Responsible Gambling

What Does it Mean to Gamble Responsibly?

Responsible gaming is a very broad concept that includes policies and requirements set in place by governments, companies and individuals, to make sure that gamblers are always offered a safe user experience that protects them from the negative consequences of excessive gambling.

Gambling should always exclusively be treated as a pastime, and not as a way to generate income. Though most people can treat gambling as a hobby, for some this can be difficult.For this reason, operators and software developers are required to provide a series of services that comply with the principles of responsible gaming, as well as a series of technical and legislative demands.There are seven main areas connected to Responsible Gaming: 

• Protection of vulnerable gamblers
• Prevention of underage gambling
• Safety measures against criminal activities
• Information Privacy
• Online payment protection
• A secure online environment
• Ethical and responsible marketing

The Seven Areas of Responsible Gambling

1. Protection of vulnerable gamblers

One of the main parts of responsible gaming has to do with the protection of vulnerable players. Some players might suffer from an addiction to casino games or sports betting by spending too much time and money on it. To prevent this kind of behavior, there are self-exclusion programs, with which players can limit the amount of money and time they spend on a gaming site. Furthermore, each country poses its own limitations. There are also many organizations that can assist gamblers that have lost control of their habits.

2. Prevention of underage gambling

It’s extremely important to protect younger people who did not reach the legal age to gamble. This is one of the main aspects of responsible gaming, and one that falls under the responsibility of online operators. For them to make sure no underage gambling takes place on their platform, they’ll need to have a clear registration process for all players and mandatory verification to verify the age of the user. Furthermore, parents are invited to monitor the access of minors to these websites by installing parental control apps and programs on their devices.

3. Safety measures against criminal activities

Gambling websites can be affected by criminal online activities just like any other website that deals with financial transactions. Online criminals use malicious software that targets the website’s vulnerabilities to obtain private and financial data. To fight this occurrence, operators have inserted procedures and software programs that will detect and block money laundering and hacking.

4. Information Privacy

The online operator also has the responsibility to protect customers' private information. For this purpose, several policies about access to private data such as names, addresses, and phone numbers.

5. Online payment protection

Operators that offer betting and gambling need to make sure that players can use a reliable software platform that will keep their data protected. This means that the casino platform should ensure safe deposits, transfers, and withdrawals.

6. Creation of a secure online environment

The operators also have a responsibility to create safe environments for people to play at. For such purpose, they need a series of controls and mechanisms in place.

7. Ethical and responsible marketing

Operators should comply with relevant regulatory advertising codes of practice which are meant to ensure these advertisements are correct and don’t target underage or vulnerable gamblers, such as players that have self-excluded. Providers must also seek permission from customers before engaging in direct marketing using the customer’s details.

Aboutslots promotes responsible gambling

Aboutslots does everything in its power to promote responsible gambling. On our website, you’ll find several responsible gaming practices, such as a secure platform and plenty of advice on how to approach gambling with the right mindset. We also link through our reviews many associations against gambling addiction, such as Gamblers Anonymous. You should also feel free to reach out to us by email or live chat.

What are the risks of problem gambling?

There are several risks with gambling going from fun entertainment to an addiction. At first, it can result in social problems when an addict neglects friends and family for an Internet casino. The risks increase the longer an addicted person keeps playing without seeking help or changing his gambling routines. Because of ludomania, some people have lost all they have in the form of jobs, relationships, or career opportunities.

Problem Gambling

Problem gambling is also called gambling addiction, or the more clinical ludomania. Someone addicted to gambling struggles to control the amount of money they are playing for, which can lead to severe negative effects on social and family relationships. Psychiatrists thought for a long time that problem gambling was an impulse control disorder, but they agree these days that it’s an addiction. Gambling addicts can be diagnosed with mental illness and are at higher risk of ending up with other types of addiction than other people.

What are the signs that someone may have a gambling problem?

Problem gambling is also called gambling addiction, or the more clinical ludomania. Someone addicted to gambling struggles to control the amount of money they are playing for, which can lead to severe negative effects on social and family relationships. Psychiatrists thought for a long time that problem gambling was an impulse control disorder, but they agree these days that it’s an addiction. Gambling addicts can be diagnosed with mental illness and are at higher risk of ending up with other types of addiction than other people.

• Protection of vulnerable gamblers
• Prevention of underage gambling
• Safety measures against criminal activities
• Information Privacy
• Online payment protection
• A secure online environment
• Ethical and responsible marketing

Gambling addiction? Seek help!

There’s a wide range of programs helping gambling-addicted people. A common treatment is a 12-step program, similar to what Alcoholics Anonymous uses. Gamblers Anonymous is present in many parts of the world, and you should be able to contact your local branch by searching the internet. Most countries also have both state-run and non-governmental help organizations. Gamcare and BeGambleAware are two examples of British organizations, and you can also find the German Check Dein Spiel, the American National Council of Problem Gaming, and the Swedish Spelberoendes Riksförbund, among many others. You can contact them anonymously by phone, chat, or e-mail.

Seek Help If You Or Someone You Know Is Having Gambling Problems!

Responsible gambling is a great tool to keep out of issues that might occur not just from excessive gambling, but also from a lack of security at the chosen platform. As a gambler, following the guidelines will severely decrease the risks of turning your fun and entertaining casino sessions into a problematic condition which, in the worst case, can affect your most loved ones heavily.

Even if you feel like you have everything under control, it could be a smart move to set spending and time limits on your online casino profile. You might discover that you’re spinning your favorite video slots or betting on that roulette table far more – or less – than you thought.

Being able to monitor your time and money is a handy thing with online casinos, which is trickier when visiting a physical branch. The downside is that no one is watching you when you’re playing on your computer, mobile phone, or whatever you use. Many casinos use AI and other methods to discover problem gambling, but they are far from perfect.

Another considerate move is to look for signs of gambling problems among your friends. Do you know someone you can barely talk to anymore because he constantly thinks of something else? Or have you lent a family member money without being told a proper reason why they need it? Pay attention to their habits and moods, discuss your gambling habits with your friends and share experiences.If you realize that you’re having a problem, don’t be afraid to seek help. Some might lean on a friend or family member to help them, while others instead contact organizations where they can be anonymous. Pretty much all organizations have fully anonymous ways of communication. However, we strongly advise anyone having a gambling addiction to at least tell their closest ones.