Gambling should be a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Although it needs to make money, the UK gambling industry tries to ensure customers gamble responsibly; failure to do so will get them into expensive trouble with the official regulator, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
While the UK government continues to delay reforming the Gambling Act, the UKGC plays an important role in regulating the gambling sector. This year it has issued several fines (one as high as £17m) to companies who failed in areas such as social responsibility.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that players register with a site with a UKGC licence. Doing so helps ensure that customers play safely on legitimate casino gaming or sports betting sites.
There are many ways in which gaming companies can promote responsible gambling. But there will still likely be a small proportion of customers who may become concerned about how gambling affects their lives.
With this being the case, online gaming sites must include information about groups that can help those suffering from potential harm. This can include a list of signs that a player may be becoming addicted to gambling.
There are also links to organisations that can offer help. These can include GamCare, which offers free, flexible help to those struggling to cope with the impact of gambling on their life. This includes not just those who gamble but their loved ones, too. Help is via the phone (they run the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133), face-to-face or online.
Restricting playing and deposit limits
Another way in which gaming companies can help their customers is by how long they play on the site. It is easy to lose track of time; before you know it, you’ve been playing for far longer than you’d intended.
To help in this regard, a reality check can be set up, for example, after 30 minutes. If a customer does this, then the site will inform them when that 30-minute limit has been reached. They will then have the option of continuing or ending their session.
An online gaming site can also allow players to set other limits on their account. The customer can set a figure for how much they can deposit either in a day, a week or a month. This can help prevent a player from continuing to pump money into their account, whether for casino gaming or betting on the latest sports events.
That can be the case when your luck is not in and losses occur. Any reputable gambling company will advise its customers never to chase losses. That can just result in even larger losses. You may believe that a bad situation can be turned around but it’s a big risk attempting to do so. Just like the deposit limit, gaming companies can allow their customers to set a figure for how much they can lose and this can even be on a yearly amount.
There is also the opportunity to take a break from playing for a certain time. If that still doesn’t work, a customer can opt to self-exclude themselves from the site permanently.
This is all very helpful in the battle against addiction. However, gaming companies need to be vigilant and monitor the behaviour of their customers. If a customer is suddenly making huge deposits and suffering bad losses, then the company should contact them to discuss what is happening.
Then advice can be given that will hopefully help the customer. Another concern is whether a player can afford to spend large amounts. Evidence that shows where the funds are coming from can be asked for.
This area has led the UKGC to issue several fines this year. After already toughening its stance, UKGC fines have been given out after investigations showed that huge amounts had been allowed to be wagered by customers without adequate checks being made. The UKGC is setting new rules that will stress the importance of their licence holders helping their customers and taking swift action.
The future is likely to see tighter control of online gambling, including affordability checks and limits on maximum stakes. You can see, therefore, that it is in the best interests of everyone concerned that gaming companies promote responsible gambling.
Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only. Gambling may lead to addiction and financial loss. Play responsibly. Seek help if needed. Not an endorsement of gambling.
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