Gambling is a super popular entertainment from around the globe. Yet, like everything else that stimulates humans, some can get addicted to it. That cannot be denied. Regarding playing games of chance online and betting over the Web, this element often gets highlighted due to the negative ramifications that it may have on a person’s social, emotional, and financial well-being.
The medical definition of this impulse control issue states that this behavior is categorized by an uncontrollable urge for individuals to keep wagering despite being aware of the consequences that this activity may cause. In short, this is a compulsive behavior that features a pattern of escalating bets, a preoccupation with this pastime, the desire to chase losses, and withdrawal-like symptoms such as irritability and restlessness when a gambling addict is not betting for extended periods.
According to the latest statistics, only around 2.7% of the population between thirty-five and fifty-four can get labeled as addicted to gambling. Moreover, as people age, research shows they are less likely to develop a compulsion toward this money-making hobby. Still, below, we rattle off five tried-and-tested methods anyone interested in this activity should know that can prevent them from overindulging online.
Set Deposit Limits
Most credible Internet gambling platforms have responsible betting functions for users to utilize from inside their profile pages. If they do not have such options, that does mean that they are not entirely off the table, as usually, an email to the hub’s support staff can be enough to activate them. One of the more famed choices is a feature that permits gamblers to set deposit limits that do not allow them to fund their gaming adventures with a sum above a designated figure for a given period, usually a month.
Naturally, playing at low-roller sites, like online casinos that accept $5 deposits or less, is another option to keep one’s impulses in check. But it is always wise for people with self-control problems to set deposit limits so they do not overspend.
Activate Loss Restrictions
Here is something similar to the measure described above. Nevertheless, instead of limiting the amount gamblers make available to them for this entertainment type, with loss restrictions, they select a ban that pops up when their losses reach a specific sum for a predetermined time frame. So, with this set function in hand, they get notified that they have hit their loss limit for the week/month, or in other words, that they cannot keep testing their luck with their site balance.
Cap Session Length
Instead of limiting a user’s ability to deposit money in their account or freezing their balance when they land on a distinct pre-set loss sum, top-end hubs can also have a session restriction, which caps the length of gaming sessions, individual ones, or weekly/monthly ones. Some games of chance fanatics or sports bettors find this choice handier than the previously discussed ones usually featured at all premium hubs, offering the latest gaming technology.
Trigger a Cooling-Off Period
To put it in lay terms, a cooling-off period in online gambling is something like a time-out. It has been designed to ensure responsible gaming by giving players a break, ranging from a few hours to several weeks, an opportunity to step back and evaluate their gambling habits. During this period, access to the site where the cooling-off phase is activated gets restricted, and tempting promotions get put on hold. Essentially, this is a safety net, one that aims to shield players from the risks of impulsiveness.
Evoke a Self-Exclusion Ban
A self-exclusion ban is the more extreme sibling of the cooling-off period, and it is a self-imposed restriction that can feature a time frame that can span from a few months to up to five years, depending on the selected site and the jurisdictions it falls under. In specific countries with nation-specific self-exclusion programs, activating this ban at one operator makes a gambler ineligible to play at all other sites licensed by the same regulator until their chosen self-exclusion timeframe expires.
FAQs
Is There Such a Thing as Universal Self-Exclusion?
Countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden have nation-specific self-exclusion systems run in conjunction with their government-imposed regulators/licensors.
How to Set Loss/Deposit/Session Limits?
Customarily, a gambler must head to their profile page and look for a responsible gambling function there. And if one is not available, then contacting customer support should be the next step.
Do Casinos Promote Responsible Gambling?
Yes, they do. They do so first because it is moral, and most regulators mandate they supply links to organizations that help with gambling addiction.
The Wrap Up
Following responsible gambling practices is pivotal in keeping online gambling a strictly entertainment-based hobby. Of course, bankroll management is essential in doing this. However, if a person has problems keeping a firm grip on their impulses, they should look to set deposit, loss, or session limits, trigger cooling-off periods, or activate a self-exclusion ban. Also, there is no shame in seeking help when a person feels that their urges are playing a more sizable role in their decision-making processes than their rationale.
