Responsible Gambling: A Guide on Safe Gambling

Gambling should always be fun and never pose a risk to you, your health or your finances. This guide is dedicated to the art of responsible gambling. What is responsible gambling? We’ve described it as an art because you need to take into account your own preferences and tendencies. However, responsible gambling is also a science. 

This guide provides a definition of responsible gambling, explains how it’s connected to problem gambling and offers techniques that will help you stay in control. So, if you want to enjoy gambling and have fun without running into problems, here’s how to bet responsibly.

What is responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling is a two-part strategy that allows you to bet in ways that don’t put you in danger financially, emotionally or socially. Gambling is a form of entertainment with the happy consequence that you can win money. This raises two important points:

1. You should bet in a way that’s enjoyable which, in turn, means not putting yourself under too much pressure or stress.
2. You need to risk money to win money.

Essentially, what you’re doing when you implement a responsible gambling strategy is betting in a way that’s affordable, controlled and, therefore, enjoyable. You do this by only betting what you can afford to lose. Moreover, you bet in a way that’s controlled and not fuelled by emotion. Do this and you’ll get maximum enjoyment for the lowest risk.

Responsible gambling policies in India

India’s top online gambling sites make it easy for you to bet responsibly. Not only do they provide a wealth of information on how to find balance and gamble in moderation, they have tools and policies in place to protect you. 

A responsible gambling policy is an operator’s commitment to customer welfare. Experts monitor your account activity to ensure you’re playing within your means. They’ll analyse your behaviour using sophisticated software to see if it goes against what you’ve done in the past. Then, if they believe you’re in danger, they’ll contact you.

In addition to an overarching policy designed to protect your welfare, Indian operators offer a variety of responsible gambling tools. We’ll explain what these tools are in the next section. For now, just know that Indian gambling sites not only encourage you to bet responsibly, they actually give you ways to take control. 

How to gamble responsibly?

You should now know what responsible gambling means and how operators are duty-bound by regulations to protect your welfare as much as possible. This knowledge is important, but it’s useless without any practical advice on how to manage your behaviour. 

Operators can educate and help prevent problems but there needs to be a certain amount of effort on your part. You need to take accountability for your own actions by using all the resources available. With this in mind, here’s how to gamble responsibly:

1. Setting personal limits

Bankroll management is the foundation of every successful gambling strategy. A bankroll is money you’ve set aside for gambling which, in turn, is money you can afford to lose. We’re not saying you want to or will lose, but you should be prepared for that outcome. That’s why a bankroll should be disposable income. The size of your bankroll will determine your personal limits with regard to the amount you wager, as well as your stop loss/take win limits.

2. Managing your gambling budget

Whatever amount your bankroll is worth should dictate the amount you deposit and gamble. The rule is this: all bets should be a smaller percentage of your total bankroll. Everything you do should be based on the impact it has on your bankroll.

3. Choosing safe, regulated and licensed casinos

Education and prevention are the best forms of intervention. This guide is designed to educate. You can reduce your risk of being scammed or betting irresponsibly by using licensed and reputable online gambling sites. All the sites we recommend are licensed by international organisations. As such, they abide by strict regulations with regard to safety, security, customer support and welfare. 

4. Cooling-off period

It’s easy to make bad decisions in the heat of battle. When luck isn’t on your side and it feels as though everything is going wrong, it’s a good idea to take a step back and reset. The best Indian online casinos, sportsbooks and poker sites make this easy by offering timeouts. A timeout will prevent you from accessing your account for a set period of time. 

5. Self-exclusion

If a few hours, days or weeks isn’t enough, online gambling sites allow you to permanently restrict access to your accounts. This is known as self-exclusion and, in most cases, is an irreversible action.

6. Deposit, wagering and loss limit

If you’re struggling to manage your money, some of the best responsible gambling tools to use are limiters. Specifically, you can set your own daily/weekly/monthly deposit, wagering or loss limits. The operator’s software will automatically restrict your account usage once a limit has been reached. 

Responsible gambling tools

Other responsible gambling tools you can use are session timers and reality checks. A session timer is a clock that tells you how long you’ve been active. You can use this to break up your sessions or limit yourself to a certain amount of time online. Reality checks are prompts that pop up at set intervals. For example, a pop-up might appear every hour and remind you to gamble responsibly or take a break. 

Block gambling payments through your bank account

Setting a deposit limit might not be enough. When you feel as though you’ve developed a gambling problem and want to completely cut yourself off from an online betting site, you can block transactions via your bank. This can be reversed but it takes a few days, so it’s an effective intervention when the risks of gambling have become too great.  

Software that blocks gambling content

In addition to blocking transactions to gambling sites from your bank, you can use third-party software to restrict your own access to gambling sites. The products listed below require you to enter some personal details so they can search a network of gambling sites. Once they’ve identified the sites you’re registered with, they’ll restrict your access so you can’t log in. The responsible gambling organisations that can do this are:

• CYBER PATROL
• GamBan
• GamBlock
• BetFilter
• Net Nanny
• CYBERsitter

Who should you contact if you have problems with gambling?

