Sixer · the desk's responsible-play boundary

Age and identity

All fantasy cricket operators require users to be 18 years or older. KYC includes date-of-birth verification against PAN. The desk does not publish content aimed at readers under 18. If you are under 18, please close the desk and the operator app.

The desk asks every reader to confirm two things before joining a paid contest: (a) you are 18 or older, and (b) you live in a state where paid fantasy contests are permitted under current state law. The desk's state eligibility notice board on the homepage lists the current reading. Always cross-check with the operator's published rules.

Deposit caps

The desk recommends a weekly deposit cap of no more than 2 percent of monthly disposable income. Disposable income is what's left after rent, groceries, utilities, EMIs and savings. The desk recommends a monthly contest cap of no more than 20 contests of any size, regardless of winning history.

The desk recommends setting the operator's deposit limit at the lowest amount you can sustain for four weeks without changing your lifestyle. Most operators let you set a daily, weekly and monthly limit inside the app's responsible-gaming settings. Set the limit on day one. Lower it after a winning streak — a winning streak is the most common trigger for overspend.

Time limits

The desk recommends a session limit of no more than 30 minutes per matchday window. A matchday window opens roughly 90 minutes before the toss and closes at the start of the second innings. The desk asks you to set a phone alarm and step away at the limit, win or lose.

The desk does not recommend reading captain pick essays inside the last 30 minutes before a toss. Late-window reading reacts to the wrong playing eleven and increases the chance of a contested team change. The desk's captain pick essays are published at the squad announcement, not at the toss.

Self-exclusion

If you have spent more than you intended in any week, paused your reading and noticed you cannot stop, the desk recommends a self-exclusion. Indian operators offer 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and permanent self-exclusion. Self-exclusion blocks deposits and contest entry; existing withdrawals are still processed.

To self-exclude, open the operator app, go to My Account → Responsible Gaming → Self-Exclusion, pick a window, and confirm with PAN. The operator's responsible-gaming team will email a confirmation within 24 hours. If you want a hard second step, ask a family member to hold your PAN card during the self-exclusion window.

Warning signs

The desk publishes a list of warning signs the desk asks every reader to read before joining a contest. Treat any one of these as a reason to pause: chasing losses; depositing to recover a previous deposit; hiding contest entry from a partner or a parent; borrowing to deposit; reading captain picks during work hours; skipping meals to read squad primers; feeling anxious between matches; feeling relieved only when a contest is live.

If any one of these applies this week, please pause. Pause for seven days. If the urge to deposit is still there at the end of seven days, self-exclude for at least one month. Self-exclusion is reversible only at the end of the chosen window; it is not a punishment.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is struggling with paid gaming, please contact a professional helpline. The desk publishes the current helpline list below; the list is non-exhaustive and is current as of the publication date.

iCall (TISS): +91 9152987821 (10 am to 8 pm, Mon to Sat). Vandrevala Foundation: 1860-2662-345 (24×7, multilingual). Gamblers Anonymous India: gamblersanonymous.org.in. National Mental Health Helpline: 14416.

Desk policy

The desk does not publish time-limited bonus codes. The desk does not publish deposit-match offers. The desk does not run a fantasy app, does not process deposits, and does not earn a commission per deposit. The desk's referral fee is on signup, not on deposit. The desk publishes a captain pick based on form and match-up, not on the operator's commission schedule.

The desk publishes this boundary on every matchday page. The desk does not publish content aimed at readers under 18. If you spot a desk page that is missing this boundary, please email the desk at [email protected].