Safer Gambling – Tips & Tools
Gambling is fun but for a small number of people it can get out of hand leading to problems and for some, ultimately, addiction. Gambling addiction is a real thing and while it only affects a minority of people it is growing.
A simple but important thing to remember is to treat gambling as a game or pastime. It is not a way to make money.
This guide provides practical tips and advice on how to gamble responsibly online and avoid developing potentially dangerous behaviours.
Firstly and vitally important: only gamble at a UK Gambling Commission-licensed site – by law they must implement the safer gambling measures and tools we’ll be covering below.
Tips for staying in control
Set yourself limits
One way of staying in control is to set yourself some limits. And stick to them. The combination of time, loss and win limit works very well for many players:
- Time limit – set yourself a time limit on how long you will play for. It could be an hour, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or whatever.
- Loss limit – how much are you prepared to lose? £15? £10 or however much.
- Win limit – how much do you want to win? £20? £30 or whatever it may be.
And here’s the important bit: stop playing when you reach the FIRST of those limits.
Bet within your means
It’s kind of obvious but you should always and only bet within your means. Betting more than you can afford comes with the risk of plunging you into debt. Don’t borrow money to gamble. And don't gamble with money you need for rent, bills or other essentials.
Manage your bankroll
Decide how much of your monthly net income you are prepared to gamble with over the course of that month – 1%, 5%, 10%, whatever. Then break it down further each time you play. What proportion of your bankroll are you going to spend in that session? Allocate a percentage (1%, 3%, 5%?) or a set amount (£5, £10 or whatever) and stick to it.
That illusive ‘big win’
Don’t be tempted to keep playing in the hope of having that 'big win' because they rarely happen.
Don’t chase your losses
If you've lost your bankroll then chasing your losses by depositing even more money is not the answer. The chances of recouping your losses this way is absolutely minimal.
Keep track of time
Monitor how much time you spend online gambling. Keep a record and then set limits for future sessions.
Quit while you’re ahead
Don’t be fooled by an early win when you go online. If you have a big win, be modest. Don’t tell people you’re ‘on a roll’ or have any expectation that this is the start of ‘a winning streak’. It's a game of pure luck – remember that. Stopping playing when you're ahead is just as important as when you're losing.
Available tools
Your chosen online casino will likely have some measures to support you. If you find you’re unable to limit your gambling through self-driven measures then you could consider using one or more of a whole host of useful tools offered by regulated casinos.
Deposit limits
UKGC-licensed casinos will allow you to set a deposit limit. You specify the maximum amount you’re willing to deposit during a given period of time – a week, month or whatever. Deposit limits can be decreased with immediate effect, however, if you want to increase a deposit limit this will only be actioned after 24-hours – thus providing a cooling off period.
Time limits
Most online casinos will allow you to set a time limit – meaning you can only gamble for the specific amount of time set. A time limit such as this will stop time (and money) from running away...
Reality check tool
Usually enabled automatically by casinos, the reality check tool will periodically pause any game you’re playing and tell you how long you’ve been playing. Some tools will also tell you how much money you’ve won or lost – a prompt as to when to stop playing, take a break or cash out.
Cooling off periods
Players can activate a cooling off period at most casinos. If you’re gambling more than you think you should then consider locking yourself out of your account for a set period of time – somewhere between 24 hours and a week.
Temporary exclusions
If you feel you need more than a cooling off period, a temporary suspension would have you locked out of your account for anywhere between 1 and 3 months.
Self-exclusion
If you think your gambling is really taking over you may want to consider self-excluding completely. You can either self-exclude from a particular online casino or from all UK-licensed online casinos. Exclusion periods range from 6 months to 5 years. Services such as GAMSTOP will prevent you from either opening an account or playing at any UK-licensed online casino. You can get a full list of self-exclusion schemes here. They’re all free to use.
Advice for keeping it fun
Ensure you have some balance in life
Outside of work or study ensure you have some balance in life and it’s not too gambling focused. Once you’ve determined your per week gambling time limit, consider some other things you should do:
- Spend time with family and friends, socialise
- Watch films, TV and sport
- Listen to music and podcasts
- Play sport / do physical activities / go for walks
It’s important to spend time with people who have other interests.
Gambling is not a way to make money
Yes, there are occasional big wins but these do not translate, long-term. Random number generators (RNG) and return to player (RTP) settings on games mean that casinos, mathematically, will ultimately win. Payouts are programmed randomly. Overall and long-term casinos will pay out less than what has been wagered.
Ignore the myths and the BS; gambling is a game of chance
Very few people make a living gambling – some poker players and a few people who bet on horse racing. But they are not games of chance; there is an element of skill.
- Online gambling is all about luck – it's purely a game of chance.
- Don’t follow ‘strategies’ or systems – they can’t work. Online gambling is a game of luck, not skill.
- ‘On a roll’ is a myth. Don’t get over-excited by a nice win. They only happen occasionally.
- ‘Due a win’ is a myth.
- ‘Owed some luck’ is a myth.
There are no ‘winning formulas’ to gambling online.
Think rationally. It’s fun and there are occasional big wins but over an extended period of time the casino will always win. Pay-outs are random – hence the name ‘random number generator’ – the mechanic used by casinos to ensure pay-outs are not on a cycle. The outcome of every spin is genuinely random.
When NOT to gamble online
There are times and instances when you're best off not gambling online:
- When you’ve been drinking alcohol.
- If you have taken any recreational drugs.
- If you’re feeling upset, angry, low or depressed.
- If you’re gambling to get some ‘relief’ from external pressures.
- If you’re on any prescribed medication it may influence your mood or behaviour – check with your doctor.
Remember to take regular breaks from gambling online.
Get support
Organisations that can help you
There is no shortage of places to turn to if you feel you need help or have been advised to seek help. Many of these organisations also support problem gamblers’ family and friends. Don’t be afraid to talk to them. They’ve heard versions of your story before and have helped those people.
Refer to our Get Support guide for a full list of organisations and contact details.
In debt from gambling and need help?
If you’ve managed to accumulate a worrying level of debt from gambling then it can feel like you’re trapped. Below you’ll find a number of compassionate organisations that offer advice for anyone struggling with money problems as a result of excessive gambling.
Summary
Playing casino games is fun. But they’re games of luck; pure chance. Winning is exciting but long-term you cannot expect to end up ‘ahead’. Every online game is subject to the ‘house edge’, i.e. long-term, the ‘house’ will win.
Sadly, some people develop problems and ultimately addictions to gambling. We want you to continue keeping your gambling at the fun level, hence this guide.
Remember, always gamble responsibly.
This guide is part of our collection of responsible gambling guides. The others are:
