Responsible Gambling encapsulates all player protection practices that seek to prevent players from becoming problem gamblers. Countless organizations across the globe have the sole purpose of helping gamblers recover from addictions, but licensed gambling sites will also provide players with tools to protect themselves.
The Casino Wizard team is made up of people who gamble online, so we are very much aware of the dangers of gambling and how addictive it can be. To us, it is of utmost importance to find online casinos that follow Responsible Gambling protocols and offer all the necessary features that a player requires to keep themselves safe.
Gambling should be fun. The casino always has an edge over the player, so it is statistically impossible to see gambling as a way to earn a living.
Modern online casinos that comply with responsible gambling features tend to offer a series of important tools that help players control their gambling. Most of these features are found in every casino licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority, as well as in many casinos that hold the Curacao eGaming License.
To access them or check if your casino of choice offers them, your best bet will be to open your profile after having logged into the casino. There, you should see a “Responsible Gambling” tab or an option that references safe gambling features.
Let’s take a look at the tools offered by casinos and used by players to keep themselves safe:
As much as we love to gamble ourselves, we make sure that the need to do so responsibly never slips from our minds – regardless of how much money we’re winning or losing. We want you to be like us in this sense, and for that, we offer you a list of the most relevant pieces of advice that you can follow to keep your gambling in check.
If you struggle to follow any of these pieces of advice, then there’s a chance that you may have a gambling problem. Please refer to the organizations listed below if you feel the need to get help or if you think that you may have a gambling problem.
The most important aspect of online gambling, and gambling in general, is that it should always be a fun activity. You should never see gambling as a way to make money quickly. You may get lucky and win a lot of money in a short span of time, but remember: it will never be a way to make a stable income.
We recommend our readers create a budget before playing online, which should be comprised of money that they are willing to lose. You may not lose it and even make a profit while playing, but one of the most important aspects of gambling online is playing with money that you’re 100% certain can be lost without you having to skip on rent payments or other important personal commitments.
Losing money is unavoidable, but chasing your losses is. Never play with the intention of recouping the money that you’ve lost, as it is statistically impossible to make a long-term profit and it is highly unlikely that you will be able to make back the money that you’ve lost by letting things run out of control. Have a set budget in mind and be aware that you may run out of money during your session.
If you ever reach a point in which you have to borrow money to continue gambling, then you’re in dire need of help. Not only is this going to cause you problems with friends and family; you should NEVER play with money that you cannot afford to lose – and you cannot afford to lose money that you’ve borrowed from anyone.
Substances that mess with your ability to make good decisions are always better off being left aside when gambling in online casinos. It is common for people to drink while playing online, but this could lead to players making decisions that they will eventually regret when sober. We always recommend our readers to play without resorting to drugs or alcohol to “enhance” the fun – if you require to do so to play, you may be a problem gambler already.
The most important thing about keeping gambling fun is knowing when to quit. Losing is part of the experience, as it is statistically impossible not to lose if you gamble long enough. That’s why knowing when to stop playing is one of the most crucial aspects of keeping it fun. This is closely related to not chasing losses and, arguably, equally as important.
It is never easy to admit that you have a gambling problem – especially when you’ve been gambling for a long time. However, human nature can make it very difficult for certain people to keep their gambling in control and, as such, it is only natural for problems to develop.
Coming to the realization that you have a problem can be hard, but there’s nothing to fear: there are many people out there willing to help out.
Here are some clear signs that you may have a problem with gambling and that you may want to seek help or outright stop playing:
If you have a gambling problem, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any of the organizations that seek to help players worldwide. Accepting that you have a problem is the first step in a long journey towards recovery.
There’s only so much that an online casino can do for players if they can’t help themselves with the tools that they have at hand. Fortunately, there are countless non-profit organizations across the globe that have the sole purpose of helping out those who are in need.
It doesn’t matter where in the world you’re currently residing, there are many ways to get in touch with an expert – even if your country does not offer personalized assistance. We have compiled a list of some of the best Responsible Gambling organizations that will gladly lend you a hand in a time of need:
The importance of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission to the UK’s gambling scene has been fundamental, but so is the presence of responsible gambling organizations. The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of problem gamblers in the world, which is why it’s important to know how to get gambling help in the UK:
Region gambling controls in Germany make it possible for people in different parts of the country to access exclusive gambling sites. Gambling is deeply rooted in German culture, which is why many support organizations have risen to provide assistance to those that need it. Here are the best ways to get gambling help in Germany:
As the Dutch "Kansspelauthoriteit" grants new licenses to online casinos all over The Netherlands and people start to gamble legally once more, it’s more important than ever to have access to gambling help in The Netherlands. We’ve listed some organizations that could lend you a hand if you need it:
Canada has a booming gambling market. Many Canadian gamblers love to gamble online and, on top of them having access to many responsible gambling features within each casino platform, there are other communication channels that they can use to reach out if they need gambling help in Canada.
Gambling is one of the most popular leisure activities in which Australian adults partake. As widespread as gambling is in Australia, so are the organizations that look to help problem gamblers across the country. Here are some of the best ways to get gambling help in Australia:
If you need gambling help in New Zealand, you may want to check out some of the following sites and organizations:
As years go by, more and more US states begin to legalize online gambling. Sports betting becomes more relevant with each passing year, and so does the presence of player safety organizations that aim to provide necessary care to problem gamblers in the United States. Here are some organizations that you may reach out to if you need gambling help in the United States:
Chile has one of the biggest gambling markets in Latin America. Thousands of Chileans wager every day, but they also have tools within their reach to get help if they need it. The two most important responsible gambling organizations to get gambling help in Chile:
We know how addictive gambling can be, but it’s important to always treat it as a leisure activity. If you struggle to stop, or if it outright stops being fun and you only see it as an activity that you can’t seem to break away from, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the organizations that we’ve mentioned in this article.