How To Gamble Responsibly Online

Responsible gambling is a key concern in a growing age of easier access to casinos and through online desktops, tablets and mobile phones.

Gambling on slots, table games, sports betting or bingo should be seen as a form of entertainment and never as a way to make money.

Using only expendable cash, or money you can afford to and are prepared to potentially lose will keep you in good stead and on the right foot.

However there are a few key tips that can also help make sure you don’t play with more than you can afford or form a gambling problem.

• Set yourself limits on how much to deposit or bet. The casinos will let you set these on your account, if in doubt ask customer support
• Limit the amount of time you spend gambling online. This will help limit your exposure which can help curb any possible addiction
• If you win, cashout so that you always have extra cash to play with another day. Do not deposit more than your limit
• Keep a record of your wins and losses per session, this way you’ll be able to see how much you are up or down each week and wether you should continue
• Talk to people. If you believe that you are having troubles with gambling then talk to your family, friends or anonymously to support programs
• Don’t mix gambling with alcohol. Mixing alcohol with activities doesn’t mix well, and the same can be said for gambling and addiction

Do you think you have a problem?

Identifying a problem gambler whether it’s yourself or someone else isn’t always easy, however there are some common patterns or signs to look out for.

• Do you play every single day of the week?
• Do you spend your time thinking about gambling when with other people?
• Do you deposit and play with more than you can afford to in the hope to win big?
• Do you cut yourself off and isolate yourself from friends and family in order to place bets?
• Do you try and chase your losses, by spending more in order to try and get back what you’ve bet?

These are a few questions to ask yourself, if the answer to any of these is yes, then it might be worth seeking some form of help to try and prevent any further losses.

Gambling help is available

If you think that yourself or anyone you know has an addiction is showing signs of gambling addiction then there are online tools, or institutions that can help you.

In Canada you have the Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario who provide you with more information, community forums and access to help via the online gambling helpline.

Another source of information is the Responsible Gambling Council who provide more resources.

Remember! Gambling is meant to be fun and provide you with entertainment, not as a way to make money.