How To Gamble Responsibly and Still Have Fun: Top 5 Tips!

Are you a dreamer or a realist? The distinction is important. When you gamble, it’s important to not allow your dreams to overwhelm your better sense. After all, the likelihood that you become rich from gambling is strikingly low. 

Remember that gambling is a form of entertainment. Remember that all the games you play have a built-in house-edge that sways the odds in favor of the casino. Remember that the more you gamble, the less likely you will make a profit.

Here are a few tips:

• Gambling Isn’t a Business Venture
  To reiterate: gambling is a form of entertainment. It is not a fool-proof, likely, or wise  way to make money. The chances are that you will lose money. While – yes – there are professional gamblers, they are few and far between, and the majority of gamblers make a loss. 
• Limit Your Gambling Time
  Set a limit to the time you spend gambling and be strict with it. The longer you play for, the more likely you will lose. Moreover, it is important that you maintain other hobbies and interests so that gambling doesn’t become your only source of joy. 

That’s right – it’s vital you are strict with your budget! Don’t bet more than you can afford. Don’t ask to borrow money to fund your gambling activities. And don’t chase your losses (it’s unlikely you will win the money back). 

Before you sit down at a slot or a table, crunch the numbers and  see how much you can afford to gamble after your basic expenses. If you make a conscious effort to do this, you will be less likely to spend more than you can afford. 

Here are a few tips: 

• Set Limits
  An easy way to establish a budget is to set a limit. At many of the best online casinos, you can actually set a deposit or spending limit that they will not allow you to go over without your formal permission. 
• Track Your Spending
  Another easy way is to simply track your spending. If you have a lot of self-control,  you can either keep a record of how much you spend, how much you deposit, or plan an approach in advance.

Only play at reputable online casinos that genuinely care about their players. Ethical online casinos promote responsible gambling. In many cases, this means they will be able to direct you to helpful resources, close your account, or introduce you to a range of responsible gambling tools that can help. 

Here are a few tips: 

Reputable Licensing 

One of the hallmarks of a reputable online casino is its licensing. In certain jurisdictions, such as the UK, casinos are required to promote responsible gambling practices. Consequently, you may be better off signing up to an online casino licensed by the UKGC. 

Responsible Gambling Tools

Responsible online casinos offer a set of tools to their players to help them gamble responsibly.

We will introduce you to the most common tools below: 

• Self-Exclusion – You can request to be banned from gambling at a casino or a group of casinos for a specified period. 
• Deposit Limits – This allows you to place a cap on the amount of money you can deposit in your casino account within a specific time-frame. 
• Time Limits – You can set a restriction on the length of time you let yourself gamble online, either for a single session or over a certain period of time.
• Loss Limits – With a loss limit, you can set a maximum amount you let yourself lose over a given period. 
• Reality Checks – These are notifications that pop up on your screen, reminding you of how long you’ve been gambling for, how much you’ve wagered, and your current balance. 
• Cooling-off Period – You can suspend your account temporarily if you think you are starting to spend too much time gambling and would like a break.

A common habit of problem gamblers is that they chase their losses. One effective trick to avoid this is to implement strategies that level-out the odds, making it less likely you will lose, and even less likely you will lose a lot. 

Here are a few tips: 

• Learn the Rules
  The first step to mastering a casino game is to learn the rules of the game. With skill-based games, such as blackjack and poker, learning the rules and figuring out an optimal strategy can improve the odds significantly. 
• Identify Low-Risk Games
  Learning how to identify low-risk games is a great way to approach any game of pure chance. For example, understanding the difference between volatility and RTP will help you find a pokie with the best long and short term odds.

It’s possible that you might not be aware you have a gambling problem before the effects are severe. Problem gambling can develop quickly or perniciously. In all cases, it is vital you are aware of the signs of problem gambling so you can effectively identify the signs in yourself. 

Hallmarks of problem gambling include: 

• Preoccupation – Your thoughts tend to bend towards gambling, such as planning your next bet or reliving past gambling experiences. Sometimes, these thoughts are intrusive. 
• Loss of control – You feel an almost irresistible urge to gamble, even though, in some cases, you know it isn’t for the best. 
• Escalation – The amount you spend on gambling has increased to try and satiate your desire. 
• Financial Difficulties – Your gambling habit is affecting your finances. You may have the urge to borrow money to finance your habit, or even resort to illegal methods. 
• Failing Relationships – You may find that you are lying about the extent of your gambling, or neglecting your responsibilities to family and friends. 
• Negative Emotions – After a gambling session, rather than joy or satisfaction you feel shame, guilt, or anxiety. 
• Withdrawal – A period away from gambling may make you feel irritable and restless. 
• Loss Chasing – You find yourself attempting to regain what you lost by gambling more, often resulting in even greater losses. 

Seek Help When Needed 

If you recognise any of the hallmarks above, it may be worth you reaching out to an organization for extra resources, or for help. We have listed all of the best organizations in Australia below that provide gambling addiction support.