The most underrated thing when it comes to playing at online casinos is responsible gambling. We gamble online to win money, period. Nothing will stop us, you either go big or go home, right? Wrong!
That was our mindset when we started playing at online casinos. If only we knew then what we know now. We cover the most important sites where players from the US and abroad can get help from.
Before you play games for real money, you’re not the online casino’s responsibility. Online casinos are business entities there to make money and lots of it.
They do however equip you with the necessary tools to ensure safe gambling. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your actions, use them! Online gambling calls for mitigating circumstances.
Know the game you’re playing and only play at reputable online casinos with licenses. That’s the only way to play it safe and of course without any worries.
Now, the tools gambling sites equip you with are self-exclude, deposit and session limits, and cooling-off.
US players with gambling-related problems can get help from the National Council of Problem Gambling. Another top organization is Gamblers Anonymous.
At its core, responsible gambling aims to encourage individuals to gamble responsibly. To get the message across they now educate players to understand their odds of winning and losing money.
It’s the online casino’s responsibility to dedicate a webpage to responsible gambling. The jurisdictions where the casinos hold licenses must enforce it. They must monitor player accounts for irregular play and impose verification checks.
Playing games at online casinos can be fun. But, once you start losing money and chasing your losses things can go South, fast. Luckily the best online casinos in the US keep you on track with the right tools.
When we play slots to win money we use the auto-play function that spins the reels for us. We can set the game to stop once it reaches a certain limit. All that helps with controlling our budget.
There are a few telltale signs that indicate when someone has a gambling problem. The most obvious symptom is severe mood swings, and the person is aggressive. Other symptoms include sleep deprivation and anxiety.
We’ve learned that if you don’t nip the problem in the bud, it will get the better of you. It can lead to a nervous breakdown and financial ruin. Other problems that can lead to problem gambling:
When in doubt we kindly invite you to complete the Gamblers Anonymous 20 questions.
There are many organizations where players from the US can get help from. One of them we rate highly is the National Council on Problem Gambling. They cover all 50 states and they’re available 24/7 throughout the year.
Another institution where gamblers from the UK can get help is responsiblegambling.org. They provide support in different languages throughout the globe as well.
Let’s circle back to the US again to take a look at the National Council on Problem Gambling. They operate across all the states with a helpline that’s available around the clock.
| Institution’s Name | National Council on Problem Gambling |
| Address | 730 11th St, NW, Ste 601 Washington, DC 20001, USA |
| Phone Number | 202-547-9204 |
| Website | www.ncpgambling.org |
| [email protected] | |
| Meetings | No |
| Group Discussions | Yes |
The National Council on Problem Gambling provides help across tribal, and state lines. They’ve been doing it since 1972, therefore, they’ve got it down to a “T”.
Australia has a long way to go when it comes to responsible gambling. Since the early 1990s responsible gambling has been a much-debated issue by the Australian government.
One of the restrictions the government enforces is pokie machines in bars only have a maximum bet of AU$5. Another restriction they have in place is the speed at which players can bet.
The cash amount they can feed into the machines. Online casinos that welcome Australians must ban players if they gamble more than they can afford to lose. The only way to do that is to keep proper tabs on their accounts.
Each state in Australia has its own governing body that oversees gambling. Players who need help with problem gambling can contact the Australian Gambling Council.
The organization also supports players from New Zealand. They provide a variety of guides that educate players about the pitfalls of excessive gambling. They give them a bunch of tips about bankroll management and which games to play.
Canadians love to gamble online, but sadly some individuals often go too far. They chase their losses hoping to strike that life-changing jackpot win. Statistics prove that your chances of winning a jackpot are extremely remote.
Canadians can get help from the Responsible Gambling Council Canada or RGC. The resources they provide include responsible gambling, and they train individuals to help others. People can phone them at +1 (416) 499-9800.
Mainland Europe is huge and there are many countries each with its gambling laws and regulations. Regulations are there to protect the welfare of players and to ensure fair play.
The EU’s role is to ensure that its member states have the necessary responsible gambling policies in place. The minimum age to gamble online is 18 to 21 depending on the member state.
