Responsible Gambling

Gambling has been a popular form of entertainment for centuries, and the demand for it has increased in recent years. Thanks to online casinos, gambling is now more accessible than ever before. While this is a huge perk, it also brings along a higher risk of problem gambling and gambling addiction.

To ensure that your gambling habits stay under control, it is important to practice responsible gambling. In this guide, we will take a closer look at what this means and how you can keep track of your habits.

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What is problem gambling?

As the term suggests, problem gambling is not a good thing. Whenever your gambling habits affect your day-to-day life in a negative way, this is a problem. In severe cases, it can be categorized as a gambling addiction where you are simply addicted to the rush and can't get out of the vicious spiral.

One of the major aspects of problem gambling is related to money. When gambling, you wager real money. While there is a chance that you might win something from a wager, this is far from a guarantee and never something to aim for.

If you gamble for more than you can afford or find yourself chasing losses, you have a gambling problem. If you fail to control your spending, it can have massive repercussions and you will eventually end up in debt.

But in addition to the financial side of things, problem gambling can also affect other aspects of life. This includes relationships, family issues, decline in work performance, isolation, becoming anti-social, and more. In other words, problem gambling can have a lot of consequences on your life in general and is therefore so important to take seriously.

Now that we know what problems gambling potentially can bring along, gambling can also be safer and entertaining, as long as you make it so.

What is responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling can be seen as the opposite of problem gambling. By taking precautions, tracking habits, and holding yourself accountable, gambling can be both safe and enjoyable.

To ensure responsible gambling, the first step is to be aware of the potential risks. You can't be responsible if you're being naive or oblivious to the possible dangers and therefore don't know what to look out for. By knowing the worst-case scenario, you know what you are working against.

The next step to responsible gambling is gaining control. By staying in control of your spending (both when it comes to how much money and time you spend gambling), you are in control of the gambling – not the other way around.

When it comes to the exact limits to set to ensure responsibility, they will vary depending on factors such as your budget and lifestyle. In other words, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but you need to find a balance that works for you. And what's most important is that once you know your limits, you have to stick to them.

Tools and sources available to adopt safer habits

It might sound a bit challenging to keep track of everything when gambling online. After all, we all know the feeling of sinking into the rabbit hole of social media, and suddenly we have been scrolling for a long time without even noticing. But luckily, you are not alone.

Tools offered by the casino sites

When gambling online, there are actually many tools and resources you can make use of to ensure you stay responsible. First of all, most online casinos will offer responsible gambling tools that you can activate in your account. This can include the possibility of setting clear limits such as the following:

• Deposit limit: The maximum amount you can deposit into your account during a set amount of time (for example per day, week, or month).
• Loss limit: The maximum amount you can lose during a set amount of time (for example per day, week, or month).
• Time limit: The maximum amount of time you can spend logged into and wagering on your account during a set amount of time (for example per day, week, or month).

In addition to such tools, you will also have the option of cool-down periods or complete self-exclusion from the casino site. And if you have any questions or concerns, the customer support team is usually very knowledgeable and there to offer help.

External help and support

If you don't feel in control or need more help and support than what the casino site can offer, there are also plenty of external resources you can check out both online and in person. This includes gambling addiction organizations and projects such as Gamblers Anonymous, GamCare, or BeGambleAware. Such resources are normally completely free to make use of and you can talk to someone anonymously if you wish.

The bottom line is that if you have any concerns, help is never far away. Take your own precautions and make use of available tools and resources. By doing this, gambling can be enjoyable and safer in the long run.