Gamble Safely

Imagine that you are on a nice cloud, spinning the reels on your favourite slot machine, making some wins. Suddenly, this huge thunderstorm is heading your way to disrupt your dreamy session.

That is how not playing responsibly can feel. The thunderstorm is, simply put, a possible lack of management and strategy, as it is wise to not play randomly. Nowadays, there are multiple ways of doing that and remain on the cloud.

At Chipy, we consider that a responsible gambler starts winning before even making a wager!

The Responsible Gambler Profile

You win because being responsible while gambling will allow you to create healthy limits, such as sticking to your budget, or not playing for more hours than you initially decided.

Firstly, you should view gambling as a form of entertainment only, and not as a way to make a living. You should also  know when to take a break, or limit your wagers.

Overall, you should have a sense of self-awareness to keep yourself above the water. This mindset can also help you spot potential warning signs of addiction.

Moreover, as a responsible gambler, you can make use of the responsible gambling tools available on an online casino.

Besides the tools available, there is the option to actually keep a diary or an activity spreadsheet to help you keep track of your gambling behaviors, and the time and money you spend.

Gambling Statistics

Thanks to insights from Gambling Industry News, here are some key statistics that not only highlight the global reach and scale of gambling but also emphasize the importance of engaging in these activities in a mindful and responsible manner.

Global Trends

• Approximately 26% of the global population has gambled at some point.
• An estimated 4.2 billion people gamble annually, with 56% of surveyed individuals across 44 countries participating in gambling activities within the last year.

Country-Specific Data

• Australia leads in adult gambling participation (73%).
• In terms of active gamblers: United States (58 million), Germany and the United Kingdom (29 million each), Canada (19.3 million), Australia (6.8 million), and France (4 million).
• China, despite legal restrictions, contributes significantly to global gambling through Macau and overseas activities.

Online Gambling Insights

• The online gambling market, valued at $90 billion in 2022, is projected to grow to $370 billion by 2032.
• Over 176 million active online gamblers exist, with a potential rise to 210 million by 2025.
• Key sectors include online sports betting (127.8 million users) and online casinos (94.1 million users), with desktop devices holding 45% of the online gambling market in 2022.
• Europe dominates the online gambling market, contributing 41% of global revenue.
• Online casinos are the largest sector, accounting for 52% of the market in 2022.

Common Responsible Gaming Tools

According to the Gambling Research Exchange Ontario, any online gambler should benefit from at least seven tools. However, their efficiency is yet to be confirmed through official statistics.

Regardless, we encourage the use of these tools at any point in your sessions, as they can be of assistance towards a safer gaming experience.

Self-limits

Self limits can be applied on both the money and time you spend during a session. When the timer reaches the limit, it will notify you through pop-ups containing visual or audio elements to distract you.

Take a break from playing

Taking a break can last from 24 hours, up to a few weeks or months, depending on the casino. When this tool is activated, it will temporarily suspend your account, or disconnect your session for the duration of time decided by you.

Automatic display of informative messages

This tool can also be used in the form of a Reality Check. This one will not disconnect sessions, but it will distract you from gameplay. Overall, a reality check is exactly what its name suggests. It aims at bringing you back to reality through pop-ups.

Behavioral tracking tools

A behavioral tracking tool is mainly used by casino staff. Its purpose is to monitor each player’s gambling pattern and intervene if things seem to go South. When this happens, the staff will usually advise you on healthier ways of approaching gambling.

Trained staff

Casino operators should provide their employees with specialized training for them to identify signs of gambling problems. Also, upon training, staff members should be able to deal efficiently with the reactions of players.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is a tool that can be found within a casino, or you can head over to specialised organisations, such as GAMSTOP.

While within a casino you can exclude yourself from just the operators' platforms, an organisation will prevent you from opening an account on any gambling platform available.

