Gambling has become a significant part of modern entertainment serving as an excellent pastime for millions worldwide. The excitement of this indulgence is easily accessible than ever before, with the services coming to the player on PCs and mobile devices without having to seek them out. While such easy access is advantageous, it has also made gambling addiction a real threat in today’s society.
A lot of gambling establishments preach responsible gambling to avoid more people falling into the compulsive trap. Gambling responsibly entails exercising control and making informed choices to limit the activity from snowballing into something harmful. Here are ways you can gamble responsibly.
Table of Contents
Don’t Gamble at All
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As odd as it seems, the best way to gamble responsibly is not to gamble at all. If you are not exposed to the habit in any way, the chances of you falling victim to gambling addiction fall to zero. When you feel like exploring casinos, choose free games instead of the real money ones. That way, you can enjoy gambling entertainment without risking a dime.
Be of Legal Gambling Age
Most platforms that advise players to gamble responsibly almost always have underage gambling cautions following the statement. In most regions where gambling is legal, an age limit is set on persons that can access the services, and it often falls between 18 and 21 years. Since gambling is considered a high-risk activity, governments require punters to be old enough to have legally presumable responsibility. Children are deemed impulsive or unable to understand the consequences of engaging in such actions fully. Therefore, wait until you are of the appropriate age before you can indulge in the activity.
Have One Account
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There are thousands of online casinos scampering for players’ attention. While most of them seem like a perfect fit for your gambling needs, you only need to be a member of one. Having accounts in multiple casinos can send you down a slippery slope of overspending money and time.
Understand and Accept the Odds
Before you embark on gambling, understand that the games are built to lose more than win. The saying ‘the house always wins’ holds water in almost all instances. Take time to understand the odds of different games to know how much of an upper hand the casino has. Some sets have better odds than others, but even within them, some bets have the worst odds. The house edge of different game categories vary as follows:
- Slots – 5% to 10%
- Video poker – 0.5% to 3%
- Roulette – 2.7% to 5.3%
- Craps – 0.6% to 1.4%
- Blackjack – 0.0% to 2.0%
- Poker – 2.5% to 5.2%
- Baccarat – 1.2%
- Keno – 27%
See Gambling as An Entertainment Source
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Treat gambling as a form of entertainment rather than an income source. Keep in mind that the activity is paid amusement the same way you might pay for a fair ride or purchase a movie ticket. The experience is what you are there for, and it’s great if you happen to collect something extra along the way. The core of chasing the experience is the fun it has to offer and not the potential payouts.
Take Regular Breaks
Learn to put gambling entertainment to the side for days or even weeks on end. If you want to do anything gambling between that time, assess what you have been doing wrong in previous sessions or learn a new game by playing for free. Gambling continuously without a break can cause you to lose perspective of why you are indulging in the activity in the first place.
Spend What You Can Lose
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The first-paced nature of most casino games makes it hard to keep track of money while in the heat of the moment. Therefore, before you begin a session, ensure you have a predetermined amount that you are willing to spend and how you will divide it. The gambling funds should be well within the limit of what you can afford to lose.
Once it elapses, walk away from the activity, whether you are winning or losing. Also, do not gamble with money you do not have, like playing using a credit card or borrowing money from loved ones. Gambling is nothing more than a fun pastime, so leave it alone if it falls beyond your means.
Another way is to play online casino games on sites that provide demo versions of them, for example like onlineslotsx.com.
Be in Control of Your Time
Time is another valuable factor to consider when gambling. Do not let the activity interfere with your daily responsibilities. Once you are engrossed in action, it can be hard to be mindful of the hours passing. Determine a reasonable amount of time you can spend gambling and set a timer. Also, never skip responsibilities for more time in the casino.
Understand That Others Have Bigger Spending Limits
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Players have different time and money to spare for gambling. A low roller may consider $500 too much to spend in one session, while a high roller thinks nothing of placing $1000 in a single round. Set spending limits that work for your pocket without the influence of what others are gambling. Understand that there will always be someone else at the casino with more time and financial muscle than you, and that is okay.
Be Sober
Gambling, especially in the brick-and-mortar scene, is often accompanied by a fun atmosphere with party essentials like alcohol and drugs. Avoid gambling under the influence of such substances because your decisions will not be as good as they are when you are sober.
Save Winnings
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It is challenging to get the upper hand over the casino, but it is not impossible. Pay attention to your bankroll and save any winnings that exceed the starting amount. For instance, if you land a win of $300 while playing with $100, save the extra $200.
Gamble During Good Times
Gambling should be used as a highlight for fun and exciting times. If you use it to escape from depression, anger, addiction, and other hard times, it is likely to mature into a problem. So, reserve it for the good times rather than a fall-back when hardships hit.
In Brief
If gambling is no longer fun and becomes a raging compulsion to satisfy impulse, it is time to take the necessary steps to stop. Study the symptoms of gambling addiction to identify the issue as soon as it starts and resolve it.
