If you cared enough to look up how to stay in control of online gambling, good for you! You’ve already taken the first step towards responsible gambling. The first step to staying in control of online gambling is being aware of the risks and taking precautions to avoid falling into the loop of compulsive gambling.
There is a massive influx of new players to online casinos and higher engagement rates from existing players. It is easy to see why. Online casinos have made it convenient for everyone to experience the thrill of gambling while staying within the comfort of their homes. It is important to exercise more caution when you are gambling online.
Gambling is a form of entertainment and it shouldn’t mess with other aspects of your personal life. By knowing how to stay within the safe zones of gambling, you can enjoy the game for what it is. Being in control of your gambling habits involves having control over the time, money and energy you spend gambling. There are several ways to do this.
Tips For Controlled Online Gambling
Nowadays, there are strict standards set by the government and gambling regulatory authorities for casinos to promote responsible gambling. You can take advantage of these features to play safely. At the same time, there are also things you can take care of by yourself to limit your gambling and financial losses.
The Gambling Mindset
Know that gambling is not a means to earn money or a source of income. Gamble only for the sake of entertainment viewing the money you bet as the fee you pay for the gambling experience and the gaming service you are availing from the operator. If you are lucky, you may win a prize big or small. But there is always a chance that you will return empty-handed. So bet only as much as you can afford to lose and avoid chasing losses. Set your budget before you log into your account and stick to it.
Bankroll Management
You can follow some useful strategies in allocating budget from your bankroll for each bet. This will help you have control over your overall spend. Experts suggest keeping the limit to 1% when playing low RTP games like slots and up to 5% for games you can expect high returns from.
Deposit Limits
Sticking to the amount you promised yourself not to exceed is easier said than done. But worry not, as the responsible gambling policy of casinos now requires them to provide these features that allow you to pre-set your daily, monthly or yearly deposit limit. Once you reach this limit, the casino will not let you play anymore.
Betting Limits
Using the responsible gambling tools on online casinos, you can also set your limit for the wager amount you want to commit to per day, month or year. You won’t be able to relax these limits once you have set them.
Time Limits
Setting time limits is an effective option to avoid losing track of time while playing slots and other online casino games. Set a time limit of 30 minutes, and after 30 minutes of playing, the casino will notify you via pop-ups. This will allow you to do a reality check and stop playing once the time is up.
Self Exclusion
Say you have reached the point of having a gambling problem, your ideal course of action is to resort to the self exclusion option of the casino. By self excluding you would be voluntarily giving up your access to your casino account on the site. You can sign up for self exclusion through the casino’s website for your chosen period which usually ranges from 6 months to forever. The casino will block your account for this period and will not reactivate it until you request for it after the expiry of your set period. Alternatively, you can reach out to their customer service directly and request for self exclusion.
You will also find third-party softwares to block your accounts across all legal online casinos under your jurisdiction.
Avoid Credit Cards
Don’t use your credit card to pay for gambling money. By using high-interest credit cards, you might be digging your own grave. It will be your shortest route to an unending debt spiral.
Conclusion
Online gambling authorities have imposed several measures on licensed casinos to promote responsible gambling. Take advantage of the responsible gambling tools they offer to stay in control in online gambling. There are also strategies you can use to gamble wisely without going overboard. Understanding that gambling is only a form of entertainment and that all casino games are purely games of chance is key.
