Responsible Gambling: One of the Most Important Points at Online Casinos

At GambleBeaver.com, we are strong advocates for responsible gambling, and we are fully behind its role in creating a safe and healthy online gambling environment.

While gambling may lead to some issues, responsible gambling measures and advice are there to prevent those issues from happening in the first place.

We believe that every player has the right to control how much they play and how much they spend. Gambling is a fun activity, especially when you have the right mindset, as well as the appropriate tools at your disposal.

What is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible gambling is a combination of efforts by online casinos, independent authorities, regulatory bodies – and sites like our own – to promote safety and control when playing gambling online.

Regulatory and Licensing Bodies

Responsible gambling authorities provide online casinos with guidelines – and sometimes rules – on how they should offer help to players. For example, all casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority must offer players the ability to self-exclude.

In the UK, the UK Gambling Commission takes responsible gambling to great lengths. Namely, the UKGC ensures that self-exclusion is possible from all online casinos nationwide.

The above-mentioned examples are just a few of the many measures that shape the landscape of online gambling today.

Gambling licensing authorities like the MGA and UKGC also provide marketing guidelines to online casinos and partners. They impose strong measures against underage gambling, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, and they also actively fight money laundering schemes.

These are the most common and reputable licensing authorities in the online casino market:

• Malta Gaming Authority
• Curacao eGaming Authority
• UK Gambling Commission
• Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Free Anonymous Help

There are dozens of third-party, independent organizations that actively help promote and regulate responsible gambling.

• BeGambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gambling Therapy
• GamCare
• GamTalk

These organizations are not for show. Here, any player can get free, anonymous help anytime they want. If you suspect you have a problem arising due to gambling, you have numerous free professional services to seek help.

How Online Casinos in Canada Promote Responsible Gambling

Online casinos offer advice, customer support and, most importantly – self-control tools you can use to control how much you play and how much you spend.

You are free to reach out to the customer support department of any online casino, stating you have a gambling problem. You will receive immediate assistance and guidelines on how to move forward, depending on the context of your issue.

All online casinos also offer heaps of advice on how to gamble responsibly. However, sometimes advice and “talk therapy” are not enough. This is where self-control tools come into play. They are by far the most effective way of preventing gambling control issues such as overspending.

These are some of the tools you’ll find available when you play at online casinos in Canada:

• Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion restricts access to the online casino for a certain period. The usual self-exclusion length ranges between 1 month and up to 5 years. You can also self-exclude permanently. Reversing self-exclusion takes up to 30 days.

• Cool-off periods

Cool-off periods are just like self-exclusion but less rigorous. You can cool-off for a few days or weeks – up to a month. Reversing a cool-off period usually takes 24 hours to process.

• Deposit limits

Deposit limits are crucial to setting your budget. Almost every online casino lets you set a deposit limit on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can make changes to your deposit limits, but any change typically takes 24 hours to process.

• Loss limits

Loss limits are essential to controlling your spending. Once you set a loss limit and reach it, the casino will suspend playing activities on your account for a specific amount of time. Loss limits can be set on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

• Session limits

Session limits help you control exactly how much you play. For example, you can set a session limit of 1 hour per day, after which you won’t be able to play anymore until the following day.

• Reality checks

Reality checks are a form of “soft” control, which comes in the form of notifications and reminders that you’ve spent X amount of time playing. It’s easy to get lost in the fun of online gaming, and therefore reality checks help control how much you spend playing.

• Proof of funds checks

Proof of funds is usually asked of high-spending players who deposit frequently and in large amounts. Many casinos will ask you for documents to verify that you have the means to back up your spending. These documents can be in the form of a bank statement, pay slip, proof of inheritance, and similar.

• Know your customer checks

Know your customer (KYC) checks are mandatory at every regulated online casino. This procedure involves verifying your identity. You will be required to send photos or scanned documents of your ID (passport, personal ID), a utility bill to your name and/or a bank statement. The purpose of KYC is to prevent underage gambling, duplicate accounts, money laundering, and so forth.

Our Advice to Playing Responsibly – Tips to Stay in Control!

Follow our advice to become a more responsible player. It’s important that you stay in control by setting aside a playing budget and never surpassing it. Think of it like going out to the movies, the bar, or a fun festival. How much money would you spend? Usually, you know beforehand. Online gambling should be no different.

• Set a budget and stick to it

Whether mentally or by setting a deposit and loss limit at your online casino, make sure to set your budget before you start playing. Ensure that this money is “entertainment money” and that you can afford to lose it.

• Don’t chase losses

Every single online casino game has a house edge. Meaning you will always lose in the long run. As harsh as that sounds, it’s the truth nonetheless. However, short-term variance is where your wins can shine. The house edge doesn’t mean you can’t profit, but if you play long enough, it is mathematically likely that you will lose. Therefore, chasing losses and trying to recover lost money is a bad move. Odds are, you will lose more than you already did.

• Don’t mix playing and alcohol

Alcohol severely inhibits your decision-making and self-control. It’s not a good idea to mix it with gambling. It can lead you to overspend and make regrettable decisions.

• Take advantage of self-imposed limits

Limits such as deposit limits, loss limits and session limits are crucial to taking complete control over your spending. If you have access to these tools, it would be wise to use them – regardless of your budget.

Responsible Gambling Authorities in Canada

Have a look at toll-free gambling help phone numbers available to Canadian residents of all provinces. They offer free, anonymous help any time you feel you could use external assistance.

Closing Thoughts

Gambling is fun and should always be fun. When the fun stops, you should stop as well – as the GAMSTOP motto goes. Nowadays, online casinos offer heaps of tools that help you limit your spending, including proof of funds checks that ensure you’re not spending outside your means.

Regulatory bodies such as Curacao, Kahnawake and the Malta Gaming Authority combine efforts with online casinos to ensure an online gambling environment where all players can feel safe.

If you feel you are acting on impulse, follow our tips to stay in control, and make sure to take advantage of tools such as deposit, session and loss limits.