Online gambling is meant to be a fun experience for all, and for the most part, it is an entertaining way to spend their leisure time. However, for a small minority of people gamble can become a problem.
When it comes to our readers the vast majority of gamblers will go through their life without ever experiencing an issue with their gambling, but that does not mean the message of responsible gambling is aimed solely at those who either have a problem or are at risk of developing one. It is aimed at all people and it is an approach that is best for anyone who wishes the place a bet.
We are committed on this website to helping our readers and customers make gambling a fun experiencing by promoting and marketing those operators that promote safe and responsible gambling online, and we will continue to provide all of the necessary information and guidance needed to help you stay in control of your gambling.
The UK licensed websites that we recommend help by providing the functionality to:
- Set reality checks – receive prompts and timeouts that will help you manage the amount of time you gamble online.
- Set deposit limits – By setting deposit limits for set periods of time you can limit the amount of gambling you do on a daily or monthly basis. This feature can be decreased, increased and removed entirely at the user’s discretion.
- View your gambling history – One way to know if you are perhaps gambling too much is to check your previous activity, which will give you rundown of previous transactions, deposits and withdrawals from your account.
- Take A Break – This feature allows you to set a ‘break period’ meaning you cannot gamble with this operator for a period of anywhere between 24 hours to 6 weeks
- Self-Exclude – You have the ability to self-exclude and stop gambling altogether. Self-exclusion can be applied for anything from six months to five years
- Autoplay controls – If you like to play games using the auto-play feature, you will be asked to select your stake and loss limits before you start playing. You can also choose to pause the game when you hit a jackpot, so you do not eat into your winnings.
How will I know if I have a problem?
For some gambling can become an issue and if you feel like your gambling may be getting out of control or it is no longer a fun experience, we recommend asking yourself the following questions:
- Are you gambling for long periods of time and neglecting other important parts of your life, for example, work?
- Are you increasing your gambling stake on a regular basis in pursuit of excitement?
- Have you been suffering from mood swings or become irritable and agitated when you are not gambling?
- Are you gambling to escape or avoid other issues or problems in your life?
- Have you ever lied about your successes when gambling, telling others that you are winning when, in fact, you are losing?
- Have you tried to cut down on the amount of money and time spent gambling and been unsuccessful in those attempts?
- Have you ever been dishonest or perhaps committed a crime in order to fund your gambling?
- Do you ever find yourself going back online to gamble in an attempt to win back previous losses?
- Have you, or do you ever, hide your gambling from the important people in your life?
- Have you borrowed money that you are unable to pay back because of your gambling, or do you have any debts as a result of gambling?
- Have you ever sold possessions to fund your gambling or settle gambling debts?
- If you answer “yes” to any of these questions then this may be the time where you need to take control of your gambling. You can get help using the information below and you can also take the confidential ‘Worried about your gambling’ quiz on the BeGambleaware.org website or use their Gambling Calculator to get an indication of whether or not you have issues with gambling.
What should I do if I think I have a problem?
The first action you have to take is getting control of your gambling habits if possible, and that means being completely honest with yourself and accepting that you have a problem. Once you have confronted that you have taken the most important step to address your gambling issue. This realisation can occur in many ways and it may be enough for you to take control of your gambling once again. However, for some, you may feel that you need help, advice and support.
You should NEVER be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.
Here are some practical steps to help you stay in control:
- Ask someone you trust to take care of your money for an agreed amount of time or perhaps seek their assistance in setting a budget plan.
- Set deposit limits or time limits for your gambling – our recommended gaming web sites provide tools that will allow you to impose your own set limits on the amount of money you spend.
- Treat yourself for those “gambling free” periods by spending the money you would have gambled on something for you and your family.
- If all else fails – stop gambling. You can self-exclude yourself from all of the websites where you would normally gamble, and if you feel like this is the best approach for you then it is advisable to take an appropriate break from ALL forms of gambling.
- If you wish to prevent access to other gaming, wagering or gambling facilities online, please visit www.gamblock.comwhich will help you do so.
- Use a calendar to mark each day that you do not gamble, giving you a clear gauge of the progress you are making.
If you need further detailed advice, or more specific help and counselling, please contact one of the following independent help services:
GamCare
www.gamcare.org.uk
0808 8020 133
Gamblers Anonymous
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
GambleAware
www.gambleaware.co.uk
0808 8020 133
National Problem Gambling Clinic
www.cnwl.nhs.uk
0800 0234 650
Player Protection & Protection of Minors
Getting online has never been easier so the issue of responsible online gambling relies heavily on parental control and supervision. To ensure that your child is accessing the internet safely we encourage our customers to make use of filtering software to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate online material.
Tips for Parents:
- Do not leave your computer unattended without logging out of accounts.
- Ensure that your account is password-protected.
- Do not allow anyone under 18 to participate in any gambling activity.
- Keep your account username and password safe.
- Keep your credit/debit card(s) out of the reach of children.
- Do not save passwords on your computer or anywhere that your child can find them.
- Limit the amount of time your children spend online and make use of filtering software to prevent your children from accessing inappropriate material.
Underage gambling is not only illegal but can result in gambling dependencies and also gambling debts incurred by unsupervised children.
With this in mind, if you share your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, computer or any other device with friends or family who are under the legal age to participate in online gambling, we strongly advise that you restrict their access to our websites by registering with Net Nanny, a world leader in real-time Internet filtering technology.
Other Important Tips:
Make sure that you are gambling as a personal choice and have not been influenced/pushed into it.
Establish limits for depositing, wagering and even losses before you start gaming.
Never gamble if:
- you are younger than the legal age.
- it interferes with your responsibilities on a daily basis.
- you are being treated or are in recovery for a dependency.
- you are under the influence of alcohol or any other substance.
- you are attempting to win back previous losses.
- your primary purpose is to recoup your debt with your winnings.