Responsible Gaming
Gambling addiction and other gambling-related issues can lead to a cascade of unnecessary problems. Practice responsible gambling – don’t pay your bills with it!
What Are The Tell-Tale Signs of Gambling Addiction?
- You are losing more than you can afford. Gambling is no longer a means of entertainment, and you no longer possess the capacity for informed decision-making.
- You gamble to recover your losses. Also known as ‘chasing’, it’s a delusional trap with dramatic development that is common in the gambling industry. Gambling programs should be consulted for more information and medical assistance.
- You don’t stop until all of your assets are gone. This is how casino customers ruin their lives, families, and mental health.
- You are obsessed with gambling. Normal, everyday activities do not fulfill you one bit, you are unable to enjoy conventional entertainment events, and your general conduct is deteriorating unless you are surrounded by other gamblers.
- Everybody around you thinks you have a serious problem. Gambling is alienating you from the people that care about you, and you still refuse to seek assistance or consult with responsible gambling programs.
- You genuinely feel unhappy when you are not playing games for cash or indulge in sports betting. You alienate yourself from your friends and family and focus solely on gambling online products, your favorite casino site, eventually casino team members.
- Stopping is not an option. Gambling games and gaming for cash became more important than everything else.
How to Prevent a Gambling Problem From Developing?
This is a two-way street. Both players and gaming operators have a role in preventing the development of gambling addiction.
When it comes to gambling platforms, promoting and executing rigorous employee training is key. Internal controls in the gambling industry should not only be mandatory but conducted with zero tolerance towards risk-related actions and behavior. Advertising can be a useful tool in this regard, as well as the implementation of programs such as RG Check – a responsible gambling accreditation program developed by the Responsible Gambling Council, Ontario, Canada.
Another important measure is to quit drinking while you play. Avoid alcoholic beverages and any alcoholic beverage service provided by gambling operators and casino employees.
Pay attention to advertising and direct marketing efforts made by medical professionals and gambling operators that fully support responsible gaming.
Most importantly, a customer should know what responsible gaming is. We cannot stress enough how important good research is in raising customer awareness. There are eight responsible gaming measures, listed below, implemented by the most respectable operators.
Practical steps to help you stay in control
Take breaks, take care of your health
Responsible gaming requires a little self-care. In reality, most people who are into gaming for cash do not suffer from serious problems and have no issues with the gambling industry or the law. Gaming can wait. Take a break from time to time, especially if you are on the losing streak. After all, constant losing affects the ability for rational decision-making.
Set limits on your deposits
Every healthy adult should be capable of self-imposed financial limits. Use responsible gaming-related programs offered by operators and never spend more than you can earn. The best advice we can give you is this: set up a limit and consider that money gone. Treat your planned losses as an entertainment fee, not a financial loss that has to be recovered by any means.
Never be afraid to ask for help
We cannot stress enough how vital this is. In fact, people will likely applaud your maturity and commitment to get better. Contact the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, or some other organization with similar programs for addicted gamblers. Programs made by the gambling industry are simply not good enough. Seeking help from pros dealing with addiction is the only solution.
The statement ‘gamble responsibly’ usually serves marketing purposes only. Very few providers practice what they preach. But responsible gaming isn’t just some random fluke. Considering that the suicide rate of addicted gamblers is astonishingly high, we Casino Bros feel that these things are a matter of life and death.
If you think about it for a second, it is easy to see why we oppose underage gambling and urge the operators to include as many responsible gaming features as possible. We are not pretending to be your guardian angels with superior moral standards, nor are we in a position to judge. An emotionally and financially stable customer is the cornerstone of our mission, both in terms of business and ethics.
Online Casino Criteria That Receive a 5-Star Rating on Responsible Gambling
- Online transaction history. Thanks to the American gaming association’s code, and many other institutions dedicated to responsible gaming, online operators are required to collect and keep all payment activity of a particular customer. In some cases, gaming activity is documented as well. This way, gamblers are 100% sure that no one else is using their casino account, especially kids, thus helping prevent underage gambling problems. Additionally, checking out all of your deposits and withdrawals will give you a healthy perspective on your gaming habits and expenses.
- Self-assessment test. Players can raise their own awareness by taking the self-assessment test, available on every site that supports responsible play. By answering the questions honestly, a customer can recognize that he or she might have a gambling problem early on, which is tremendously important in combating serious gambling issues.
- Reality check reminder. Responsible gaming companies provide players with a reality check reminder, a useful feature that is only as good as a player wants it to be. Every time they are betting with real money, casino customers can set an alarm to remind them how long they are playing, and how much money they’ve spent.
- Time-out period. A very straightforward measure for combating the addiction problem. Gambling can be postponed by taking a preventive time-out for a short period of time or taking a break for a whole month.
- Financial limits. Imposing financial limits can prevent a serious problem from occurring. Gambling responsibly is much easier if you define which assets you are willing (and able) to spend. A gambling site that encourages safe conduct and applies other resources related to responsible gaming will surely have financial limits options installed.
- Self-exclusion. Self-exclusion is a measure that prompts a person with gambling issues or financial difficulties to voluntarily enter into an agreement with a casino, restricting gambling for a specified frame of time. If done in time, self-exclusion can make a big difference in the treatment of gambling disorder, with little to no resources.
- Manual flushing. When activated, the moment you request a payment from a gambling operator that money is no longer available to you. Manual flushing is an effective responsible gaming feature because people without responsible gaming training are often impatient while waiting for their funds. Instead, they decide to gamble with it and lose it, more often than not.
- Help and support. Casinos with the best practice in terms of sending a responsible gaming message will provide users and employees with useful information on how to get professional help and support. Gamblers Anonymous, Responsible Gambling Council, International Center for Responsible Gambling, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing are some of those dedicated groups.
What Is Bonus Abuse?
This is, by far, the most common offense committed by casino customers against gambling operators. Even players with the best intentions sometimes abuse bonuses, and this offense is deeply rooted in human nature itself.
Practices that Are Considered Bonus Abuse
Members of the gambling industry do not look favorably to bonus abusers, and they can even initiate legal actions, regardless of whether your intent was deliberate or accidental. Pay close attention and avoid the temptation to do the following:
Creating multiple accounts in an online casino
Every single casino account is valid for a single household or an IP address. Tell your friends and family members that only one account can be made per household, and only one bonus of a particular type can be activated from a single IP address.
Failing to meet the wagering requirements
Read the terms and conditions documents thoroughly, no matter how boring they are. Wagering is extremely important and failing to fulfill it can lead to drastic losses, and in more serious situations, a permanent ban from a casino and its sister companies.
Claiming the same casino bonuses multiple times
As a rule of thumb, casino bonuses are awarded to one account but sometimes spouses or roommates claim the same bonus from a single IP address without even knowing they are doing something wrong. This is why reading the T&Cs is crucial!
Making large bets with bonus money
Every bonus has different rules, and bet limitation is one of them. Bonuses have clearly stated terms and conditions, with the maximum bet being one of them. Do not fall for this and expect a quick reward or fulfill your wagering requirements without anyone noticing. And another thing, playing high or maximum bets is not recommendable even if you are playing without an active bonus.
Trying to play ineligible games
Pros already know this, but almost every bonus is assigned to a particular group of games or even a single game. You can only use it if you play those specific games. Trying to take advantage of a bonus by playing some other ineligible games is a major breach of the casino’s terms and conditions. Do not fool around and take unnecessary risks. You can still have a good time and score some wins by playing legit games listed on the bonus’ terms and conditions page.