Responsible Gambling Tips Every Casino Player Should Know

For the majority of people who enjoy playing casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette and slots, online casinos have been a major game-changer, allowing them to access their favourite games from anywhere, using their device at any time as long as they are connected to the internet. Most people who play casino games do so for fun and entertainment, along with the chance of being able to win some money.

However, one downside of online casinos is that they have made gambling much more accessible. Unlike in the past when traditional casinos were the only option, online casinos don't close at the end of the night, and this could be problematic for some people who end up playing games for hours or even days on end, losing track of how much money they are spending and potentially ending up in financial difficulty as a result. Thankfully, there are several things that you can do and features that are there for you to take advantage of in order to gamble more responsibility and make sure that it's fun and entertaining rather than stressful.

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Only Play with What You Can Afford to Lose

Getting into the right mindset is key to gambling responsibly and, to do this, you need to be committed to online playing with an amount of money that you can afford to lose. This might involve being strict with your budget and setting aside a certain amount of money to play with each week or month that you know is not needed for any other expenses in your life. Some people may even take it further by having a separate bank account or pre-paid card that they use specifically for this purpose and, once the money has run out, they will need to play for free or wait until their next pay day to start placing bets again.

Set Deposit Limits

In the UK today, all reputable online casinos are signed up to and follow the regulations set out by Gamstop, a non-profit organisation that aims to promote responsible gambling and help players avoid running into problems. By selecting a Gamstop-registered casino, you will not only be sure that you are going to get a good experience but you will also have access to a range of features that you can use to help yourself gamble more responsibly, including setting deposit limits. You can set limits for your daily, weekly, or monthly spend and it's a good idea to set them before you deposit or start playing when you join a new online casino so that they are in place right from the start. For more information on choosing a reputable and trustworthy online casino, check out Onlinecasinos. This website has a lot of information on the best online casino options currently available in the UK. You can use it to find out more about a range of factors including the games that are available, responsible gambling features, bonuses, and much more.

Take Regular Breaks

Online casinos allow you to continue playing for hours on end if you want to, but this isn't good from a responsible gambling viewpoint – and it might not be great for your health, either. To get the best experience, improve your winnings and make sure that online casinos aren't going to take over your life, it's a good idea to take regular breaks. Taking a break is especially important after a big loss or a big win since this will give you the option to sit back, think objectively about your options and decide what's going to be the best next move for you to make. Many casinos make it easier for you to take breaks by offering features that you can set to kick you off a game or out of the casino completely after you've been playing for a certain amount of time, or you could set a reminder on your phone.

Avoid Gambling with Your Feelings

Online casinos games can be a lot of fun, so it's no surprise that many people might turn to them when they need cheering up after getting some bad news or having a bad day. But the truth is that gambling when you are emotional, especially if your emotions right now are centred around your finances, can lead to more problems than you had before. Chances are you are not going to be thinking quite as clearly when you are making betting decisions, which could leave you out of pocket or even more frustrated. Similarly, if you're playing an online casino game and you feel yourself getting too emotional to make clear and sensible decisions, it's probably a good time to think about stepping away and taking a break for a while.

Avoid Gambling and Drinking

If you like playing games that require strategy and decision-making such as blackjack and poker, then it's best to always play when you are sober. If you have been drinking, your skills are likely going to be somewhat inhibited, and your mind will not be as clear when making decisions – increasing your chance of experiencing a loss. If you're gambling while drunk or getting drunk while playing casino games, chances are that you're not going to be making your best moves, meaning that it will be harder for you to win your game and you could end up spending much more money than you can afford.

Stop If You're Not Having Fun

Last but not least, online casino games are meant to be fun. So, if you've been playing for some time and it's no longer fun or entertaining for you for any reason, it's time to take a break. If you are placing too much emphasis on casino gaming or you're relying on it to bring in money to cover what you have lost, it's always best to take a clean break and work on these issues until you feel in a better place to return. Many casinos allow you to self-exclude and professional help is available if you need it.

Online casinos are a great advancement to the industry, allowing players to have fun with their favourite games at home. However, being responsible when playing is key to keeping it entertaining and fun.

Lesley Montoya

Update 16 July 2021