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Responsible Gambling

While most players can enjoy online gambling responsibly and play within their means, the same cannot be said for all players who log on to online casinos. Some players out there do not play within their limits and this is when things can quickly spiral out of control. This page is dedicated to preventing this activity; you will learn all there is to know about problem gambling, which will identify whether you yourself are a problem gambler or if someone you know is. We will give you all the information you need to stop any instances of problem gambling and direct you to places where you can seek help.

Responsible Gambling: What Does it Mean?

In simple terms, responsible gambling is a combination of strategies and practices that guarantees a gambling business runs operations in a way that is ethical, safe, and enjoyable for players. It centres around the concept that online casinos should keep gamblers engaged without letting things spiral out of control. The main goal for the player should not be to earn money but to stay entertained while gambling.

Responsible gambling policies exist to prevent the behaviours mentioned above, and should they arise, quickly recognise and resolve them. Such an approach seeks to mitigate possible risks for gamblers and operators. It underlines a strong dedication to player well-being and proficient management practices within the gambling industry.

Nowadays, the concept of responsible gaming is taking centre stage in the online gambling sector. Safety and player well-being have become important considerations, altering the entire landscape of the ever-evolving industry. Although the fundamentals of Responsible Gambling are not exactly new, they are now a top concern for all stakeholders associated with iGaming, including operators, regulators, and players.

Such an approach may seem intimidating to gambling operators since it entails restricting players for their well-being. However, Responsible Gambling is not just a prerequisite but an effective tool for companies to cultivate a substantial and engaged audience over the long term, uphold favourable relationships with regulatory bodies, and promote a solid reputation in the market.

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What is Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling gambling is the opposite of responsible gambling, where individuals start developing damaging behaviours while betting. Also known as gambling addiction or compulsive gambling, problem gambling stops individuals from being able to control their gambling urges despite the repercussions. This behaviour damages relationships with family and loved ones and interferes with work, causing problems in different areas of life.

Problem gambling is a recognised condition and is treatable with different forms of therapy, such as counselling, group meetings, and, in some cases, even medication.

Misconceptions about Problem Gambling

First things first, we will debunk some myths about problem gambling. Have a look at the main misconceptions surrounding gambling problems and see if you have been guilty of believing them.

Gambling Regularly Indicates a Problem โ€“ This is not true; many people can play daily without issue. The problem begins when you spend all day everyday gambling, and it gets in the way of other more important aspects of your life. Playing a couple of hands of blackjack as a means to unwind after youโ€™ve been at work and are on your way home to see friends or family is not an issue.

It is only when you cut out work or social time and spend all your time playing blackjack that it becomes a problem. On the contrary, if you play once a month but when you do play, you spend more than you can afford, then this is a bigger problem than the person who plays within his limits every day.

Losing Too Much Money is the Issueโ€“ While money is a big part, problem gambling can cause much more damage than this. A key issue is relationships. Of course, when someone steals from friends or family, this is linked to money, but even lying about the habit of ditching friends to gamble can also be an issue.

Once the relationships go then it is a slippery slope. It can also have a detrimental effect on your mental health and how you value yourself.

Problem Gamblers Are Escaping Problems in Their Lives โ€“ This is not always the case and is a very sweeping accusation. Many people had a perfectly normal life before gambling, then one thing led to another, they didnโ€™t know the implications of what they were doing and then suddenly, they have a problem. You shouldnโ€™t think you are exempt from gambling problems as this can often lead to reckless behaviour. However, yes, those with existing problems will be more prone to these behaviours, but it can happen to anyone.

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Signs of Problem Gambling

Now that we know what isnโ€™t right, it is time to examine what issues are at the core of responsible gambling. Below, you will find a list of the tell-tale signs of problem gambling:

Sound familiar? Well, then you need to have a look at yourself and consider that you have a problem. This is the first step. In the next few sections, you will learn more about what it takes to overcome problem gambling.

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Gambling Dos and Donโ€™ts

Here are some essential dos and donโ€™ts that can assist you in playing responsibly at online casinos and other betting venues to keep your gambling in check.

DOs

DONโ€™Ts

Important Responsible Gambling Tools

While these doโ€™s and donโ€™ts are a good jump-off point, we understand it is not always easy. Luckily, casinos offer a variety of different options that can help ease the temptation of being drawn back into online gambling.

Below are the measures licensed operators are required to adopt to ensure a more Responsible Gambling environment for all parties involved:

If you are interested in any of these services, your online casinoโ€™s customer support service should be on hand to help with this.

