There is nothing more important to us than your safety. We want you, as a gambler, to only have fun and help you avoid dealing with any sort of issues.
Yet, safety is not just about whether a casino is keeping your private financial data secure. It is also about the site doing its part to make sure that all players are gambling responsibly.
We encourage responsible gambling and addiction awareness. Safe gambling is really important as it can help you stay away from gambling addiction.
Note that if you are dealing with a problem gambler, you may feel guilty and ashamed as well. And, unfortunately, the self-blame can highly increase stress and it may urge to gamble even more.
The good news is that there are some great ways to keep yourself in control or even stop gambling, in case of addiction. If you are dealing with a gambling problem, then you can receive the help you need upon assessing our article.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to statista.com, in 2019, the global casino and internet gambling industry was predicted to be worth around 265 billion USD. This was a great increase in comparison with the previous year.
Check out the following tips to stay in control
Based on findings from responsiblegambling.org, there are several useful tips that can help you stay in control. Here is what you can do to avoid problem gambling.
- Set budget and time limits – Note that you can use various tools to help you monitor your play.
- Always gamble how much you can afford – If you don’t have money to gamble, then don’t gamble at all. You must never borrow money or use your savings for gambling.
- Don’t think about gambling as an income source – It is very important how you look at gambling. You must consider this activity as a way to have fun and not a chance to win money.
- Always read the terms & conditions - In order to play safely, you need to carefully read the terms & conditions on the site you are playing at.
- Decide on a money limit before you play – It is essential to set a money limit in advance. This useful trick can help you manage your risks a lot better.
- Never chase your losses – If you chase your losses, then you may have an irrational behavior that will result in even more losses.
- Have a deep knowledge of how the game works – It is important to never bet if you don’t know exactly how the game works. This is an essential rule mainly for sports betting and skill games such as Blackjack and Poker.
- Never gamble when you are feeling down – If you are sad, angry, or depressed, then you must avoid gambling. Negative feelings will not allow you to make efficient decisions.
Remember to read the Terms & Conditions
It is important that you never play before reading the Terms & Conditions. Note that there may be separate pages of an online casino for T&C and Bonus Terms. You must carefully analyze both before gambling.
1. Common bonus terms
The wording may vary slightly, but the Terms & Conditions will usually be quite similar on any platform. What’s really important is to understand that there will be General T & C that could apply to the Bonus.
Yet, they may be not listed under the Bonus Terms. Therefore, as mentioned above, you need to carefully analyze both pages before playing.
2. Unique bonus Terms & Conditions
Some platforms will have Bonus T & C that are fairly unique to them. Plus, they will also vary a lot from one site to another.
3. Bonus terms to avoid
Note that there are many Bonus Terms that are specially designed to thwart advantage gamblers. Most of the terms are specifically designed for this reason, if not for outrighting completely precluding the possibility of advantage play.
Learn how to calculate wagering requirements
You can use a mathematical formula to find out how much a bonus is actually worth. Yet, remember that this formula only works with cashable casino bonuses.
Sticky bonuses never leave anything for profit because they are subtracted from the balance before cashing out. Therefore, they do not ever leave anything for profit.
The wagering formula
The wagering formula is used to determine how much a player needs to bet before they can withdraw any winnings from a bonus.
Here's a breakdown:
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Bonus Amount:
- This is the amount of bonus money that the online casino or betting site gives to the player.
- Example: If a player deposits $100 and gets a 100% bonus, the bonus amount will be $100.
-
Wagering Requirement:
- This is the number of times the bonus amount must be wagered before any winnings can be withdrawn.
- It's often represented as a multiplier, such as 10x, 20x, or 30x.
- Example: If the wagering requirement is 10x, and the bonus amount is $100, the player must wager a total of $1,000 before they can withdraw any winnings.
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Total Wagering Amount:
- This is the total amount a player needs to wager to meet the wagering requirement.
- Formula: Bonus Amount x Wagering Requirement
- Example: For a $100 bonus with a 10x wagering requirement, the total wagering amount would be $1,000.
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Game Contribution:
- Different games may contribute differently towards the wagering requirement.
- For instance, slots might contribute 100%, while table games might only contribute 10%.
- This means that if a player wagers $100 on slots, the full $100 will count towards the wagering requirement. But if they wager $100 on blackjack, only $10 (10% of $100) will count.
Canceling a bonus at an online casino. Steps you need to follow
Whether an online platform lets the user cancel an active bonus or not, it is important to know that there are two main categories of bonuses:
- Cancelable -These bonuses can be canceled whenever you want
- Non-cancelable -These bonuses cannot be canceled by you. Although, the online casino can do so due to other reasons such as if the bonus abuse takes place.
