At its best, playing in online casinos is an entertaining, exciting, and profitable activity.
We believe in helping our community get the most out of its gaming experience, so we also have some information to disperse about responsible gaming.
We know everyone loves a win – whether that's a few cents at the poker table or a massive progressive jackpot – but it's important to not lose sight of the losses.
As any seasoned and sensible player can confirm, the magic of online casinos lies in the thrill of playing the games, rather than their outcomes.
This is a view we strongly support, but some players can still get entangled with addiction. If problem gambling is left unaddressed, it can lead to serious financial, personal, and mental issues.
We care about your wellbeing and so do the best online casinos out there. There are options available to you if you feel that your gambling behaviour is getting out of hand.
The golden rule in the world of online casinos is to know your limits and never go past them.
Don't treat playing as an opportunity to indulge recklessly. Instead, take careful decisions about how you spend your time and money, where to play, how to have fun, and when to stop. As the saying goes, by failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail.
These guidelines are a good start to gambling responsibly:
Underage gambling is prohibited by law and online casinos should take the necessary measures to ensure that no one under the legal age is permitted to play.
The minimum age for gambling in Canada varies between provinces.
Problem gambling doesn't happen overnight so it can be hard to diagnose in yourself or others.
The symptoms usually develop over time and the earlier you notice them, the higher the chances of making a quick recovery without any further negative consequences.
Here are the classic signs to look out for:
More information about gambling addiction is available on the Health Canada website. If any of the above sound familiar to your situation, it might be time to assess your gambling habits.
Seek help immediately if most of the symptoms described apply to you. Acting in good time is the best possible thing you can do for your health and wellbeing of those closest to you.
If you're displaying signs of problem gambling or addiction, there are many avenues that can help you take a step back or get the support you need.
Depending on how severe the problem is, you should either try toning down your gambling behaviour, withdrawing completely, or seeking help from professional sources.
Some gambling support organizations and online casinos offer a self-assessment facility that allows you to determine whether a gambling problem is present, and how severe it may be.
GamCare's self-assessment tool, for instance, walks you through 16 statements to determine your gambling risk level.
"Reality checks" are notifications that appear in online casinos which remind you about your playtime. They help ensure that players are alerted about the length of their sessions on a regular basis.
Reality checks are supported by many online casino sites, most notably all casinos licensed in the UK and Malta.
You can be the master of your own self and elect to take a break from gameplay when you notice you've been playing for a while. In this way, you can assert more control over the time you spend playing and the choices you make.
Online casinos are also required to offer the option of self-exclusion. You can request to be barred from accessing your player account for a length of time ranging from hours to years and delete your account permanently too.
Going a step further than self-exclusion, blocking online casino and betting sites can be done if the temptation to gamble anywhere is too strong.
You can do this by tweaking the settings on your browser or operating system. Using a password-protected website blocker or gambling-specific blocking software is a smart choice.
Gamban is the best software for blocking gambling websites. These include online casinos, sports betting, bingo, lotteries and any other form of betting.
Get your promo code for a free trial and download the software here.
Website: https://gamban.com/
When none of these methods produce the desired results or the problem is too extensive for you to handle on your own, you should seek professional support.
There are a number of organizations in Canada that provide an array of support services to problem gamblers.
A fellowship offering various resources for compulsive gamblers, including a forum, chat room, literature, and a meeting finder for locations across Canada and abroad.
Gamblers Anonymous lists meetings and hotlines for each province. Get help immediately.
Website: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/
Meeting finder: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/addresses/
The equivalent of Gamblers Anonymous for relatives and friends of problem gamblers and addicts. A fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, partners, children, or close friends and relatives of compulsive gamblers and who have been affected by their problem.
Website: https://www.gam-anon.org/
Meeting finder: https://www.gam-anon.org/meeting-directory/canada-meeting-directory/
An independent non-profit organization funding gambling research and awareness programs. Responsible Gaming Council also works to improve play safeguards by researching best practices, developing standards, and providing accreditation via its RG Check program.
Website: https://www.responsiblegambling.org/
Getting help with problem gambling can start by downloading an app. There are two useful apps for different purposes. Both are available on Android and iOS.
Monitor Your Gambling & Urges is an introspective app that helps you recognise what feelings and situations trigger the urge to gamble and feed the problem behaviour.
GT app features a questionnaire to assess your gambling habits, gives you helpful insights and exercises, and links to organizations that can provide more help.
Mobile Monitor Your Gambling & Urges (MYGU): https://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/mygu-getmobile/