Responsible gambling is important as well. Players from Europe can get help from a variety of sources. Players from Denmark for example can visit Gamblersanonymous.
The UK government is currently busy with legislation that will stop UK online casinos from accepting credit cards. The cop on the beat is the British Gambling Commission.
Their job is to ensure that the casinos have the necessary responsible gambling tools in place. That ensures that players will have fun and it prevents them from sustaining harm.
CasinoWhizz promotes responsible gambling by warning its visitors about the pitfalls of excessive gambling. We have a moral obligation and we promote it sustainably.
We warn players that online gambling is a source of entertainment and not to get rich. So, where can players from the UK get help if they have a gambling problem?
An organization that tops our list is GamCare. They offer anonymous assistance and people can download their free app GamBan onto their phones. The app automatically bans online gambling sites.
GamStop has a facility that enables users to self-exclude them from all the UK online casinos. Moreover, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
GamAnon in the UK helps gambling addicts via Zoom by hosting weekly group meetings. Recovering addicts can host group meetings offering assistance to others. If you’re from the UK, you can contact them at [email protected].
Many players won’t acknowledge that they have a gambling problem until it’s too late. You’re on your way to recovery when you admit that you have a problem. As the saying goes honesty is the best policy.
Online casinos have session limits in place that prevent you from playing for long sessions. We’re fans of self-exclusion and gambling blockers because they stop you from gambling.
Unfortunately, land-based casinos don’t offer the same level of protection as their online cousins. If you’re a problem gambler don’t visit a land casino.
Gamblers Anonymous paints a gloomy picture with their latest land casino stats. If your gambling problem persists, seek professional help.
The online casinos that welcome US players have a responsible gambling page on their websites. They offer players options to cool off, self-exclude, deposit, and session limits.
They have disclaimers warning you against the pitfalls of playing casino games to win money. Before you sign up, check if the casino offers the following tools:
Land casinos often give lip service when it comes to responsible gambling. Worst case scenario they don’t have any player protection policies in place. Are there any preventative measures land casinos can use for responsible gaming? Yes, there are:
It is sad to see children frequent the lobbies of casinos. Or when their parents leave them in cars while they gamble. The sad reality is minors often face the brunt of it.
Get help right away if you see the following:
If the site has a poor reputation from the top review sites, avoid it. Sites that operate without a license or which don’t endorse responsible gambling will steal your money. They don’t certify which company tested the RNGs of their games for fairness.
Furthermore, their withdrawal limits are low and they take ages to pay. For example, some sites will state that they settle crypto payments within 5 days. Whereas Wild Casino pays casino wins via Bitcoin within minutes. See the difference?
Another thing is they don’t use reputable software providers. We know all the mainstream brands, anything out of the ordinary, we dump it. Finally, the online casino does not use SSL encryption to protect your data.
More than 60% of Americans have gambled within the past year, or so. Understandably so because most states in the US permit gambling except Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah.
Around 2 million players in the US are problem gamblers and 4% have some form of gambling addiction. Can you see why it’s important to use responsible gaming tools at online casinos?
If you have a problem controlling your spending at a casino use the resources in this guide right away.
Which responsible gambling tools do online casinos have in place?
They offer self-exclude, a period to cool off and deposit, and session limits. Some of them have self-assessment questionnaires and resources for responsible gambling sites.
What are deposit and session limits?
If you have a weekly budget of $100 you can set your budget accordingly. Session limits will notify you your time is up.
How do legal online casinos spot problem gamblers?
They keep tabs on your account by the amount of cash you spend and the hours you spend playing games. If they see you overplay your budget they’ll warn you, next time they’ll self-exclude you. Further, if they don’t, the jurisdiction they have a license in will slap them with a hefty fine.
Does problem gambling have an impact on minors?
Of course, it does. Children whose parents are compulsive gamblers are often the victims of abuse.
How do I self-exclude from the casino?
Contact the casino and state your reasons why the should self-exclude you. Also, withdraw any cash you may have in your account. If you don’t you’ll have to wait until the self-exclude period is over before you can access your funds again.
