How to Gamble Responsibly and Tips to Spot Problem Gambling
When we say ‘responsible gambling’, what do we actually mean? Who are we referring to? Responsible gambling is a very wide term that applies to all stakeholders in the business. It is essentially a collection of policies and requirements where the highest standards of quality are expected – ensuring a safe user experience for players and ensuring that they’re protected from any potential negative consequences of gambling.
Responsible gambling means that the individual needs to take responsibility for their gambling habits. It also means that the operators or software suppliers need to take the necessary steps to keep players protected.
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✖Responsible Online Gamblers
- Ensure that they decide beforehand how much they want to spend on their gambling sessions. They also decide how much time they want to spend gambling.
- Think of online gambling as a fun pastime and don’t consider it a way to generate income.
- Gamble with money that they can afford to lose in the worst-case scenario.
- Accept that the house always has the edge. This means understanding and accepting the odds.
- Don’t chase their losses; meaning that they don’t go back and try to win back their losses.
Responsible Gambling Providers
- Provide safe, secure and transparent gaming environments for their players.
- Have technology in place to identify and prevent underage gamblers from access the online casino.
- Do everything in their power to combat problem gambling.
- Have temporary and permanent self-exclusion facilities in place at the online casino.
- Encourage players to play safely and responsibly.
Responsible Gambling: Tips & Tricks
‘Responsible gambling’ is not just an idea or a concept. Instead, gambling responsibly is a decision that needs to be taken by anyone who ever spends real money playing at an online casino. Adopting responsible gambling habits early on can prevent a fun pastime from turning into a destructive addiction.
The vast majority of players will never develop a problem.
But to make sure this never happens, read the following responsible gambling tips:
Educate yourself about your online gambling activities.
Do you get behind the wheel of a car without learning the rules of the road? Obviously not! You should apply that same principle to online gambling. Read reviews about the online casinos that you intend playing at. Learn the rules of the games. Practice basic strategies. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions of bonus and promotions. All this will give you a clearer view of the world of online gambling and prevent you entering it blindly.
Practice the mantra: Gambling needs to be a fun pastime.
Just as you set aside some of your budget for movies or eating out, the same should be done with online gambling. Tell yourself that the money will be used to have fun and it doesn’t matter what the outcome is. If that money is lost by the end of your gambling session, see it as a natural outcome. If you win, see it as an added bonus. If you’re not having fun, it’s time to stop.
Set yourself strict limits.
This is the time to be tough with yourself and stick to certain limits. For example, decide how much you want to spend in your gaming session or on a weekly/monthly basis. Limit the time that you spend per gambling session so that you don’t suddenly find yourself online in the middle of the night when you have a pressing meeting the following day. Don’t make it easy for yourself to breach these limits. If you find yourself reaching for your credit card to pay for more online gambling, even though you’ve exceeded your self-imposed cap, don’t have it with you/near you when you play.
The neighbor’s grass isn’t always greener.
Don’t get caught up in the vainglorious tales told to you by your fellow online-gamblers. Your circumstances and bankroll size are not the same as the next guy’s. Just because he threw $500 per spin on a progressive jackpot game, doesn’t mean that you want/can afford to do the same. Stay focused on your own gambling. Don’t make other players’ business your own.
Gambling and booze don’t mix well.
If fact, they don’t mix at all. And nor do gambling and drugs mix, or any substance for that matter. You do not want to be in a situation where you are not in full of control of your senses when you spend money online. Just no.
Gambling is not an escape from real life.
You should not gamble online if you’re upset, had a bad day at work, are having relationship problems or you’re uptight. It could lead you to make rash decisions that you may regret later.
Age and Identity Verification at Online Casinos
One way to ensure that online gambling platforms are only used by responsible adults, gambling providers make sure that they adhere to the rules and regulations imposed by local and national governments or gambling jurisdictions. This includes keeping the platform out of reach from vulnerable players such as children and youth.
To do so, online casinos have age verification technology in place. This means that when you register a new account, you’ll be asked to verify your legal age. Some online casinos allow players 18 years old and up, while others allow you to gamble from the age of 21.
The same goes for identity verification. The online casino has to make sure that you are who you say you are. They definitely don’t want identity fraudsters opening an account, betting real money and withdrawing winnings.
A sign that an online casino takes its responsible gambling policies seriously is if you are asked to provide proof of identity when registering an account.
Today, more and more online casinos are asking for proof of identity at the point of registration, especially those online casinos that are regulated and licensed by a gambling jurisdiction. You may think that this one-time process is unnecessary and bothersome, but these policies are in place to protect you and the online casino. We suggest that you see them as a necessary part of your online gambling experience and buys you peace of mind.
Which documents will you be asked for to prove your age and identity?
- Identity card
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Other form of photographed identity document
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
How will you perform the age/identity verification process?
The process differs from site to site, but the general idea is the same:
- Request to register an account at the online casino.
- Upload copies of the required documents when asked to by the online casino.
- Enter other important information such as your name, date of birth and contact details.
- Choose your banking method. This will be used to deposit funds into your account and withdraw winnings.
- Confirm that all these are correct and that you agree to comply with the online casino’s terms and conditions.
We strongly suggest that you never try and outsmart an online casino and upload false documents or supply the wrong details. The online casino has the means and technology to reveal the truth and when it does, it has the right to withhold all funds, refuse to pay you out and close your account immediately.
Online Casino Limits
We are big fans of online casinos that have responsible gambling tools in place. Just because you’re of legal age, doesn’t mean that you will never develop a gambling problem. Why not play at sites that recognize this fact and help you remain one step ahead of the game?
We’re talking about online casinos that have self-imposed deposit limits or self-exclusion facilities in place.
This means that if you feel that you are at a point when you want or need a breather from online gambling, you have these tools at your disposal. You can pre-set limits of how much you want to spend or how long you want each gambling session to last. You can also exclude yourself from play at the casino for a limited time period, or – in extreme cases – exclude yourself altogether from playing.
In general, there are a number of limits at your disposal, depending on the online casino:
- Session Limits
- Deposit Limits
- Betting Limits
- Loss Limits
Session Limits
Sometimes all we need is a friendly reminder in the form of a pop-up message that we’ve been playing for a certain amount of time at the online casino. Time flies when you’re having fun, especially when it comes to a pastime as exciting and thrilling as online gambling. If you want a reminder that it’s time to get back to other things in your life, request session limits for a quick dose of reality and as a tool to prevent you from exceeding your limits.
Deposit Limits
The only person who truly knows how much of your budget you can afford to set aside for your online gambling sessions is you. Be honest with yourself with how much you can afford to spend and then ask the online casino to set this as a limit.
Depending on the online casino, you may be able to decide on the maximum amount that the platform will allow you to spend each day, week or month. You can request, for example, that the online casino caps your weekly deposit at $2,000. Once you ask to make a deposit on anything above this limit, the online casino will reject your request.
If you want to increase, decrease or remove these limits altogether, it can be done, but not immediately. You will need to put in a request and there is sometimes a waiting period until the changes take place. For that reason, it’s important to think about the limits that you want to set beforehand.Betting Limits
Say you’ve set yourself a deposit limit, but you have a tendency to take risks that are a little too big. You want to make sure that you don’t spend your weekly deposit limit in one day or spend half of it on one spin, for example.
If that’s the case, you can set yourself a betting limit. You’ll tell the online casino not to allow you to wager over a specific amount per bet.
Betting limits aren’t very popular and you won’t find them to be common at online casinos. Loss limits, where the player asks the online casino to limit the amount he or her can lose at the casino within a certain time period, is also not a very popular choice.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion is a tool that is offered by online casinos, allowing you to exclude yourself altogether from playing at the site. The decision to stop yourself playing is not an easy one to make, and players who reach this stage should be applauded for their self-awareness and responsible gambling habits.
There are two types of self-exclusion formats available at online casinos: Temporary and Permanent.Temporary Online Casino Self-Exclusion
Do you need a break from gambling online? Do you feel that the other tools that we mentioned above haven’t helped and you need to something more radical? Then temporarily excluding yourself from playing at a particular online casino is probably the best way to go.
Inform the online casino about the amount of time that you want to be kept from playing at the site. It could be a week or a month or several months. The choice is yours. Once that time is up, it is up to you to let the online casino know that you wish to be reinstated because this is usually not an automatic process.Win limits
Win limits can vary significantly with each casino, and you want to be able to withdraw as much of your winnings possible.
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Permanent Self-Exclusion
This is considered the most drastic form of self-exclusion, and the most far-reaching tool that you have at your disposal. You are essentially excluding yourself from playing at a particular online casino (or network of sites) on a permanent basis. You will choose this option only when you are absolutely sure that you never want to return to play at the site again. The online casino is obliged to respect your request and you will not be allowed back, no matter how much you ask in the future. One thing that definitely worth remembering: Withdraw all your funds in your account if you are eligible to do so, as once the self-exclusion clause kicks in, there is no turning back.
