When we partake in any form of gambling, it is vitally important that we do so in a responsible manner. Once you begin to lose your discipline, problems can escalate quickly, and you can find yourself in financial trouble and potentially suffering from severe mental health issues. This may sound a little over the top to some, but these are the harsh realities that can come with gambling, and playing online needs to be taken extremely seriously if you choose to participate. You can find links on this page that will direct you to professionals who can help you or somebody you know who may have a problem with gambling.
Controlling your online gambling
Gambling safely online should be your primary objective once you have signed up to an online casino, and the good news is that there are plenty of ways to ensure you are in complete control of how you gamble.
Let’s look at the ways that you can KEEP IN CONTROL.
Deposit Limits
Setting the amount you can deposit at an online casino is the best way to keep in control of the amount you are spending.
More and more casinos now ask you to set this limit once you have completed the registration process. However, there are still others where you will have to go to the my account section or the responsible gambling section, where you can change your limits accordingly.
I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to complete this task once you have signed up for a new casino. Set your limit and stick to it.
Timeouts, Intervals & Loss Limits
Taking a timeout is an excellent way to have a break from online gambling if you feel you are spending too much time playing. You can set a limit for how long you would like to take a break without having to self exclude yourself from the casino.
Some players like to use the timeout option after hitting a big win and requesting a withdrawal; this stops you from being able to reverse your pending withdrawal back into your playing account or getting caught up in the heat of the moment and losing the value of money, therefore placing wagers of an amount that is much higher than what you would typically stake. It should be noted that if you choose to take a timeout, it will time you out from all associated casinos ( sister sites ) to the brand you are playing at.
The interval option is another good way to keep track of your playing time. This will remind you how long you have been gambling and can be set up in your account settings. In certain instances, some online casinos will present you with this option once the slot or game you have selected to play has finished loading.
Loss limits are another essential tool in a player’s responsible gambling armoury that can be once again used to control the amount you are losing. This can be found in your account settings, where you set your preferences accordingly.
Self exclusion and Gamstop
If you feel that your gambling is getting out of control, you should seek help and exclude yourself from any online casinos you are signed up to. If you’re a UK player, you can take advantage of GAMSTOP; this is an online programme you can sign up for that will stop you from registering and playing at any UKGC licensed casino.
Signs of problem gambling
If either yourself or somebody you know shows any signs on the list below, then it could be possible that they have an issue with gambling and should seek professional advice immediately.
- Spending more money and time on gambling than you can afford.
- Finding it hard to manage or stop your gambling.
- Having arguments with family or friends about money and gambling.
- Losing interest in usual activities or hobbies like going out with friends or spending time with family.
- Always thinking or talking about gambling.
- Lying about your gambling or hiding it from other people.
- Chasing losses or gambling to get out of financial trouble.
- Gambling until all of your money is gone.
- Borrowing money, selling possessions or not paying bills in order to pay for gambling.
- Needing to gamble with larger amounts of money or for a longer time to get the same feeling of excitement or buzz.
- Neglecting work, school, family, personal needs or household responsibilities because of gambling.
- Feeling anxious, worried, guilty, depressed or irritable.
Where you can seek help and advice
There are organisations in place that can help you or somebody that you may know with a gambling addiction.
By clicking on any of the links below you will be able to find professional help with regard to problem gambling.