Responsible Gaming
Safe Gaming Hub
This is how it’s usually done:
1 – Log in to the online casino
2 – Click into your player account
3 – Click on settings and then on responsible gambling
4 – Set the limits you want to impose and click save
Most casinos will allow you to update your limits at any time, except when you’ve exceeded a limit. In those cases, you’ll have to wait for the limit period to pass before you can make a change.
Gambling safety checklist
Safe gaming and making sure you’re gambling responsibly is more than just setting limits. There are some important things you should check before you play that will help you adopt safe gaming practices and stay in control:
– You are over 18 years old and are playing at an online casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
– You have a gambling budget and stick to it at all times.
– You have set limits to ensure you don’t lose or spend more than you can afford.
– You have set session limits and log out when prompted to do so by the online casino.
– You give yourself a time-out if you feel you’re spending too much time playing online casino.
– Contact a gambling addiction charity if you believe you are showing signs of problem gambling.
How to spot if you have a gambling problem
One of the biggest challenges with any addiction – including gambling – is that it’s hard to see and check for in others, but especially in yourself. If online casino is something you enjoy and your brain is telling you to do it more, more often, with higher stakes, it might seem less apparent to you how it’s impacting your life.
There are some early signs to watch out for to tell if you or someone you know is developing problem gambling habits. Being aware of these habits and signs is essential to keep you, or someone you know, safe. This includes:
– Playing with more money than you can afford to lose.
– Gambling with money that’s ordinarily set aside for bills or other financial responsibilities.
– Borrowing money or selling possessions so you have more money to gamble.
– Gambling starts interfering with your work or your relationships with friends and family.
– Using gambling as a coping method or escape from other things happening in your life.
– Playing under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
– Lying to friends and family about how much you gamble, or how much time you spend gambling as well as hiding when you do.
– Spending more time playing in an attempt to chase your losses.
– Feeling anxious, stressed, depressed or suicidal because of what happens when you gamble, or having these feelings because you aren’t gambling.
What to do if you think you’ve got a gambling problem
If you see any of the behaviours or habits mentioned in you or someone you know, they could have or be developing a gambling problem. It’s important to remember that if it’s what it looks like, you’re not alone and there’s plenty of help and support for you.
If you do think you have a gambling problem the best thing to do is take a break from playing online casinos entirely. Set cooling-off periods for the sites you play at to give yourself a bit of space to address your gambling behaviour, share your experience with the people important to you and seek advice if you need it. From there, figure out what next steps and support you need to get better, including potential self-exclusion.
There are lots of people and support networks you can contact anonymously and with confidence, including many gambling addiction and support charities that operate in the UK. We’ve included a comprehensive list of organisations and their websites, contact details and how you can reach them below.
GambleAware
As an independent charity, GambleAware’s mission is to create awareness of problem gambling while reducing the effects of addictive gambling as well as funding research, education and treatment of gambling-related harms
Live chat – Yes
Tel – 0808 8020133
Go to GambleAware
GameCare
One of the UK’s leading responsible gambling organisations, GamCare provides support and information to those affected by addictive gambling, offering advice, education and treatment for problem gamblers.
Live chat – Yes
Tel – 0808 8020133
Go to GamCare
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous facilitates the meeting of men and women suffering from gambling addiction in an effort to help them support each other through their compulsive gambling issues.
Live chat – Yes
Tel – N/A
Go to Gamblers Anonymous
How to completely block casino sites
If you decide to stop playing online casino and want to put more limits on than a cooling-off period or self-exclusion from the sites you’ve been playing, there are extra steps you can take to stay protected.
There are specific pieces of software that can block online casino and gambling sites more broadly, not just on a site-by-site basis. Products available in the UK include…
GAMBAN – gamban® can be installed on any computer, smartphone or tablet and will block access to all online gambling websites and mobile applications.The software costs only £1 per month per device, which means you can block access to all online gambling sites for as little as £12 per year. It targets online gambling sites only, and once installed can’t be removed.
NET NANNY – Net Nanny® is a general internet filter used by thousands of people in the UK and further afield to block access to certain categories of websites, including online gambling.There are different products and prices offered, but you can protect up to five computers and mobile devices for around £1 per device per month.