The House Conduct

A Note on Healthy Play

Even with chips of no value, the time you spend here is real.

Monarch & Co. does not handle real money. Nothing on these tables can be lost in any monetary sense. But time is the one currency none of us can replace, and the games we offer are designed to be enjoyed unhurriedly. We mean that literally: this page is here because we would prefer you spent ten thoughtful minutes a day at our tables for years, than three lost hours in a single sitting.

1. When does social play stop being healthy?

Even free-to-play games can become a problem. Patterns to watch in yourself:

  • Returning to play despite intending to stop.
  • Feeling restless or irritable when not playing.
  • Lying about how much time you spend with the games.
  • Using play to escape feelings of stress, sadness, or loneliness rather than as a small pleasure among others.
  • Neglecting work, sleep, relationships, or hobbies because of play.
  • Chasing the feeling of a big virtual win as if it mattered.
  • Considering whether you might enjoy this more with real money on the line.

If two or more of these feel familiar, the gentle answer is: take a break. The honest answer is: speak to someone qualified, listed below.

2. Tools available here

We provide a small set of self-management tools. They live entirely in your browser; we have no record of your usage and cannot override your choices.

Session Timer

Set a maximum session length. When the time elapses, you will be reminded to step away. We do not lock you out — that would be patronising — but the reminder is firm.

Self-Exclusion

If you would like to take a deliberate break from the Establishment, you may exclude yourself for a chosen period. The site will refuse to load the games until the period has passed. To reverse it before the time is up, you must clear your browser storage manually — a deliberate friction.

3. Where to seek real help

If play here, or anywhere else, has begun to affect your life, please speak to people whose job it is to help. The following organisations offer confidential support, mostly free of charge:

4. For parents and guardians

If a minor in your care has been using the Establishment, we are sorry that our age gate did not prevent it. Please:

  • Have a conversation about what is and is not appropriate online.
  • Consider enabling parental controls on the device — Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety, or your platform's equivalent — restricting access to gambling-themed sites even where no money is involved.
  • Clear the browser storage on the device to remove the age confirmation.
  • Write to us at safeguarding@example.com if you would like our help blocking access from a particular network.

5. Our commitments

We commit to:

  • Never use dark patterns to extend session length.
  • Never simulate loss-recovery mechanics ("near miss" animations designed to encourage chasing).
  • Never push notifications or marketing emails (we do not collect email addresses).
  • Never accept payment of any kind.
  • Never redirect, partner with, or facilitate referral to real-money gambling operators.
  • Display this page prominently and review its content annually.

Take your time. The tables will still be here tomorrow.