How to Gamble Responsibly

Responsible gambling is something every reputable betting site and online casino takes very seriously. There are plenty of ways to take control of your gambling habits before gambling starts controlling you. Read on to learn more about responsible gambling and the tools you can use to limit your gambling.

What Is Responsible Gambling? 

Simply put, responsible gambling means a set of tools offered by betting sites and online casinos. You can use these tools to control how much money and time you spend gambling. The most important thing to know is that most gambling companies have no limits by default, so you will need to set them yourself. 

Know Your Limits and Set Some Limits 

All betting sites have a responsible gambling policy – and if one doesn’t, you should take your stakes elsewhere. Before you can set your limits, you should know your limits. That is, you should first see how much you can afford to gamble. 

To do that, you should first add up all your income, and then deduct living costs, food, hobbies, and other monthly expenses. Then, decide how much of the remaining part you are willing to part with if the bets don’t go your way. 

Once you’ve decided on your gambling budget, it’s time to get familiar with the different types of limits betting sites offer. Choose the best and remember that you can apply several limits at the same time.  

Deposit limits 

A deposit limit is probably the most common one out of all the typical options. Simply pick an amount and a time frame, like $500 in a month. Once you’ve deposited five hundred bucks within one calendar month, the site will prohibit you from depositing any more. Most betting sites allow you to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits. 

Wagering limits 

By setting a wagering limit you can control how much you’re able to stake within a given period. For example, if you set a wagering limit of $100 a day, the site will not allow any more bets once you’ve hit the limit.  Adjusting wagering limits is a great way to ensure you don’t blow it all in new bets when you hit a bigger win. 

Loss limits 

Loss limits make it impossible for you to bet more once you’ve lost a specified sum within a predetermined time frame. If you set a limit at $200 a day, you’ll be forced to stop gambling if you’ve lost two hundred in a day. 

Time limits 

Some betting sites also offer the possibility of limiting the amount of time you can spend logged in. These limits are a good way of making sure you don’t spend countless hours playing when you should be doing something else. Of course, limiting the time you spend gambling can also affect how much money you’ll be spending. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Responsible Gambling 

When it comes to gambling responsibly, there are some things that you should do, and some you should avoid like the plague. Here are a few of the most important dos and don’ts. 

The dos

Set a limit before you start. This is by far the easiest way to avoid overspending. 

Treat gambling as entertainment. Like playing a game of pool or throwing a few coins to a street artist, gambling means playing for entertainment. 

Have other hobbies as well. Gambling can be a great pastime activity, but it shouldn’t be your only hobby. Get some other hobbies, like jogging or knitting, to balance things out. 

The don’ts 

Don’t chase your losses. Losing is a part of life, so if you happen to lose gambling, just let it slide. Trying to win back your losses can easily result in more losses. 

Don’t play while inebriated. Having a drink or a few can be fun, but combining alcohol or any other intoxicating substances and gambling is a recipe for disaster. 

Don’t play for more than you lose. This is arguably the most important piece of advice: only gamble with your own money you can afford to lose.

Don’t Wait – Get Help in Time 

Gambling is fun and that’s the only thing it should be – it’s entertainment, even if it can be profitable from time to time. But there is a point when it’s not fun anymore, and can start to feel like a burden. 

If you start to feel you might be spending too much time or money gambling, it’s good to stop and consider getting help. It’s never too early to halt betting or playing casino games, and it’s better to do it before the problem gets too big. There are plenty of organizations out there that offer information and assistance, such as BeGambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous. Reach out if your gambling feels like getting out of your control. Remember, you’re not alone; keeping issues to yourself seldom does any good.