Using website tools for canceling an active bonus
If the online platform you are playing at allows you to cancel an active bonus, then the best method is through the online casino. In most cases, this feature can be found in your account section. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Log in and click on the ’’Bonus’’ section. Then, you need to click on the button ’’Forfeit Bonus’’ or ’’Cancel Bonus’’.
- After doing so, you must confirm your action by clicking ’’OK’’.
- The next step is to check your account for confirmation. It should be displayed as canceled somewhere in your account settings.
Contact the support team
In case you don’t manage to cancel the bonus by yourself, then you can contact the support team. You can find all the necessary contact details on the casino’s website. Depending on the online casino, you can either do that via live chat or via email.
Both these options are pretty easy and straightforward. Check out if the platform has a ’’live chat’’ section or a support email address. Simply mention the type of bonus you want to cancel and the support team will do that for you.
PLEASE NOTE
Bonuses can automatically be canceled by the online casino if you don’t meet the wagering requirements attached. That’s why it is essential to always read the associated terms & conditions, and also the common bonus restrictions that may apply.
What happens if you cancel an active bonus
There are some consequences of doing so, and you must take them into consideration before making this decision. Note that the bonus body itself and the winnings that come from it will be ended. Therefore, you will be left only with your deposit amount.
Carefully check out if the bonus has been canceled or not. Violating bonus requirements may even cause confiscation of your entire deposit. For any uncertainty, you should contact the platform’s support.
REMEMBER
If gambling gets out of hand, you can decide to self-exclude. This will restrict your access to casino for a set period of time.
Myths about online casinos that you must know
Online gambling is fun, and it can also be quite rewarding, but only when done responsibly. Yet, there are several myths surrounding online gambling that you must know. Check them out below:
- Online casinos are a scam and you cannot win
This myth simply is not true. Gambling platforms want to ensure fair play and therefore they use a Random Number Generator. This is for making sure that all games are 100% random. It means that when you are playing online, you actually have as many chances to win as any other gambler.
When you do win some money and want to withdraw the funds, gambling platforms feature some of the most online security systems. - Online gambling is illegal
Online gambling is legal in most states. It has strict laws that govern it just like physical casinos. Yet, it is your responsibility as a gambler to check whether the legislation in your country allows online gambling or not. Always remember to do so before playing at any online casino. - Online gambling is actually a front for money laundering
This is another common myth about gambling. Well, the truth is that there is no evidence of this. Transparency is a must in this industry. Therefore, money laundering is all about non-existent. Note that those operating gambling platforms must undergo very strict backgrounds before getting the license. - Online gambling encourages minor gamblers
It is possible for an underage gambler to wander into an online casino and lose money. Yet, most online casinos feature a very strict age verification process. On these platforms, if the gambler’s age cannot be verified, then he won’t be able to play.. - Online gambling is more addictive than live gambling
This statement is yet another myth about this industry. It is important to know that online platforms track every move the gambler makes. They track the frequency of your deposits and also the number of logins. With this useful information, the platform can be more proactive in terms of controlling problem gambling.
Land-based casinos vs online casinos
Besides attractive games, casinos use other instruments as well to attract and retain gamblers. There are various strikes that operators use to convince you to play longer and spend more.
Physical casinos use some ’’secrets’’. Yet, online operators also have their own strategies to keep players busy.
Land-based casino secrets
The longer players stay inside the casino, the more profit the casino makes. The ultimate goal of all land-based casinos is to make players lose track of time.
Alcohol and the exciting atmosphere have this purpose. Plus, the floor plan is another trick physical venues employ.
Online casino facts you didn’t know
Unlike physical venues, online casinos cannot use elaborate website designs to keep gamblers away from exits and do the above tricks. Yet, they are armed with some other effective tools.
One of the most common gambler concerns is that online platforms may manipulate game results. This should not be an issue as long as you know the difference between fake and original games.
| Land-based casinos | Online casinos |
|---|---|
| No windows and clocks | Time-tracking tools for tracking the time spent on gambling |
| They pump oxygen into their halls | This is not possible when playing online because you can play from wherever you want |
| Alcohol and exciting atmosphere | You play from the comfort of your home / No alcohol / You are not disturbed by other people and noise |
| Floor plan | You decide when to stop gambling and when to start it again |
| Spraying certain fragrance around slot machines | This is not possible when playing at online casinos |
Top 5 responsible play useful tools
- Game Time Reminder - The game time reminder is great because it informs you of elapsed time within one game.
- Cooling-off - This tool is less drastic than Self-Exclusion and it also implies a shorter period.
- Account Closure - Account closure means that you will be excluded from the platform.
- Self-Exclusion - This may affect your activity on other platforms.
- Game history - This tool allows you to know exactly what games you have played and for how long.
Final thoughts
If you want to enjoy gambling to the fullest, you must always stay in control and play smart. Remember to always read the Terms & Conditions and seek the necessary help if an addiction arises.