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    Safer Gambling – Resources & Best Practices

    There’s no denying the thrill and excitement that derives from online gambling. However, most players walk a very fine line between playing just for fun and facing gambling issues that affect their lives. That’s why you should always look to play safely and responsibly and ensure you’re not losing control over your gambling habits.

    Thankfully, there are several resources for individuals who struggle with gambling. On top of these, most sports betting and casino apps will give you access to certain tools to enforce responsible gambling to yourself. And you can also follow a few tips to help you gamble safely.

    What Constitutes Safe Gambling?

    Even if it seems trivial, it’s actually really important to ensure you understand how safe gambling works and what you need to implement it. It comes down to a few specific aspects you need access to:

    • A clear mind to help you make the correct decisions
    • Certain tools to help practice safe gambling
    • A responsible personality

    The latter of the three is dependent on each individual. If you know you have an addictive personality, you need to closely monitor your gambling habits to ensure you don’t lose control.

    A clear mind is also key whenever you participate in any gambling activities. If you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you’re much more likely to make irresponsible decisions. If you’re also struggling mentally or emotionally, you usually can’t think clearly and avoid bad decisions.

    As for gambling tools, every licensed platform will have specific measures to help players who struggle with their gambling practices. That’s why choosing reputable and licensed sites is important to ensure you always have access to these tools.

    Are You Gambling Responsibly?

    One way to quickly determine whether you’re gambling safely or not is to ask yourself a few important questions:

    • Do you realize that winning can be fun, but it isn’t everything?
    • Do you acknowledge that while losing may be disheartening, it’s not the end-all?
    • Do you consider gambling just one of many recreational activities you pursue?
    • Do you find it easy to stop gambling?
    • Do your bets stay within the limits of what you can afford? Are they reasonable and calculated?
    • Do you understand that your chances of winning are often very small?

    If your answer is “no” to any of these, it might be a sign you have problematic gambling behavior. If you answer “no” to several of these questions, it’s highly likely you’re not gambling safely, and you need to start thinking of ways to fix your behavior.

    Other signs of irresponsible gambling activities include:

    • Betting excessive amounts – If you’re betting way more money than you can afford to lose, it’s a clear sign to take a step back because you’re gambling irresponsibly.
    • Resorting to loans for gambling – If you’re spending so much that you need to borrow money from others to cover your expenses (or, even worse, gamble more), then it’s time to take a step back and start practicing safe gambling or quit it altogether.
    • Waking up thinking about gambling – If the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up is which casino game you’ll play or what match you’ll bet on, you’re definitely struggling with irresponsible gambling.
    • Chasing losses – This is one of the telltale signs of problematic gambling. If you’re losing badly and keep depositing more money to try and win it all back, you need to take a break, because you’ll most likely just keep losing.
    • Being dishonest about your gambling – If you need to resort to lies and deceit regarding your gambling behavior and activities, it’s probably not on a healthy level.

    Responsible Gambling Resources

    If you’ve noticed you’re struggling with irresponsible gambling activities, you should reach out to a dedicated helpline and talk to someone about your issues. The majority of helplines are available through phone, text, or live chat, 24 hours a day, and are completely confidential and judgment-free.

    If you’re in the US, you can try the helplines below, which work for all states. You can also find dedicated resources for your own state.

    • National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) – This is a nationwide helpline for anyone looking for any sort of help on problematic gambling behavior. You can call or text them at 1-800-522-4700 or start an online chat at ncpgambling.org
    • National Problem Gambling Helpline – Similar to the NCPG, you can call 1-800-GAMBLER, text 800-GAM, or start a live chat at 1800gamblerchat.org 24/7/365.
    • Gamblers Anonymous (GA) – This association offers help through judgment-free group meetings to individuals of all backgrounds who face gambling issues. Fellow members share their experiences and support each other mentally and emotionally.
    • GamTalk – A dedicated online forum for people with problematic gambling behavior to discuss their issues. The forum is available 24/7 and is heavily moderated.
    • Gam-Anon – This is a unique support group for anyone who has a loved one who struggles with compulsive gambling.

    For residents in the UK, there are also a bunch of dedicated helplines and measures in place to assist individuals who struggle with unsafe gambling practices.

    • National Gambling Helpline (NGH) – You can contact the NGH 24/7 for free at 0808 8020 1333. NGH will provide support and advice to anyone struggling with problematic gambling.
    • GamCare – GamCare is a one-stop solution that includes support and counseling for all individuals who have gambling issues. It also features a 24/7 helpline for support and advice on how to overcome problematic gambling behavior.
    • Gamblers Anonymous – Through Gamblers Anonymous, you can participate in support groups with other people struggling with gambling addictions. In these group meetings, you’ll get a safe and judgment-free space to express your concerns and get support from others with the same issues.
    • GambleAware – This is a charity program that provides treatment and support services for gambling addicts. They ensure all these programs have enough funding and resources and help provide support in their own way.
    • BeGambleAware – This association acts on a preventative level and helps raise public awareness about problematic gambling. Through specific campaigns, people can learn about the risks surrounding online gambling and how they can gamble safely and responsibly.

    Tools for Safer Gambling

    Most licensed online casinos and sportsbooks will have a few or even all the responsible gambling tools below. You can use them to moderate your gameplay and help you practice safe gambling.

    Deposit Limits

    When you sign up for a new sports betting app or casino, they’ll usually ask you to set deposit limits on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This restriction ensures you won’t spend more money than you can afford by preventing you from making additional deposits over your limit. It can be useful for problematic gamblers, who often deposit more to chase their losses.

    Loss Limits

    In addition to deposit restrictions, you can also limit how much money you lose. That way, you can continue playing if you’re winning, but the casino or sportsbook won’t let you play further if you hit your loss limit. This can help moderate the amount of money you gamble away and ensure you don’t get out of control.

    Time Restrictions

    If you find yourself spending too much time online gambling, you can set time limits regardless of whether you’re winning or losing. You can set a specific time limit for every session you play, encouraging you to take more healthy breaks and cool off. You can also opt for time limits throughout the day so you don’t spend tons of hours playing online.

    Cool-Off Period

    If your gambling is getting a bit excessive, you can consider taking a break. Most online gambling platforms allow you to apply a cooling-off period for a few hours or a few days. This will prevent you from accessing any gambling activity so you can reflect on your habits and practice safe gambling in the future.

    Self Exclusion

    If things are getting out of control, there’s always the last resort, which is to exclude completely from every gambling platform. This will completely deactivate your account for a set amount of time (or even permanently) and won’t allow you to access it at all.

    Tips to Help You Gamble Safely

    Below, you can find some of our tips to ensure you gamble safely and responsibly.

    • Understand how each game works – Always make sure to know how the odds for each game you play work and remember the house has an edge on every bet or round you play. You don’t get any guaranteed wins and you always need to rely on luck.
    • Allocate a set amount of “gambling money” – When you set a specific budget and view gambling as a recreational activity, you’ll have more fun. Of course, your budget needs to be money you can afford to lose without taking a financial hit.
    • Do not chase losses – The number one mistake most compulsive gamblers make is to chase their losses. If you’re having a bad day, stop playing, take a break, and come back another day. If you don’t, you’ll likely lose even more than you already are.
    • Utilize responsible gambling tools – If you know you’re vulnerable or feel you’re gambling excessively, you can take advantage of some of the gambling tools previously discussed. These tools will allow you to place restrictions on your account and promote safer and healthier gambling behavior.
    • Do not gamble under the influence – If you consume any alcohol or other drugs, you should avoid gambling altogether. Even if a quick session seems harmless, it can lead to poor decision-making since your mind is clouded.