Marketing of Responsible Gambling

The promotion of responsible gambling is mainly provided by official regulators. This includes advertising the tools and an overall responsible attitude towards gambling activities. Moreover, it is important for casinos to encourage the use of tools on their platforms.

Gambling Costs

One way of keeping gambling safe is to track your finances. Also called money management, it will help you to not spend more than you can afford.

One thing you can do is start a study of your own gambling pattern through journaling. You can write entries depending on how often you play. 

Whether or not you decide to keep a gambling journal, you need to know how much money you spend. This can be done by using a calculator or you can do it yourself if you are a math enthusiast.

To use the online calculator, select the game category, then enter the duration of a session and the value of your bets. The result will advise on the average cost per spin, hour, month and year.

How to Choose a Safe Casino

There are around 4800 land-based casinos and online gambling businesses as of 2023, according to IBISWorld.

Having so many options can be overwhelming and it can leave you wondering which ones are the best casinos for you.

Before getting excited about their design or that small deposit requirement, take a look at some of the following:

1. Verify the casino’s license
   Look for the license in the website's footer and make sure that a platform is regulated by an official institution. If you have any doubts, search the regulator online and view how they are able to protect you as a player.
2. Be aware of the software provider
   Some of the most reputable software providers are Playtech, NetEnt, and IGT (International Game Technology). The providers are important because they ensure the quality, and fairness of games.
3. Verify the casino’s reputation
   To know the casino’s reputation you can read reviews made by other players. In some cases, you might find articles on online news sites about the casino itself or about the operator. This step will help you to create an overall impression about the platform, and be a factor in your decision to open an account with them.
4. Test customer support
   Like any other service, the customer support staff is playing an important role, especially since some actions cannot be taken without their involvement.
   To test the customer service efficiency, ask them a series of general queries about the games, bonuses and account. By way of example, be curious about what happens with your funds if you self-exclude. Observe how the agents interact with you from professionalism to accuracy of the information provided.
5. Available payment options 
   Verify if the possibilities to place deposits and withdrawals are trustworthy. Also notice if through the available payment methods you can find the ones you use. In the end, take a look at the applied minimum and maximum limits and the refunding policy.
6. High-quality security systems
   A SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate will allow a browser to initiate encrypted communications with a web server. This system should be used for making financial transactions.
   Then eCOGRA is another system to look for, as they ensure the level of legitimacy and security of an online casino.
7. Available responsible gambling tools
   Every online casino must have available tools regarding gambling responsibility. Keep in mind that through these tools you should find self-limits and exclusion, take a break, reminder checks, betting or deposit limits and useful links for specialised organisations.

Tips to Safe Gambling

When gambling becomes more stress than fun, we recommend you to take a step back and reconsider your approach. Relying on these tips, there is a high chance of taking back control of your sessions.

Sobriety is your friend

As much as it can become more entertaining or relaxing to play under the influence of certain substances, it is best to avoid them. Being under the influence while gambling online can affect your healthy approach.

Be aware of additional fees

Some casinos might impose additional fees when you place deposits or withdrawals. If this happens and you are unaware, it might modify the money management you had in the first place.

Do not use gambling as a way to pay debt

Start a session with the mindset that you might lose some of the invested money. If you win, that’s great, but that is not the case all the time. Therefore, do not gamble to pay any debt or other expenses such as your rent.

Verify your casino

As we mentioned, before even opening an account at a casino, verify their license, reputation, payment methods, software providers, payment methods and the responsible gaming section.

Doing so will protect you from potential scams and will not expose you to harmful gambling behavior.

Avoid the use of credit cards

Even though some regulators have already banned the registration of credit cards on online casinos, some still offer this option. Without a good money management system, using a credit card can lead to debts and other financial problems.

Gamble Safely Final Thoughts

Gambling safely can be tricky. However, with attention to your gambling patterns and the right strategy and approach, you can maintain this activity as it should be: entertaining, fun, or relaxing.

Here at Chipy we highly encourage you to play responsibly no matter the type of gambler you find yourself to be.