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Understanding Your Betting Behaviour: How to Check Your Playing History

To effectively monitor and control your gambling behaviour, a good rule of thumb is checking your playing history. If you want to take a proactive approach towards gambling responsibly, follow these 6 steps to stay updated with your habits so gambling remains an enjoyable, safe activity:

1. Sign In to Your Account

First, start by logging into your betting account either online or through an app if applicable.

2. Go to Your Account Settings

You should have an option to go to your account, such as ”User Profile”, ”Account”, or ”My Account”, where you can usually find your account and personal information.

3. View Your Betting History

There should be a dedicated section to view your betting history from within your account settings, labelled as ”Gaming History”, ”Transaction History”, ”Betting History” or something along those lines.

4. Examine Your Transactions

Now you can view a detailed history of your betting, examine the amounts wagered, dates when you played, the bet types, and the results of your bets. You might even have information on the types of games or events you placed your bets on.

5. Review the Patterns

Analyse how often you gamble, how much money you spend, and what games or events you place bets on. Observe any particular patterns or trends, like inclinations of wagering more when you lose or increasing how much you gamble during certain periods.

๐Ÿ’ก Some platforms have filters to view your history based on periods of time and tools to visualise your data further. These can be useful to gain a deeper understanding of patterns and to manage your data.

6. Evaluate and Modify

Depending on your findings, make evaluations if you need to make changes to your gambling habits. If you notice any worrying trends, consider adding the limits discussed and contacting the casino’s customer service for more support.

Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Exclude

Self-exclusion is a responsible action to take for individuals who feel that their gambling behaviour has become a problem. While self-exclusion varies depending on your country of residence, these are the steps you will generally have to follow:

1. Decide on the Range of Self-Exclusion

Start by assessing whether you need to self-exclude from land-based casinos, online sites, or both. If you want to go the extra mile, consider excluding from a wider network of casinos instead of specific casinos.

2. Reach Out to the Gambling Operator

For land-based casinos or betting shops, you can ask the customer service desk for more information on self-excluding. If self-excluding from online gambling sites, their responsible gambling section should have the option to self-exclude. You can also speak to their customer service for more assistance.

3. Join a Self-Exclusion Program

Depending on your country of residence, you can register with a national self-exclusion program to be excluded from gambling-related activities within your country. For instance, you can register with GAMSTOP if you’re based in the UK. You must complete the required forms, which usually require your personal details and period of exclusion.

4. Provide a Form of Identification

For the casino operator or program to fully enforce the self-exclusion request, they might need a copy of your identification and photograph.

5. Verify the Self-Exclusion

You must verify the details provided to complete the self-exclusion registration and ensure you have received a confirmation that it has been processed.

6. Get Additional Support

You’ve done great so far, but consider reaching out to gambling addiction resources such as support groups or counselling services to help tackle any underlying issues.

7. Stay Up to Date

Keep a record of any documentation or confirmation emails relevant to your self-exclusion application. Have a look at the terms, specifically the start and end dates.

Useful Blocking Apps

If you need a hand when it comes to gambling self-control, there are multiple helpful apps that can assist in avoiding temptation. Three of the most popular options are:

How to Block Gambling Transactions

You can block payments from your bank account or debit card as a proactive approach, which is an important step to preventing problem gambling and an effective tool for managing your gambling habits. Below, find a step-by-step guide on how you can usually do this:

1. Sign Into Your Internet Banking Account

You’ll have to first log in to your internet banking account, either through the bank’s website or app.

2. Go to Card Settings

Navigate to the settings section for your debit card; it is usually labelled ‘Card Settings’, ‘Security Settings’, or an equivalent.

3. Search for the Gambling Block Feature

Locate the options that let you block transactions, which can be found as ”Payment Controls’, ‘Merchant Controls’ or could even be labelled as ‘Gambling Transactions Block’. Some banks like Revolut have a specific control to block transactions related to gambling.

4. Enable the Blocking Feature

Active the blocking feature by toggling the option or following the instructions on the screen to enable the feature. When you activate it, you should no longer be able to do any related gambling transactions in the future.

5. Confirm the Changes

For some banking systems, you might need to confirm your decision or authenticate it since you’re applying new setting controls related to using your card. Ensure that you verify these changes when required.

6. Look Out for a Confirmation

An email confirmation or app notification confirming these changes and that the block is active should be sent. Keep an eye out for it.

7. Check Your Settings are Still in Place

Check back in to confirm that your updated settings are still enabled, particularly when you update apps or change your debit card.

๐Ÿ’กYou can also contact your bank’s customer support for assistance if you cannot activate this feature or if it is unavailable.

How Can I Opt Out of Seeing Gambling Adverts Online?

