Gambling at online casinos should always be fun. Entertainment and excitement should be the aim of the game, and any winnings are a welcome bonus.
Playing a game of blackjack or spinning the reels of a slot machine is not a way to make money. That is the first thing you need to know about responsible gambling. Though you may win a bet here and there, winning is not the point of playing. Gambling is an exciting experience, whether you win or lose.
If you are already gambling regularly or are thinking of playing at online casinos for the first time, you should try to gamble responsibly. Here are a few things you need to know about how to be a responsible gambler and how to have fun when you are playing.
Gamble with Free Spins and Credits
Taking advantage of introductory offers when you open an account at a casino online is a great way to get yourself going without risking your own money. It gives you time to get used to playing the games and make a few mistakes with free wagers and free spins on the slot machines and not your hard-earned cash.
When you are looking for an online casino to join, look around for a site with introductory offers. See if they offer free spins on their slot machines or free credits to play games with. You will want a casino that offers a variety of games to keep you interested over time. By playing with free spins and credits you can try a place out and see what it is like before depositing your own money.
Make sure you read the fine print and understand how free credits or spins work on the site. With some free credit offers the free stake will not be returned to you with any winnings. This means that if you bet $5 at the roulette table on black, and you won, you would only receive $5 instead of $10. The free credit you staked your bet with is returned to the casino.
Set Up a PayPal Account for Gambling
This is a terrific way to control your spending when gambling online. Setting up a PayPal account is easy, and you can have multiple accounts tied to different email addresses. Use one exclusively for depositing money at online casinos.
This creates a barrier between your online gambling accounts and your bank account. It is an extra layer of protection that prevents you from getting carried away and chasing your losses. Deposit a set amount into the PayPal account and use this to make deposits at online casinos.
You can credit your winnings to this account too, which gives you the option to send your profits to your bank or keep some back for future betting. Managing your money this way allows you to transfer winnings between different online casino accounts as well.
Gamble for Fun
Placing bets on casino games is entertainment. Betting is not a way to regularly make extra money. Some of your bets may win, and this is a great feeling, but no one wins all their bets. Bet for fun, not for a consistent income.
All entertainment costs money. Think of your outlay on gambling as the price of a ticket to the cinema. It is the price of having some fun and playing a game. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you are not having fun, then you should stop.
Playing card games and spinning the reels of a slot machine are thrilling experiences, no matter whether you win or lose. The thrill of staking money on an outcome, and anticipating the result is why people gamble, it is exceedingly difficult to make a consistent income from it.
The few professional gamblers in the world are all pro-poker players. Gambling at that level takes an incredible amount of hard work, patience, money, and luck. The best bet is to play for fun, not to make some money.
Doing anything responsibly takes some self-discipline. Only you can stop yourself when the time comes to take a break from gambling. There is always help and support available if you feel you are getting a bit carried away and spending more than you should.
Set Deposit Limits on Your Accounts
Most casino apps and websites allow you to set a limit on how much money you can deposit into your betting account in any period.
This is a crucial step towards responsible gambling. Most online casinos and apps will allow you to set limits on how much you can deposit each week or month. These settings prevent you from making deposits that exceed the set amount. You can disable these limits, but it takes some effort to do. It may also involve a cooldown period before a change to prevent compulsive gambling.
If you use more than one casino account, then you should reduce your limit to reflect your monthly betting budget. If your budget is $100 a month, for example, and you have four gambling accounts, then set each to $25 to spread your monthly outlay across them all.
Always Gamble Sober
Never gamble while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Your decision-making abilities are massively impaired when you are drunk. It will be impossible for you to judge when to stop.
Drugs and alcohol are mood-altering substances. When gambling under the influence there is a much higher risk of chasing losses and spiralling into a series of bad decisions. This is another good reason to have safeguards like deposit limits and a PayPal account. It will be harder to take the extra steps needed to overspend if you are gambling while drunk or on drugs.
Both alcohol and drugs are addictive, and gambling can become addictive too. Someone who has drug or alcohol addictions should not begin playing at online casinos. If you are struggling with any kind of addiction you should try to get some help and support. Gambling is likely to make these problems worse, and mixing gambling with drugs and alcohol can lead to debt.
Never Gamble if You are Feeling Depressed or Upset
Gambling is fun but is not an effective way to cheer yourself up if you are feeling down. Depression can affect anyone and gambling when depressed can often make it worse.
Losing is part of gambling. This can often lead to feelings of regret or self-loathing. If you lose bets while you are already feeling depressed or unhappy you run the risk of sinking further into the depression.
This increases the likelihood of chasing your losses too, in an attempt to feel better again. The emotional rollercoaster you can experience when playing casino games can aggravate feelings of depression. Gambling should be a hobby or a pastime, a bit of fun. Gambling is not a way to pick yourself up when you are feeling down.
Taking a few of these simple steps should help you stay in control when you are playing online casino games. Responsible gambling helps you keep control of your outgoings and ensure your gambling experience is fun.
With some luck, you will have some winnings to play with, but if you lose bets you need to monitor your deposits. Never gamble to try and recover your losses. Set your limits and enjoy yourself but know when it is time to take a break.
