Tips for Safer Gambling
Most people gamble for fun and enjoyment. However, some people think of gambling as a way to make money, spend more than they can afford, or use gambling to distract themselves from everyday problems. Following these tips can help you to gamble more safely.
1. Remember that gambling isn’t a way to make money.
Gambling is not a means of earning money. Casino games and slots are designed to make more money than they give away over time, so you should never look at gambling as an activity that will make you money or as a substitute for regular income.
2. Don’t gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose.
Always ensure that you keep a strict budget, with your essential costs always being covered. Money for rent, food, utilities and other essentials should never be reallocated to gambling. Any money that you spend on casino games should come from your leisure and entertainment budget.
3. Set spending limits before you play.
Before you log in to your casino account or visit a land-based venue, decide how much you want to spend. Once your money is gone, then it’s time to stop. A good idea is to set a deposit limit at online casinos, or only bring as much cash as your budget allows if you’re playing in a land-based casino.
4. Set time limits, too.
You should also make sure that you set a time limit, in addition to your spending limit. This ensures that you don’t get caught up and lose track of time while playing casino games. Set an alarm on your phone or use the casino’s Reality Check tool to remind you when you have been playing for a certain amount of time.
5. Don’t chase losses.
It’s tempting to try to win back the money you lost, but it something that you should never do. Once your money is gone, leave it that way. Chasing losses is a dangerous cycle that will lead to bigger losses in the long run.
6. Don’t gamble when you’re in a bad mood.
If you’re feeling depressed or upset, don’t gamble. It’s important that you have a clear head when playing games of chance.
7. Avoid using strategies when playing casino games.
Using betting systems and strategies can lead to the illusion that slots are a game of skill rather than luck. So, remember to play while keeping in mind that it is entirely down to luck.
8. Don’t let gambling be your only leisure activity.
Make sure that you have other ways to spend your spare time, aside from gambling. If you find that you are spending too much time playing casinos, there are plenty of other fun hobbies that you can pick up.
9. Limit your alcohol intake when gambling.
Alcohol affects your inhibitions, and drinking too much may lead to you to spending more than you can afford on gambling.
10. Take breaks every so often.
When you gamble continuously for too long, you can lose track of time. So, make sure that every few rounds, you take a little break whether it’s to grab a glass of water or to go for a quick walk.
Confidential Support
Along with the National Gambling Helpline (available 24/7/365 at 1-800-522-4700) there are numerous groups out there to support gambling addiction. If you or someone you know needs help - try some of these great helplines.
Signs of Problem Gambling
Is your gambling causing harm for you or others around you? The following signs may indicate that someone is experiencing difficulties with gambling:
- Spending more time gambling than on any other activities
- Losing interest in your other pastimes and neglecting to spend time with loved ones
- Lying about your gambling, or hiding it from the people around you
- Having to spend more and more money to get the same excitement from gambling
- Feelings of anxiety, guilt, irritability or depression
- Constant thinking about gambling
- Having financial problems as a result of spending money on gambling
- Chasing losses, and ignoring any spending limits you have spent
- Borrowing money, stealing or selling items you own to pay for gambling
- Experiencing feelings of withdrawal when you aren’t gambling, like loss of appetite or restlessness
Responsible Gambling Tools
Slots Temple is a free slots site where you cannot play with real money. If you choose to go to a casino site for real money gambling, you can use these tools to help ensure that you gamble responsibly. Find out a little more about them below.
Protecting Minors from Gambling Online
At Slots Temple, we use age verification checks on every single account, to confirm that our customers are 18 or older, and legally old enough to gamble. If we can't confirm a customer’s age through electronic checks, the user will not be able to play slots or tournaments on our site.
Still, we know that there are situations in which individuals under the legal gambling age can gain access to casino games - whether it's by using their parents' devices or having access to an adult's login details.
Here are some tips to help you prevent your children from underage gambling:
- Keep your casino username, password and deposit details hidden and out of reach from your children.
- Do not save your casino passwords or use auto-fill on your devices.
- Ensure that you always log out of your account when you leave your device.
- Have an honest conversation with your kids, educating them about the harm of underage gambling.
- Check your computer, tablet and mobile phone for built-in parental controls that can limit your child's exposure to gambling content.
- Install website blocking software, like NetNanny, that you can use to stop your children from accessing online gaming sites.
If you feel that there is an issue with underage gambling in your household, or if you want to learn more, The Big Deal is a great resource. Run by GamCare, this organisation is geared towards providing support and education about gambling to young people.
Gambling blocking software
Blocking software is something that can be downloaded on to your device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) that limits access to websites or other services available over the internet.
There are two types of software that you can use to block sites.
• Gambling-specific blocking software will only block gambling websites, and aims to not be intrusive or interrupt your web browsing habits.
• General blocking software can block a wide range of sites, allowing you to set your own pemissions and controls.
You'll also find that some internet service providers offer their own blocking services. Verizon, AT&T and Comcast are a few that allow you to set parental controls. Check with your service provider to find out what blocking services they offer.
Where can I find blocking software?
You should always do your own internet research to determine which software is best for your needs. Browse expert and user reviews to find the software that suits you and your family best.
While there are some free blocking software programs, some do require you to pay fees for certain features. So, be sure to research all options available.
Some of the most popular gambling-specific blocking software programs are:
If you'd prefer to go for a general blocking program, then netnanny.com tend to be the choice of most parents.
Does blocking software work?
According to a report commissioned by GamCare, blocking software "appears to be generally effective in restricting access to online gambling". The gambling-specific blocking software that was tested was able to block up to 90% of gambling sites. So, if you are worried about someone in your household being able to have access to online casinos, blocking software could be your best option.