Take a breath and don’t rush into spending. Consider savings or investing part of it.

If you’ve had a big windfall, we think savings at least 50% of your winnings is a good rule of thumb. And even if you didn’t win big all at once, we think you should withdraw after you’ve won a certain amount. That way your winnings don’t get flitted away without your realizing it. Make that part of your wider gambling budget plan.

Yes, that’s definitely a good idea. Pay off higher interest debts first. However, if these are gambling debts, that’s a warning sign for problem gambling. You should never play with money that you don’t have, even if you do pay it off eventually.

As long as you don’t spend it all, there’s no harm in treating yourself. As long as you can afford it, use 10-20% of your winnings on something indulgent.

Well the big thing here is setting clear limits before you’ve even won. Withdraw substantial winnings and stick to your regular gambling budgets. Setting deposit and spending limits can help with this if you gamble online.

If you’ve already maxed out your pension and cleared your debts, investing can be the next logical step. Having said that, riskier investments can be more like gambling. So talk to a reliable financial advisor before you make any major decisions.

If you’ve had a big win, friends and family might ask for a portion of your gambling winnings. Really think about it. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you can always say no. But if you can afford it and want to, a small gift can be a nice gesture. Just don’t feel pressured to share your winnings.

Donating to charity is always a good idea. Whether you’ve won big or your savings your winnings over time, it’s a nice idea to carve out part of those winnings to give to charity. Just make sure that you’re financially secure first.

Like we said before, a gambling budget is crucial when you’re doing any form of gambling at all. And we really like to create a simple spreadsheet alongside this. Get into the habit of putting in all your deposits/bets, along with wins and withdrawals. That can give you a clear picture of how much you spend overall on gambling.

We usually think it’s better to keep gambling winnings private. For the one thing, your stroke of luck might give people false hope that it can happen to them too and potentially foster some unsafe gambling habits. And it can also prevent a little unwanted attention on your end too.

It’s fine if you do it responsibly. However, sometimes, when people win big, they get a little careless. Stick to your pre-win budget and don’t go overboard. And, of course, never ever chase your losses.