Responsible gambling: it’s about more than money

Casino.org is committed to keeping you safe online, both from dangerous sites and from dangerous betting behaviours. We believe gambling is a safe and enjoyable form of entertainment when played for fun and within your means. This is why we thoroughly vet all casinos reviewed on our site with our 25-step reviews process, and have a range of guides for a variety of games. The more information you have, the better informed your decisions will be.

However, we understand that, for some people, addiction and problem gambling can kick in and lead to a range of very serious issues.

If you think you might be at risk of developing a gaming or betting problem, all of the information listed here can lead you to the information and support you need to get help.

Responsible gambling is when you are playing for fun, you are in full control of what you are playing and how much you are playing with, have set and defined limits which you stick to, and are not causing yourself to suffer financially or mentally as a result of your play.

If you are experiencing a loss of control and not being able to stop, feelings of depression, a strain on your finances, lying about how much you play, chasing losses, or generally experiencing negativity around your gaming, you are at risk of developing, or already having developed, gambling addiction.

If you are finding the above tips difficult to follow, that may be a warning sign for gambling addiction. We recommend taking a free self-assessment test from a responsible safer gambling service to check your behaviours and risks of developing a problem.

The truth about gambling addiction is that it can develop in anyone, especially if responsible gambling advice is ignored. If either yourself, your friend or family member likes to gamble and you are worried about problems developing, our list below should help you spot potential signs of problem gambling:

• Preoccupation with gambling. The person may talk about gambling constantly, or spend a lot of time thinking about it. They may also plan their day around gambling, or make excuses to go gambling.
• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same thrill. This is known as tolerance. The person may start out gambling small amounts of money, but over time they will need to gamble more and more to get the same excitement.
• Trying to control, cut back, or stop gambling, without success. The person may try to quit gambling, but they will find it very difficult to do so. They may even make promises to themselves or others that they will stop gambling, but they will eventually break these promises.
• Feeling restless or irritable when they try to cut down on gambling. This is a sign of withdrawal. When a person stops gambling, they may experience physical and emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and irritability.
• Gambling to escape problems or relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression. The person may gamble as a way to cope with difficult emotions or situations. They may feel like gambling is the only way to escape their problems.
• Chasing losses. This is when the person gambles more money in an attempt to win back money they have already lost. This is a very destructive cycle, as it often leads to even greater losses.
• Lying to family members or others to hide the extent of their gambling. The person may lie about how much they are gambling, how much money they have lost, or where they have been. They may also try to hide their gambling from others by gambling online or at casinos that are far away.
• Risking or losing important relationships, a job, or school or work opportunities because of gambling. The person's gambling may start to interfere with their work, school, or relationships. They may miss work or school, or they may neglect their relationships in order to gamble.
• Asking others to bail them out of financial trouble because they gambled money away. The person may borrow money from friends, family, or even strangers to cover their gambling losses. They may also max out their credit cards or take out loans to gamble.

Ultimately, if you are worried that a friend or family member might be developing, or already has, a gambling problem, it is important to talk to them about it. Avoid being confrontational where possible, but offer your support and help in finding resources and services that can provide the care they need.

If you recognize the signs in yourself, it’s important to see help immediately. Some of the resources you can turn to are:

• Gambling addiction treatment programs: These programs can provide you with the support and treatment you need to overcome your addiction.
• Gambling hotlines: These hotlines can provide you with information and support about problem gambling.
• Gambling counseling services: These services can help you understand your gambling behavior and develop strategies to manage it.
• Gambling support groups: These groups can provide you with support from people who understand what you're going through.

While self-exclusion and blocking tools are a key part of combating and controlling gambling addiction, part of responsible gambling is seeking professional help and support from experts who are trained to identify problem gambling.

To help you make that first step, we’ve teamed up with addiction specialists Aaron Sternlicht, LMHC, CASAC and Lin Anderson, LMHC, M.A., Ed.M., to create an expert’s guide to gambling addiction to help you on your way to finding the professional help and advice you need.

If you feel you need more tailored advice or to speak to someone in person, fortunately most countries with regulated gambling industries also have a wide range of help and support options available. The UK is no different in this regard and there are a wide range of helplines and professional counselling services on offer.

To help you find the support you need, we’ve listed some of the most useful resources below:

While it is illegal in most countries for children to gamble, it’s important to teach them early on about gambling and how to keep themselves safe if they decide to play when legally allowed to do so. If you’re unsure how to start and what you can do to protect them, we’ve made a list of steps you can take:

• Talk to your children about gambling. Explain to them what gambling is, and why it can be both a fun and enjoyable pastime while also potentially being harmful. Talk to them about the risks of gambling, such as losing money, getting into debt, and developing a gambling addiction.
• Set a good example. If you gamble, make sure that you do so responsibly. Don't gamble more than you can afford to lose, and don't let gambling interfere with your work, school, or relationships. Always prioritise the needs of your child over any gambling related activity.
• Monitor your children's online activity. Be aware of the websites that your children are visiting, and the games that they are playing. Many online games now include gambling elements, and it's important to be aware of these so that you can talk to your children about them.
• Talk to your children about the dangers of loot boxes. Related to monitoring online activity, it’s important to address loot boxes in video games. These are a type of in-game purchase that gives players a random chance of winning a prize. Loot boxes have been linked to gambling addiction, and it's important to talk to your children about the risks before they start buying them.
• Teach your children about financial responsibility. Help them to understand the value of money, and how to make wise financial decisions. This will help them to avoid getting into debt, and to make better choices about gambling.
• Use blocking tools to add a layer of protection. Using tools such as NetNanny (where available) to block potentially harmful sites from being accessed by children is a great way to help protect kids from problem gambling. While the industry is regulated and most markets have legal minimum age requirements for gambling, unregulated and unsafe sites exist. By installing blocking tools you can keep your child from accessing these sites in the first place.
• Be supportive. If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of developing, or have already developed, a gambling problem, be supportive and offer your help. There are many resources available to help children and families who are struggling with gambling problems and can be a big help when dealing with the issue.

Unfortunately, once developed, there’s no real “cure” for an addiction - you can only manage it and yourself. To help you keep on top of things, there are numerous self-exclusion tools and blocking-software options available for you to register with and install on your devices as a key part of gambling responsibly.

These essentially prevent you from registering with any new casino or sports betting site, and prevent you from accessing existing accounts if you’re already registered. Blocking software should prevent your device from being able to visit gambling sites completely.

The best tools can also provide support to people who are struggling with gambling addiction. Some tools and software offer resources such as counseling and financial assistance. This can help people to overcome their addiction and rebuild their lives.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, there are many reputable resources available to help. You can talk to a doctor, a therapist, or a gambling addiction support organization to get the help you need.

If you are struggling, please check the list of some of the most highly recommended self-exclusion, blocking tools, and general support options below.

It’s vital to find the service that works best for you:

As a UK resident you can also take advantage of Gambling Block - a service provided by major high street banks to help you restrict online gambling spending. While each bank might have a slight variation, the aim is the same: to block your bank account, debit card, or credit card from being able to make financial transactions with gambling providers.

The list of banks offering this service includes:

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Danske Bank
• Halifax
• HSBC
• LLoyds Bank
• mbna
• Monzo
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Santander
• Starling Bank

You can also find financial support through a range of safe and secure, independent advice foundations such as:

• Debt Advice Foundation
• Debt Support Trust
• MoneyHelper
• National Debt Line
• StepChange Debt Charity