Responsible gambling is essential for when you bet or play casino games online. Betting sites have a duty to protect players and help you make the right decisions when you gamble. You should always maintain a budget and have the proper tools in place to stay in control of your online gambling at all times.
What is Responsible Gambling?
Responsible gambling is staying in complete control of your betting and bankroll. It ensures you can enjoy playing games and making bets without financial difficulties.
Reputable online gambling sites offer tools that can help you manage your budget. You can set limits on your time, money, wagers, and deposits. Casinos and sportsbooks will also provide essential links to approved charities and government organizations where you can get help.
We suggest putting limits in place before you make your initial deposit and start playing. It’s your job to respect those limits and walk away when you reach them.
Spotting the Signs of Gambling Addiction
In the most severe cases, gambling addiction can affect players, whatever their budget. It is a progressive condition headlined by subtle signs and symptoms. Here are some of the most common signs that you may have a problem.
- Preoccupation with gambling
- Failing to stop or control gambling
- Gambling-induced restlessness or irritability
- Lying about your gambling activity
- Escapism through gambling
- Chasing losses
- Showing no concern for relationships or career opportunities to gamble
- Financial problems
Responsible Online Gambling Tools
Online casinos and sports betting sites must have responsible online gambling tools in place as a requirement for gaining a license. Since we only recommend regulated gambling sites, you should be able to access all the tools you could possibly need.
Deposit Limits
With a deposit limit, you can set the amount of money you want to transfer for gambling from a card, crypto wallet, or checking account. Look at your budget and put aside a figure you are comfortable with. This can be done per day, week, month, or year.
Betting Limits
Gambling sites also let you set personal betting limits. These allow you to restrict the amount of money you can commit to wagers every day, week, or year.
Time Limits
The best online casinos and gambling sites offer a tool that allows you to set a time limit on your play. This way, the casino notifies you when you are going over the set limit.
Cooling Off Period
Depending on the gambling site, you can also set a cool-down period that temporarily excludes you from the gambling site’s activity. You can only come back when this cool-down period expires.
Self-Exclusion
Sometimes, a basic cooling-off period is not enough for some players struggling with problem gambling. This is when you can register on the voluntary self-exclusion list. Players on this list are excluded from all gambling activities in the state, including online casinos. You can contact your local state government or the gambling site itself to start the application process.
Transaction History
A quick way to find out how much you are spending on gambling is to review your transaction history. This might be the reality check you need if you are not gambling responsibly. In addition, reviewing your transactions and learning when and why you made them will help you understand yourself as a player.
Self-Assessment
Online gambling sites usually offer a checklist that you can use to identify any problems in yourself or others around you. This checklist provides you with a clear and objective way to recognize gambling addiction before it becomes a major problem.
Tips for Safe Gambling
These tips will help you recognize behaviors detrimental to your gambling health. They also serve as a standard of how you should conduct yourself when betting online.
Gamble Only With Money You Are Willing to Lose
Put aside money that you know you can afford to lose if you gamble. There’s no one-size-fits-all here, and you will need to determine the actual amount for yourself. Review this budget if needed, depending on your overall goals and gambling habits.
Have a Bankroll Strategy
You must use a proven wagering system when you play. Instead of placing bets of any size when you feel like it, keep to 1% of your overall bankroll for high-house edge games like slots and 5% for low-edge bets like Red/Black in roulette.
Avoid Using Credit Cards
Using a high-interest credit card for online gambling should be avoided at all costs. The interest rates can be prohibitively high, and you may end up spending years paying off your balance.
Use Responsible Gambling Tools
Good online betting sites provide responsible gambling tools to help you play safely. These help you manage your money and time so you can focus on the fun part. Utilize these tools by setting limits in advance and sticking to them.
Have the Right Mindset
Gambling is not an investment or money-making scheme. It is an activity where the outcome is down to chance and in which you have no say or control. Gamble with this mindset and realize that there’s nothing you can do to influence the outcome when you play online.
Learn to Walk Away
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to walk away from online gambling altogether. Take a brief time-out or request complete self-exclusion. Give yourself a break, and know that the casino or sportsbook will always be here when you are ready to come back.
Gamble Responsibly with ReadWrite’s Help
According to recent statistics from the National Center for Responsible Gambling, 2.5% of the US adult population suffers from some form of addiction to gambling. While this is a concerning statistic, the good news is you can protect yourself and those around you.
Millions of players gamble every day for fun and have no issues at all. But others have challenges like gambling addiction and need some help. If you or someone you know are at risk of developing a gambling addiction, there is help available. The links provided here will direct you to professional organizations that handle gambling issues confidentially.
Problem Gambling Help Resources
Help is available for players suffering from gambling addiction. Some resources also focus on spouses and families as well, ensuring that everyone affected gets the help they need.
The National Council on Problem Gambling
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is one of the biggest organizations in this space. Through supportive programs and comprehensive policies, it offers resources across the US to players suffering from problem gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous
This is a locally run support group following a 12-step program to fight gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous has branches across the US, so you won’t struggle to find support near you.
Gam-Anon
Gambling addiction affects not only the one suffering from it but even close family and friends. These groups can also find support through Gam-Anon, a helpful organization that runs meetings with spouses and families. You can also use the helpline number to get assistance right away.
GamTalk
If you feel like you need to chat with someone about your gambling health, consider GamTalk. It offers a 24/7 chat room service operated by professional agents ready to address your concerns confidentially.
US Problem Gambling Organizations by State
ReadWrite’s Commitment to Responsible Gambling
At ReadWrite, we are committed to providing you with unbiased information that’s thoroughly researched and in line with our editorial guidelines. It is our objective to fully equip you with the resources you need to have an enjoyable, healthy, and lasting gambling experience.
