibly and play for longer over time. Always remember. Your gambling budget is your entertainment spend, not your income stream.
3. Make a list of games you genuinely enjoy. Life’s too short to play games that don’t excite you. If you stick to the games that brought you joy this year, you’ll look forward to your gaming more, and you’ll bring happy, positive energy into the casino with you, which is always the best type of mindset to start from.
Creating a Healthier Game Plan Going Forward
4. Make a list of games you’re letting go of. Similarly, it’s just as important to take note of games you didn’t enjoy so much this year – so you can leave them out of your play schedule going forward. While we always encourage players to try new things and test different games out, there’s no point in playing a game you don’t like ‘just because’. Gambling is about having fun, so if there’s a game out there that caused you frustration or drained your mood, wave goodbye – it’s out!
5. Decide what tools you’ll use. All reputable casinos offer a variety of responsible gambling resources to help you manage your gameplay, and it’s important that you make use of the ones most helpful to you. These tools usually include:
Deposit limits
Reality checks
Session timers
Cool-off breaks
Self-exclusion (if needed)
You might not need all of these, but even just using one or two could benefit your gaming and your mindset significantly. Decide now which ones work best for you and build them in early – that way you already have a support system in place if things don’t go according to plan.
Your Blueprint for Smarter Play Next Year
6. Build in at least one break next year. You already know that taking regular breaks during your gaming sessions can help you stay clear-headed and focused. But did you know that taking actual time off between sessions can help reset your habits and put you on the path to success? Next year, commit to a period of time with zero gambling, such as a week or a month – then come back when you’re fully refreshed. You’ll appreciate your gambling even more, and you’ll have a renewed sense of purpose.
7. Choose a learning goal. If you want to grow and develop as an online gambler, you need to commit to learning just as much as playing. Which is why setting yourself a particular learning goal can be hugely beneficial. Whether you want to learn a new strategy, a new game, or simply understand a concept like RTP or volatility more fully, committing to learning something new can be incredibly empowering to you as a player, and to your overall game as well.
8. It’s the reflection that makes it fun!
Worried about whether taking your gambling ‘too seriously’ will end up ruining all the fun? Look at it this way – you’re not thinking too much, you’re preparing just enough. Because when you’re more aware of elements like your limits, preferences, habits, patterns and playing style, you’ll get more out of your online gambling as a whole.
You won’t be playing from a place of stress or impulse. Instead, you’ll be playing with intention, clarity and control. You’ll be actively managing your gambling and your playing style, rather than passively reacting to things as they happen. You’re the one who’ll be in control, no matter how random the outcome. And that quiet assurance and confidence is what will give you the edge and ensure your success.
Start the new year right!
Before you freak out and start overhauling your entire gambling persona, take a deep breath. Our review isn’t meant to make you panic or feel bad. That’s the intention behind this year’s gambling review. It’s not a punishment, it’s a gift.
Taking a calm, level-headed look back at your gaming over the past year can help give you clarity, balance, appreciation and confidence, allowing you to build better habits and steer you in a new direction for the year to come.
Best of all? You’ll be able to start January with a clear mind, a fresh perspective, and a healthier relationship with your favourite games. No guilt, no doubts, no recriminations. Just a clean slate to start from and positivity and growth ahead.
So here’s to wrapping up your gambling year with reflection, not regret, and stepping into a brand-new one with knowledge, strategic thinking. And a whole lot of excitement to look forward to!