Speaking to experts is important if you’ve developed a gambling problem, which is why helplines such as Gamblers Anonymous exist. You’re most likely to require counselling if you’re no longer able to moderate your behaviour. The responsible gambling tools available have failed and you need a more personalised form of intervention. This is when you’d call a helpline and get advice from problem gambling experts. Some of the best organisations in this area are:

• The Responsible Gambling Organisation
• Gambling Therapy
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gamble Aware
• GamCare
• GamStop

The Responsible Gambling Organisation

The Responsible Gambling Organisation has been helping operators and players stay in control for more than 40 years. Although it’s not a treatment provider, it does offer training and resources for gambling companies, as well as education for players through help centres, guides and support groups.

• Address: 411 Richmond Street East, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario M5A 3S5
• Telephone number: +1 (416) 499-9800
• Email address: contact form
• Website: https://www.responsiblegambling.org/
• Support group: Yes
• Live chat: No
• Meetings: Yes (in Canada)

Gambling Therapy

Gambling Therapy offers a free support service for people around the world. The organisation is overseen by the Gordon Moody foundation and offers direct support for anyone with a gambling problem. In addition to responsible gambling tips on its website, this organisation has a support forum, online group chats and live support. 

• Address: N/A
• Telephone number: N/A
• Email address: support@gamblingtherapy.org
• Website: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/
• Support group: Yes 
• Live chat: Yes
• Meetings: Yes (virtual and local in-person meetings)

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous was founded in 1957 by Jim W. He’d been through the Alcoholics Anonymous program and thought something similar could be used for problem gambling. He devised a 12-step program that’s now used alongside regular meetings during which people express their concerns, report their progress and lend support to each other. 

• Address: Global locations
• Telephone number: 0330 094 0322
• Email address: info@gamblersanonymous.org.uk
• Website: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
• Support group: Yes
• Live chat: Yes (online chat rooms)
• Meetings: Yes

Gamble Aware

As its name suggests, Gamble Aware is in the business of education and prevention. Anyone can take the Gamble Aware quiz to find out if they’re at risk of developing a problem. In addition to the problem gambling quiz, this organisation offers free personalised support 24/7 via a live chat service or helpline. 

• Address: 5th Floor, Lincoln House, 296-302 High Holborn, WC1V 7JH
• Telephone number: 0808 8020 133
• Email address: info@gambleaware.org
• Website: https://www.begambleaware.org/
• Support group: Yes
• Live chat: Yes
• Meetings: No

GamCare

Founded in 1997 by Paul Bellringer, GamCare is a multifaceted responsible gambling organisation. Its primary function is direct support through its helpline and online chat service. GamCare can also connect people so they can create support networks. Finally, GamCare offers a selection of responsible gambling tools, including MyGamCare, which allows people to set goals, track their behaviour and access useful resources. 

• Address: N/A
• Telephone number: 0808 8020 133
• Email address: Contact form
• Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
• Support group: Yes
• Live chat: Yes (online, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp +44 020 3031 881)
• Meetings: No

GamStop

GamStop is the brand name of the National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited. It’s a resource that allows people to block their access to all sites registered with GamStop. Once you’ve created an account, it’s possible to manage your access to gambling sites.

• Address: 3 Greengate, Cardale Park, Harrogate, HG3 1GY
• Telephone number: 0800 138 6518 (UK number active 10am to 8pm)
• Email address: helpdesk@gamstop.co.uk
• Website: https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
• Support group: No
• Live chat: Yes
• Meetings: No

Responsible gambling vs. problem gambling

Responsible gambling is the act of managing your behaviour to reduce the financial, emotional and personal risks associated with all forms of betting. Problem gambling is when you’re no longer able to control your behaviour. The compulsion to gamble is so strong that it causes you to harm yourself by betting more than you can afford to lose, chasing losses and destroying relationships. 

Signs you might have a gambling problem

Only you know if gambling has become a problem. Other people might notice changes in your behaviour and suggest you’ve got a problem but, ultimately, the responsibility rests on your shoulders. That’s why you need to look out for the signs of problem gambling. The biggest telltale signs are:

1. Financial issues

You might have a problem if your losses are starting to increase in value and you’re wagering more money than you used to. Another financial sign is the desire to chase losses, even if you’ve already lost significant amounts of money. You should also be aware of the feelings you get when you win. If you don’t care about big wins, that’s a problem. Finally, if you’re borrowing money to gamble, you might have an issue. 

2. Mood and behavioural signs

If your mood is directly influenced by gambling, particularly in a negative way, that’s a sign you might have a problem. It’s also problematic if gambling is always on your mind and urges compel you to abandon other things in order to place bets. 

3. Time

Watch the clock when you gamble. If you’re spending too much time gambling, relative to other activities, that’s a problem. 

Do you have a potential gambling addiction?

You can determine if you’ve got a gambling addiction by reviewing the amount you’re betting, your mood and how long you play casino games, poker or bet on sports. Something else you can do is sit down and ask yourself these questions:

• Does the amount of money you’ve spent on gambling make you feel guilty, ashamed or sad? 
• Do you feel more compelled to gamble after a loss? 
• Do you need to wager larger amounts of money to feel any joy from gambling? 
• Has gambling negatively affected your relationships, job and/or studies? 
• Has your gambling caused financial issues for others, including your family and friends? 
• Do you feel restless or anxious when you’re not gambling?
• Has gambling negatively affected your mental and physical health (e.g. stress and anxiety)? 
• Can you honestly say that you don’t have a problem gambling?

Q&A about responsible gambling

Here are just some of the most common questions about gambling responsibly in India: