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Responsible Gambling

Responsible Gambling

In the online gambling industry and gambling world as a whole, responsible gambling plays a major part and is a significant element for casinos, especially those which are licensed and regulated by their relevant authority or regulators.

Although the Canadian gambling market is still very much in its infancy, responsible gambling is still treated with huge importance and there are many tools and resources available for those that are keen to know more.

Many online casinos and portals promote responsible gambling and there are many well-informed resources around that help the prevention of and raise awareness about the dangers and risks that are involved.

Over the years, a lack of available knowledge about the risks that are involved in gambling, has led to many problems for those who did not necessarily understand how some gambling products work and that there are no guarantees of winning.

Then there are some gamblers who develop problems because they develop delusions that they will eventually win big and then chase their losses until they get into serious financial difficulties. While there is more information about responsible gambling now, compared to 20 years ago, this is still somewhat of an issue, particularly being associated with younger people.

One of the main causes of gambling addiction for those who develop them is the belief that they can make fast, easy money, almost like a 'get rich quick' scheme. It is often the case, that those who develop these kind of behaviours through gambling become hooked a lot faster and in the majority of cases, these are the usually the most vulnerable.

It is important to remember that the outcomes of gambling are completely random and, while regulated casinos are fair, this can still cause players to keep gambling, even if they are aware that they might have a problem.

Denial is one of the biggest emotions that is associated with gambling and many bury their head in the sand, unwilling to admit that they have an addiction.Making the right and, ultimately, informed choices when it comes to online gambling, is important and there are many different and free tools available for players to learn about the dangers of gambling.

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes.

Responsible Gambling Council

In Canada, the Responsible Gambling Council oversee all issues related to this and they exist to make sure that operators have safeguards in place for the protection and the wellbeing of players. Their mission is a simple one.

It is of particular importance to them that they can continuously work to help prevent problem gambling, while also reducing its potential impacts. One of their roles is to engage in the assistance of operators and regulators in order to undergo jurisdictional reviews, program development and support, in addition to ensuring that there is training available operators and their staff.

They also help to establish responsible gambling standards and as a result provide certification to online and land-based operators. Founded in 1983, this has grown substantially over the years and now oversees every operator in Canada.

Self Exclusion Policies

One initiative that has been introduced that licensed operators have is self-exclusion schemes in place which were brought in as a way to try and reduce the risk of problem gambling. This is where when people sign up to an operator, they can choose, at any time to 'self-exclude' themselves from the operator for a set period of days.

Usually, this is between one and three months depending on the particular operator, while some allow players to choose the duration. When a player opts in for this, it means that they do not have access to that particular operator site for the agreed number days, while the operator is also precluded from sending them any marketing copy.

While this has proved to be effective, it ultimately rests on the discipline of the player to do this, though it still means that they can sign up to another operator site. Although this is not a gambling program, but instead a prevention measure, it rests upon the shoulders of the player to be responsible for themselves and not be tempted during this period.

Why is Responsible Gambling Important?

This is seen as arguably the most crucial element in the industry and this is because irresponsible gambling can, and has, ruined people's lives. What people do not realize, is that not only are they causing harm to themselves, but often others by association.It can develop harm in your social life and also tear families apart.

Making sure that you have an awareness about the dangers of gambling before you start is fundamental and it is worth being dedicated to knowing how gambling works. Operators often have a Responsible Gambling page on their website which provides resources where people can get help often from independent organizations and contact or call the relevant helplines.

How do you Gamble Responsibly?

Knowing how to engage in this is one thing, but making sure that you are able to stick with it is another. While there are many different programs out there that provide advice, arguably the most important thing is to approach gambling with the right attitude and adopt the right behaviour.

There are some people who only engage in gambling or betting on social occasions, such as a night at the casino or a day at the horse racing. However, some do it very regularly. The most important thing is that you do not use gambling as a tool to try and get rich.

As a result, do not gamble more than you can afford, set a limit and do not under any circumstances chase your losses. This is because it can lead to major problems further down the line.

What should I do if I think I have a problem with gambling?

The first thing to do is cancel all of your gambling accounts and then get into contact with an organization that can help. Sometimes, many people who, when they realize they have a problem feel alone and out of their depth, so confiding in someone that you can trust can also be a big help.

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