What to do if you have a Gambling Problem
For most of us, online gambling is a fun form of entertainment. You gamble. You win or lose. And repeat, if you so choose. A small minority may develop an unhealthy obsession with this pastime. It could be as mild as spending a bit too much at the casino, or as extreme as developing a gambling addiction.
Not all gambling problems turn into impulse-control disorder gambling addictions. There are many steps along the way until this happens, and thankfully there is a lot of help available to nip any potential problem in the bud.
But for those players who have developed a gambling addiction, this could have major affects on practically every area in their lives. Relationships, finances, employment, studies and reputation can all be negatively affected.
One of the most responsible things that you can do is admit that you are starting to develop a gambling problem. We believe that this is half the battle won.
How can you recognize if you have a gambling problem? What can you do about it? We discuss below...
Ten Ways to identify a Gambling Problem
If some or all the points below apply to you, you may have a gambling problem:
- You’re secretive about your gambling habits and activities. You lie about how you gamble or hide the truth from your loved ones.
- You have problems with control in your gambling sessions. You find it difficult to walk away at the pre-determined time or you spend more than you planned to.
- You gamble when you don’t have money to pay for this pastime. You spend money that you cannot afford to. You are spending money that is earmarked for important things in your budget such as school fees or rent. You’re taking out loans from the bank at high interest rates or even the black market in order to pay for your gambling habits. You may even be stealing to pay for your gambling.
- Your friends, family and colleagues have begun to comment about your behavior. They may use words such as “off”, “strange” or “unpredictable”.
- You think about gambling when you normally shouldn’t be. It occupies your thoughts when you’re trying to study for a test, when you’re meant to be having dinner with your girlfriend or when you’re in bed at night. You’re always thinking about where the money will come from for your next gambling session.
- You’re gambling when you’re in a bad state of mind. You find yourself gambling more when you are distressed, scared or sad.
- Gambling gives you a rush that is like nothing else that you feel in your life. As time goes on, you need longer gambling sessions or to spend more money to feel that same rush.
- You’ve tried quitting or reducing your online gambling habits, but you keep failing. You get restless or irritable when you try to cut out gambling.
- You think dark thoughts about self-harm or suicide.
- You’ve lost your job, been suspended from school or destroyed relationships with loved ones because of your gambling habits.
Gambling problems can affect players from all walks of life and at any age. There is nothing to be ashamed of if you develop a gambling problem, and you should be congratulated if you are thinking of reaching out for help.
Reach out. Speak to your friends or family. Consult with a pastor or other respected person in your community. Reach out to your school counsellor, your doctor or a psychologist.
Many countries have problem gambling hotlines. Google for their contact details.
Join groups such as Gamblers Anonymous or check out rehab groups or programs.
Remember: A problem shared is a problem halved.
FAQ
If you already recognize that you’re gambling too much, you are possibly in line to develop a bigger problem. Gambling addiction can affect parts of your life that seem solid now – unemployment, finances and reputation. It can’t hurt to get help now.
Possibly. You’re being more reckless and taking more risks when you’re upset or angry. We suggest that you find another pastime in order to relax. Take a walk. Go to the gym. Meet non-gambling friends for coffee.
That’s a very individual question. If you are spending more than you can afford to lose, or if you’re taking money out of your usual living-expenses to spend at the casino, then you may be developing a gambling problem.
It depends on the self-exclusion program you chose. If it was temporary self-exclusion, you will be able to ask to be reinstated after the pre-determined exclusion period is over. If you chose permanent self-exclusion, then unfortunately – or fortunately – you cannot return to play on that particular platform.
Remember the golden rule: Gambling should be fun and stress-free. It is not a way to get rich quick, nor is it a solution to all your troubles. Know the rules, set yourself limits and don’t chase losses.
A gambling addict typically lies about his gambling habits, spends money at the casino even if he can’t afford to and can become withdrawn and distant. If you believe that a loved one has a gambling problem, pick up the phone and call a gambling hotline. They will be able to guide you on how to deal tactfully with the issue.
There are many, but we believe these:
- You’re always preoccupied with gambling – planning your next gaming session and/or how to get more money to gamble.
- You need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill.
- You try to control your gambling habits, but you’re simply unable to. You feel restless and irritable when you do.
- Gambling has affected important areas of your life: Your job, your relationships, your finances, your reputation.