There are two common mediums where you can opt out of seeing gambling adverts online:

  1. YouTube
  2. Facebook

If you want to stop seeing gambling adverts online, you can follow these easy guidelines:

1. Opting Out on YouTube

You only need to follow the steps laid out below to opt out of adverts on YouTube:

  1. Ensure you are logged in to your account.
  2. In the top right corner of the home screen (on the website), click on your profile icon, and a drop-down menu will appear. Then, select ‘Settings’. On the app, you’ll need to select your profile icon on the bottom right-hand of the screen, then on the next screen, select the gear icon at the top on the right-hand side.
  3. A new window will open with your account settings.
  4. Select ‘Privacy’ from the list under ”Settings” on the left-hand side, leading you to the account privacy settings.
  5. If you’re on the app, select ”Ad Settings’ which will lead you to ‘My Ad Center’ in your browser. On the website, click on the ‘My Ad Center’ hyperlink in the middle of the page, and a new window will open.
  6. In this area, you can turn off personalised ads: next to ”Personalised Ads”, select the blue bottom marked ”On”, and select ‘Turn Off” at the bottom right-hand of the screen. This part of the process is the same.
  7. If you do not want to turn off personalised ads, when you’re still in the ‘My Ad Center’, select ”Customize Ads”, and under the ‘Topics’ tab, you will see a list of categories – check if there are any related to gambling or betting, and you can remove these by selecting the ”-” sign.

2. Opting Out on Facebook

You can also opt out of seeing gambling adverts on Facebook. Here’s how to adjust your settings:

  1. Start by signing into your Facebook account
  2. You’ll need to select the downward arrow on your profile icon, which is located in the top right corner, to select ”Settings & Privacy” and then ”Settings”. On the app, select your profile icon on the bottom right of the screen, then on the next screen, scroll down to the bottom, press the drop-down arrow next to ”Settings & Privacy” and click on ”Settings”.
  3. Use the search bar on the left-hand side, type ”Ad”, and select the option ”Ad preferences” which should appear as the top search result. On the app, the search option is located in the top right corner.
  4. Select ”Ad Topics” (on the app, you’ll have to scroll to the bottom) and press on the blue button labelled ”View and manage topics” option. Here, select the topic ”Real money gaming”. You can also use the search bar instead of pressing the ”View and manage topics”.
  5. A window will pop up, and you’ll need to tick the option ”See less”. You should now be able to see the topic when clicking on the white ”Review topic choices” button under ”Your ad topic choices”.
  6. If an advert slips through these settings, you can also click on the upper right corner of the ad, select ”Why am I seeing this ad?”, and from there, select the option ”Hide all ads from this advertiser”.

By adjusting your ad settings on YouTube and Facebook, you can reduce the chances of exposure significantly, which will help support a healthier online environment free of unprompted gambling content.

Gambling Support Organisations Directory by Country

If you are still struggling, then you may need professional help. Various organisations are specialists in helping problem gamblers, whether you are one or you have a friend who is.

Below is a list of some of the most prominent specialised organisations by country, established to encourage Responsible Gambling practices and support problem gamblers, which online gambling sites can highlight on their platforms:

United Kingdom

National Gambling Treatment Service

Operated by GamCare, the National Gambling Helpline provides confidential guidance, information, and assistance related to problem gambling. This service is free, and advisers are available 24/7 over the phone or live chat.

National Problem Gambling Clinic

As part of the National Gambling Treatment Service, the National Problem Gambling Clinic is commissioned with GambleAware and NHS England.

Northern Gambling Service

Also known as the NHS Northern Gambling Service, their speciality lies in providing addiction therapy and helping people who have been affected by gambling addiction to recover.

NHS – Help for Problem Gambling

A comprehensive guide prepared by the NHS about problem gambling.

Samaritans

For individuals who are experiencing despair, distress, or other feelings which could lead to suicide, Samaritans is a 24/7 service offering confidential emotional support.

MoneyHelper

Originally established by the UK government, MoneyHelper is an independent organisation that helps people to manage their money.

Counselling Directory

The counselling directory offers a support system for counselling to help distressed individuals locate a suitable counsellor nearby, specifically for their needs.

StepChange Debt Charity

An organisation providing free, confidential debt advice and impartial assistance to those in need, accessible 24/7.

Debt Advice Foundation

This UK charity’s services are free of charge and offer confidential advice and assistance for those concerned about debt.

Debt Support Trust

A non-profit debt charity, Debt Support Trust has a dedicated team of trained and friendly debt advisors ready to guide you in resolving debt.

National Debt Line

This organisation offers autonomous and confidential advice on managing debt issues. Their services are free.

