Responsible Online Gambling

The term ‘responsible gambling’ refers to gambling sensibly and in moderation. It’s about sticking to limits and not spending too much money. Most players manage to do this. However, a small number don’t - thankfully, help is available.

On this page, you’ll find a detailed summary of responsible gambling. We’ll explain how casinos promote it and how to keep yourself away from gambling addiction.

Responsible Gambling and Online Casinos

Online casinos offer you an exciting online experience and enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games on the Internet. They want you to sign up and spend money playing games. However, reputable & safe online casinos don’t want you to become addicted and spend more than you can afford. It doesn’t look good on them if they’re enabling players to become problem gamblers.

Some of the main things online casinos do to ensure you gamble responsibly include:

• Giving advice on controlling and limiting your gambling

• Offering a self-questionnaire to evaluate your gambling habits

• Providing links to reputable gambling addiction charities

• Supplying information about the casino’s stance on underage players

There are also some useful tools such as:

• Limits on your account that restrict how much you can deposit and lose

• The option to self-exclude from the casino

Self-exclusion is where you decide to have yourself blocked from a casino for a chosen period of time. This can be anything from a few days or months, to several years or even indefinitely. During this time, you won’t receive any marketing material from the casino. You also won’t be able to access your account under any circumstances.

Once the self-exclusion period has ended, you’ll be able to access your account again. However, you’ll have to contact customer support first. The casino will consider your request and may decide to let you start gambling again.

Every reputable online casino has a page on responsible gambling. This outlines everything the casino does to promote gambling that’s sensible and moderated. If you think you’re developing a problem, head to this page and see what help is available. If you’re still in doubt, contact customer support.

Online casinos don’t hold your hand. They expect you to be able to act sensibly and not overdo things. When you sign up to one, you’re free to spend your money as you like. However, if you find that you’re spending too much or that gambling itself is becoming too addictive, help is available.

In the list above, we mentioned gambling addiction charities. Some of the main ones are:

• GamCare

• BeGambleAware

• Gamblers Anonymous

• Gambling Therapy

Filtering Software

We’ve talked about how self-exclusion blocks you from a casino. This is a convenient option, though you have to remember to enact this at every casino you’re signed up to.

It can be effective, though what some players find more helpful is filtering software. This is a program or app that’s designed to prevent you from accessing certain websites. There are two types:

• Software that specifically denies you access to real-money gambling sites

• Less specific software that lets you choose which sites to block

Some examples of software that targets online gambling platforms are given below:

• BetBlocker

• Betfilter

• GamBlock

A particular brand of general filtering software that’s recommended is NetNanny. This is aimed at parents wanting to restrict their children’s internet usage. However, it’s also available to anyone looking to manage their own online activity. It comes with many customisation options and is an effective way of preventing you from accessing online casinos.

Gamble Responsibly

Follow the instructions below to gamble responsibly:

1. Keep gambling as a hobby

2. Only sign up to a trusted casino

3. Don’t expect to win or make a profit

4. Before you gamble, come up with a budget

5. Set a time limit as well

6. Don’t gamble if you’re tired or feeling a negative emotion

7. Don’t gamble while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

8. Stop playing when your budget or the time limit runs out

9. Have regular breaks

10. Quit if you’re not enjoying yourself

Conclusion

Stick to these guidelines and you should find yourself gambling sensibly. The key is moderation. Gambling is best enjoyed when it’s limited. Stay in control and keep your expectations low.

It is possible for you to win as well as lose money. Always bear this in mind and treat any wins as bonuses. Don’t expect them to come around because they’re never guaranteed. Play casino games for the fun of it, not for the money side of things.