4 Casinos That Take Problem Gambling Seriously

We all want our gambling experience to be fun. This means getting the best from our winnings, placing sensible bets and knowing when to stop.

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You may have seen campaigns for responsible gambling. These often appear on adverts for sports and other betting apps. These campaigns are supported by organisations such as the Gambling Commission in the UK, The Spelinspektionen in Sweden, the Malta Gaming Authority, which regularly surveys players to understand their habits.

Thankfully, just 0.7% of the population were classed as “problem gamblers” in a 2016 in the United Kingdom. But for the small minority, this can have long-term effects.

Online Casinos are stepping up to combat this and we take a look at what they are doing and the best ones to play in order to ensure your safety now and in the future.

What does responsible gambling mean?

To get a better understanding of responsible gambling, first it’s important to identify any potential problems. These may be your own habits or changes of behaviour in loved ones. You might be able to spot a problem gambler or recognise the following signs in yourself:

• Playing more often than usual
• “Chasing” bets to recoup losses
• Missing out on other activities
• No longer enjoying gambling

Responsible gambling is the notion of setting reasonable limits on yourself. These can be monetary or time-based – as the campaign slogan goes, “when the fun stops, stop”.

Skip to a list of the responsible casinos

Can you gamble responsibly?

All gambling involves an element of risk. That’s what makes it fun.

The differences between having fun and being a problem gambler, however, can be subtle. Both you and your loved ones can improve your gaming experience by setting out a few “casino ground rules” before you play.

How do you gamble safely?

Firstly, you need to choose a reputable casino operator. Well-known brands are extremely diligent when it comes to responsible gaming regulations because they are regulated by strict gaming authorities (as we’ve laid out above).

They may have links on their websites to organisations such as the Gambling Commission, as well as their own policies on responsible gambling.

Look out for evidence of these in the header or footer or your chosen operator’s home pages. If you can’t see any mention of problem gambling or helpful links to known local organisations and charities, stay away.

What do responsible gambling organisations do?

Each organisation’s responsibility is to make you aware of problem gambling, and what you can do to stop it. You may see links to:

The Gambling Commissions

We’ve mentioned a few above, already, and it’s always best to play at a licensed casino. If you’re looking to place casino bets in New Zealand, seeing a UKGC stamp on the casinos lets you know that this licensed casino takes problem gambling and game fairness seriously. Organisation responsible for regulating gambling will generally have “safer gambling” guide, you’ll find links to consumer guides, ways to avoid scams, and tips on how to limit yourself.

Gamcare

The Gamcare website provides on and offline support, including phone helplines, forums, chat services and self-assessment tools. Everything is completely confidential.

The National Gambling Helplines

Almost every country in the world with a casino licence will have a helpline. For UK casino players, this is a free phone line you can call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The service is available for both gamblers and those affected by problem gambling. Simply dial 0808 8020 133 or use their live chat service via the UKGC.

Canadian casino players can call the NCPG free on 1-800-522-4700 who have a total of 28 call centers which provide resources and referrals for all 50 states. Again it’s completely confidential and they can help both those affected by and suffering from problem gambling.

In New Zealand, you can call the 0800 654 655 to contact the NZ National Helpline or free text or 8006. They offer multiple services according to your needs, from the Maori Gambling Helpline, to Pasifika Gambling Helpline, Debt Gambling Helpline, and Youth Gambling Helpline.

Wherever you are in the world, if you google ‘National Gambling Helpline’ followed by your country of residence, you will almost always get the right result and in touch with the people you need.

BeGambleAware and Charities

This is an online guide with helpful information on how to combat problem gambling. You can find confidential help here.

They are a charity, here purely to help those who have gone too far, although there is plenty of other helpful charities around the world who will be able to help, including Gamblers Anonymous where you can find a meeting and get face to face help.

What are casinos doing to prevent problem gambling?

Any licensed, reputable casino will offer the standard “three tiers” of self-limits if you’re struggling to get a hold on your gambling. These tiers are:

Reality checks

A reality check is the least extreme form of self-limiting. It’s a simple pop-up reminder to tell you how long you’ve been playing. You can often change how often these appear within your operator’s app/desktop options.

Time-outs

Time-outs, or Take a Break, allow you to block your account for a set period – 1, 2, 3, 7 or 30 days. You cannot undo this when you set the time-out, and any in-play bets will be invalid.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is when you ask your gambling operator to freeze your account. The minimum time is six months and there is no maximum, though you can choose 1, 3 or 5 years. Some providers allow you to freeze certain types of betting only, for example, you freeze betting virtual sports but can still play on slots.

Play safely and responsibly with our recommended casinos

All reputable casinos want their customers to enjoy playing their games, within monetary and time limits. These licensed names are all well-known for their commitment to responsible gambling.

1. Mr Green

Mr Green Casino offers self-assessment tools and the above mentioned self-limiting methods, plus the ability to set deposit limits. They have a special tool which will also give you warnings if you play out of your usual amount or time, giving you a little heads up when you start playing too much.

2. Royal Panda

Royal Panda Casino backs the Responsible Gambling Trust, and offers limits on sessions, time, losses and wagering. It also features tips on how to sign up with GAMSTOP.

3. Leo Vegas

Leo Vegas Casino offers Leo SafePlay, which has a self-assessment tool, time alerts, a number of different limits and a comprehensive history of all your bets.

4. Casumo

Casumo Casino features many online guides for those who think they may be problem gamblers. There are tips on how to take breaks, plus links to responsible gambling organisations as well as the usual player limits which you can set yourself or ask the live chat to do it for you.

Other ways to avoid gambling addiction

We can all get addicted to things at one time or another. If you think you may be vulnerable to gambling addiction, consider the following:

• Not gambling at all
• Asking a loved one to keep an eye on your habits
• Imposing limits with reputable casinos
• Taking up a new hobby or just going for a walk if the feeling strikes
• Having a device time-out
• Avoiding channels likely to advertise gambling e.g. sports programmes

Gambling is risky, but it should always be fun. By playing with reputable providers, you can limit your time and spend, giving you a more enjoyable playing experience.

Here at LuckyMobileCasinos.com we believe in responsible gambling. It’s important to find the right balance in life, and keep that in mind – don’t let gambling or any other addiction take over.

Even if you’ve never been addicted before, it’s always a good idea to play at a casino that takes responsible gambling seriously. You can never predict the future, and it’s always better to play at a site that has a built-in parachute.