Responsible Gambling

Before registering at a casino, define the budget you can afford and stick to it. Never spend more than you have, as this will lead to chasing losses, one of the most dangerous things that rarely end well.  

When you join the site, the first thing you should check before playing games is the range of casino’s responsible gambling tools. They are available when you open your account dashboard, or they’re listed on the Responsible Gaming page. 

These features let you set various limits to help you control your gaming. Some sites also allow you to contact their customer support and ask them to activate some of these limits for you. Establishing limits is an effective way to avoid impulsive behavior that could lead to long-term consequences. 

There are several types of limits you can define before you head to the casino lobby:

• Time limits: Gambling can be enjoyable, but it can quickly begin to take up more of your time than you expect. Therefore, set up time limits to avoid losing track of time spent at the casino. Activate session limits to receive alerts about how long you’ve been playing. 
• Reality check: This tool also acts as an alarm that will appear on the screen as a pop-up informing you of the time spent playing. These alerts will help you stay in control and take regular breaks.  
• Loss and wager limits: Define the maximum amount of money you can afford to lose and wager. The casinos allow you to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits. Another great thing about this tool is that even if you want to remove the limits, the casino won’t allow you to do it immediately but usually imposes a 24-hour cool-off period.
• Self-exclusion: This feature is also known as time out. When you activate it, the casino temporarily blocks you from accessing the site. Casinos offer different timeframes, from 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, a week, or indefinite. Remember that self-exclusion activated this way only applies to the site you’re using. If you’re looking to quit gambling for good, you’ll need to contact one of the organizations or install apps we list in the final chapter.

Problem gambling or compulsive gambling doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, but some players develop unhealthy habits more quickly than others. However, there are always warning signs signaling that something is not okay. Here’s what you should watch out for:

• Constantly thinking about gambling: You can’t stop thinking about gambling and how to get more money to play. 

• Spending more than you can afford: You start spending more than you have to achieve the same excitement levels.  

• Losing control: You find it hard to stop playing, even with multiple limits in place.

• Feeling restless: If you feel frustrated when you’re not gambling, it’s a serious red flag indicating you may need help.

• Chasing losses: You think you can get back the money you lost by gambling more. 

• Start lying: You lie to your family and friends about the extent of your gambling, or even worse, you hide it completely.

• Social withdrawal: You start avoiding people to get more time to gamble. 

• Risking job and everyday activities: You risk losing your job and relationships due to your gambling habits. 

• Borrowing money: You turn to others for help because you’ve spent all your money on gambling.

• Avoiding problems: You start thinking that gambling helps you escape problems.   

If you detect any of these signs, or even several of them, you need to seek professional help.

Responsible gambling programs are not just for casino operators. Players who face problems can also contact many organizations that provide free help to those in need.

Organizations like GambleAware, GamCare, the Responsible Online Gaming Association, and the National Council on Problem Gambling offer professional assistance and advice. These agencies also have free helplines available 24/7 that you can use to get support. Keep in mind that different countries have different agencies in charge of helping anyone who has been harmed by gambling.

You can also use tools like Gamban, GamBlock, or BetBlocker to block access to gambling on all your devices. In addition, there are tools you can also use to protect minors from being exposed to online gambling. Net Nanny is the most popular content filtering service that allows parental control and blocks dangerous content before your children see it.