Ireland

Gamblers Anonymous IE

GamblingCare

GameCare

Extern Problem Gambling

GambleAware

Gordon Moody

GamStop

Gamblers Anonymous/GamANON UK

Players in Ireland also have access to GamANON’s services.

New Zealand

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

An organisation which offers free and confidential support for those impacted by gambling.

Gambling Helpline

The Gambling Helpline provides a 24-hour phone service for free, offering instant support for gambling addiction.

Gambling Debt Helpline

For those who need help with gambling debt, reach out to the Gambling Debt Helpline. They provide assistance with your debt.

Maori Gambling Helpline

The Maori Gambling Helpline have a team of experienced Maori counsellors to help you beat gambling problems. Their services are free.

Youth Gambling Helpline

For players who are under the age of 25, they can get help from the 24/7 Youth Gambling Helpline. Their service is free of charge and completely confidential.

Pasifika Gambling Helpline

Dedicated to players impacted by gambling addiction in the Pacific Island community, the Pasifika Gambling Helpline is on call 24/7.

Asian Hotline (Problem Gambling Foundation)

A helpline for the Asian community residing in the Kiwi Isles.

South Africa

South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)

National Gambling Board

Gamblers Anonymous South Africa

Tips for Players to Keep Gambling a Fun Activity

Responsible gambling should be a priority not only for operators but also for players. Below are some general tips players should follow, even if they are not experiencing problem gambling. After all, reinforcing strong habits can help prevent serious issues in the future.

Avoid Betting Money You Cannot Afford to Lose

Only gamble with funds that do not have any other assigned purpose. That means you should strictly avoid gambling with money you have to use to pay for utilities, buy groceries, cover healthcare expenses, pay rent, etc. You must always allocate a certain amount of money for gambling and use it wisely.

Put the Limits Offered to Good Use

As noted earlier, licensed gambling sites offer various limits to help customers control their gambling activities. It is best to set these from the beginning based on an honest assessment of your situation. For example, if you set a deposit limit, you must take a break once you run out of money.

Never Expect Guaranteed Wins

Keep in mind that gambling involves a significant amount of luck. So, while you can put different strategies to the test to maximise your experience, do not expect guaranteed wins. If you do win, never base your future expenses on these winnings.

Take a Break When the Fun Stops

It is advisable to take a breather once you feel you are no longer having fun gambling. If you have not reached your set limits, stop if you start feeling frustrated. You can always resume later with a refreshed mind.

Pick Up Other Hobbies

Gambling should not be your only means of entertainment. Having other hobbies you can turn to is crucial once you feel you need to take a break from gambling.

Final Thoughts on Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is a crucial aspect of the gambling industry, online and land-based, and goes beyond mere statistics. It is about nurturing a culture of trust, well-being, and confidence while building a healthy and sustainable business.

When operators prioritise responsible gambling practices, they show their commitment to the safety and well-being of their customers and the gambling community as a whole. By promoting Responsible Gambling, operators can reduce the negative impacts of gambling. At the same time, customers can contribute to this social effort by being mindful of their activities.

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Responsible Gambling FAQs

Below, you can explore answers to the most frequently asked questions about responsible gambling.

What is considered responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling is any precaution taken to ensure that you partake in gambling as a form of entertainment and that you can manage your betting habits while preventing potential harm to yourself or others around you.

What is an example of responsible gambling?

One example of responsible gambling is setting limits for yourself. This could be either for money or time spent gambling, which could be done through tools found at many online casinos, such as loss limits, self-exclusion options, or deposit limits.

Is it really possible to gamble responsibly?

Yes, it is achievable when you set clear limits on money and time spent, understand your chances of winning, and, above all, view gambling as purely entertainment. By sticking to the basic principles of responsible gambling, the risk of gambling-related issues can be minimised. We urge individuals to monitor their behaviour to recognise any signs of problem gambling early and, when necessary, seek help from professionals.

What is the goal of responsible gambling?

The main goal of responsible gambling is to have a safe and controlled environment for gambling activities that helps to prevent addiction and minimise social and financial harm. Therefore, responsible gambling promotes a balanced and realistic approach to gambling as a form of entertainment while reducing the negative impacts on an individual or community.

How can casinos promote responsible gambling?

Casinos can help promote responsible gambling through 7 strategies:

  • Provide tools for self-exclusion,
  • Implement betting limits,
  • Educate their teams on how to recognise problem gambling,
  • Encourage time-out periods,
  • Ensure odds and game rules are displayed clearly,
  • Provide resources and support networks for help,
  • Identify risky behaviour and communicate with players.