Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is all about enjoying your betting experience while staying in control, understanding the risks involved, and ensuring your gambling habits remain a source of entertainment rather than a problem. It’s about making informed choices and betting within your means.

We encourage all players to practice self-awareness and utilize responsible gambling tools to maintain a conscious approach to betting. This means setting personal limits on both the time and money you spend, being mindful of the potential risks, and regularly reviewing your own gambling behaviour.

Are Your Gambling Habits Becoming a Concern? Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling occurs when gambling behaviour becomes repetitive and continues despite causing negative consequences in a person’s life. If you’re wondering whether your gambling is becoming an issue, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you find yourself gambling alone for extended periods, leading to missed work or other commitments?
  • Do you feel the need to bet increasing amounts of money to achieve the same level of excitement?
  • Does gambling cause you to become moody, irritable, or easily upset?
  • Do you use gambling as a way to escape from other problems or worries in your life?
  • Are you secretive about your gambling losses with others?
  • Have you tried to reduce the time or money you spend on gambling but found yourself unable to do so?
  • Have you considered engaging in dishonest acts to obtain money for gambling?
  • Do you find yourself chasing losses by gambling again on another day to try and win back what you’ve lost?
  • Do you hide the extent of your gambling from people who are close to you?
  • Have you borrowed money or accumulated debt as a result of your gambling?
  • Have you sold personal belongings to fund your gambling or pay off gambling-related debts?
  • Do you break promises to family or friends in order to gamble?
  • Do you feel isolated or alone due to your gambling activities?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s a strong indicator that it’s time to reassess your gambling habits. For a more in-depth evaluation, consider taking the confidential quiz available on the BeGambleAware website.

Where to Find Help for Gambling Addiction

If you believe you’re struggling with gambling addiction, please know that help is available and you don’t have to face it alone. Several organizations offer confidential support and guidance:

Essential Tips for Staying in Control

Here are several practical strategies to help you maintain control over your betting and ensure it remains a responsible activity:

  1. Budget Wisely Decide beforehand how much money you can comfortably afford to lose and strictly adhere to that limit.

  2. Avoid Chasing Losses Trying to win back money you’ve already lost often leads to even greater losses. Accept the loss and move on.

  3. Take Breaks If gambling starts to feel overwhelming or stressful, step away. Utilize time-out tools offered by many platforms if needed.

  4. Understand the Odds Recognize that gambling outcomes are based on chance, and the odds are generally not in your favour. Don’t expect to win every time.

  5. Gamble with a Clear Mind Avoid gambling when you’re feeling stressed, upset, angry, or under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

  6. Utilize Platform Tools Make use of deposit limits and autoplay limits to manage your spending and the amount of time you dedicate to gambling.

  7. Review Your Activity Regularly check your gambling history (deposits, withdrawals, gameplay) to stay aware of your patterns and spending.

  8. Consider Self-Exclusion If you feel you need a complete break, use self-exclusion tools to block yourself from accessing gambling sites for a predetermined period.

  9. Seek Support When Needed If you find that gambling is becoming a problem, don’t hesitate to reach out to the support organizations listed above.

Keeping Gambling Enjoyable

To ensure gambling remains a fun and harmless pastime, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy balance between your gambling activities and other aspects of your life:

  • Gamble for Entertainment, Not Escape Avoid using gambling as a way to cope with stress, sadness, or other personal problems.

  • Take Regular Breaks Stepping away from gambling frequently helps you maintain perspective and control.

  • Be Aware of Your Emotions Pay attention to your emotional state before and during gambling. If you’re not feeling positive, it’s best to abstain.

How to Block Gambling Payments

If you find that platform-based limits aren’t sufficient, you can take further steps by contacting your bank to block gambling-related transactions. Some banks offer features like:

  • Card locks specific to gambling merchants
  • Restrictions on online transactions that can help prevent access to gambling sites

Reducing Exposure to Gambling Ads

Gambling advertisements can be a significant trigger. You can reduce your exposure by adjusting settings on various online platforms:

  • Google: Navigate to Data & privacy in your Google account settings and turn off personalized ads.
  • Facebook: Access Ad Preferences and update them to block or limit gambling-related advertisements.

Preventing Underage Gambling

Protecting minors from the risks of gambling is a shared responsibility:

  • Educate Minors: Talk to young people about the potential dangers and risks associated with gambling.
  • Set Clear Boundaries: Establish family rules regarding device and internet usage.
  • Use Protective Tools: Implement parental control features or apps on devices to block access to gambling websites and content.