Responsible Gambling

Chase Morris

Chase Morris

editor

Last updated on April 4, 2024 1:41 pm

Gambling online on fast payout casinos and sportsbooks is a form of entertainment that may, on occasion, lead to cash wins. While it’s a popular pastime in the US and around the world, it can become addictive and lead to significant difficulties. Practicing responsible gambling is the best way to enjoy the thrills whilst lowering the risks of any serious repercussions.

On this page, you’ll find helpful information regarding responsible gaming, including how to implement it and how to get further assistance when you need it. We encourage you to take the time to read the entirety of this guide and to contact your gambling site’s customer care team or one of the listed organizations should you require any further assistance.

Understanding Problem Gambling

While most players gamble on occasion and within their means, some may develop a gambling habit. This habit could lead to problem gambling, where a player’s activity leads to serious financial, emotional, or personal repercussions.

There are several causes and signs of problem gambling and it’s important to be aware of these to take action at the first indication. Playing casino games with real money or betting on sports can become a way for you to escape emotional stresses. You might wish to gamble when you’re feeling down and want to raise your serotonin levels. There may also be instances where you hope to overcome financial difficulties by trying to win money from gambling.

Whenever you wager for any other reason beyond fun or entertainment, you may be experiencing problem gambling.

Like any other type of addiction, problem gambling may develop over time and may go unnoticed until it becomes unmanageable. Understanding the signs of gambling problems and getting timely support can help you manage or break the addiction and improve your quality of life.

Three Key Signs of Problem Gambling

As with any addiction, problem gambling may show itself differently from one player to the next. Nevertheless, three important indicators may suggest the likelihood of gambling problems.

1. Betting More Than You Afford

Wagering beyond your means, or even spending more than you afford to lose, is a common indicator of problem gambling. If you find yourself borrowing or stealing money, or otherwise using funds intended for sustenance, mortgages, credit cards, or other purposes, you may be suffering from a gambling addiction.

Should such behavior sound familiar, you should take immediate steps to get back in control. Getting in touch with Debt.org can help you solve the financial difficulties caused by gambling and understand how you can prevent relapsing in the future.

Responsible Gambling Tip #1: Before you start a gambling session, decide what your budget will be. Base this amount on how much you can comfortably afford to lose and how often you intend to play.

2. Trying to Win Back What You Lost

Chasing losses is another sign that is usually associated with gambling addiction. Whenever you attempt to recover losses from current or previous gambling sessions by placing new, and oftentimes higher-value bets, you are said to be chasing your losses.

Online gambling at casinos and sportsbooks is a form of entertainment, and you should treat losses as payment for this service. However, if you feel compelled to try and make up these losses by playing for longer or placing more or greater bets, you might be suffering from a gambling addiction.

Many players who chase losses are also the ones who wager more than they afford to lose. Going beyond their budgets creates emotional motivation to try and recover these losses, but this often leads to even greater losses, and an even greater desire to recover them. With casino games and sports odds designed to favor platform operators, this vicious cycle often leads to significant losses coupled with anxiety and symptoms of depression.

Responsible Gambling Tip #2: Once you’ve used your budget, stop playing immediately. If you’re lucky enough to have turned a profit, you can add the prize to your bankroll the next time you’re setting your budget.

3. Prioritizing Gambling Activities

In addition to financial and emotional difficulties, problem gambling can also lead to unhealthy social habits. Your gambling activity should be limited and managed so that sessions are not too long or occur too often.

While you may be wagering within your means, you may still be suffering from problem gambling if you find yourself neglecting your own or your family’s care, negating your responsibilities, or otherwise feeling mentally unwell.

No form of gambling should replace professional help, exercise, and a healthy diet. This is especially important if you are suffering emotionally or mentally, such as due to depression, health problems, or break-ups.

Responsible Gambling Tip #3: Activate limits on session times and other thresholds, such as losses or wagers, to stay in control of your gambling activity. Don’t gamble if you feel sad, tired, or anxious, and consider going out for a walk or speaking to a professional instead.

We Take Problem Gambling Seriously

The team at Fastestpayoutonlinecasino.com understands the importance of responsible gambling and the risks of problem gambling. Whilst guiding readers toward the best gambling platforms and services, our writers also support and encourage responsible gaming.

All our articles and guides include references or tips to help you stay in control of your activity and prevent this entertaining pastime from becoming a problem. The following are just some of the ways by which we promote responsible gambling.

Self Exclusion Explained

One of the tools that are available to you to stop gambling from being a problem is Self-Exclusion. This tool is normally reserved for players with more serious difficulties caused by addiction

What is a Self-Exlusion Option?

In simple terms, self-exclusion is a way by which you ban yourself from an online casino or sportsbook. You can set the self-exclusion period that you desire, but this is normally longer than 24 hours and shorter than six months or a year. If you are seeking a longer exclusion period, it’s normally best to close your gambling site account.

While the self-exclusion period is active, you won’t be able to log into your casino or sportsbook account, place deposits or wagers, or receive marketing material. You can decide to de-activate this option, but for your safety, there is usually a 24-hour cooling down period. You can also extend an active self-exclusion that may be coming to an end.

Activating Self-Exclusion

The online casinos and sportsbooks featured on Fastestpayoutonlinecasino.com provide self-exclusion to all registered players. Once you’re logged into your account, you can activate it either by visiting the responsible gambling features of your account or by speaking to a customer care representative.

US Self-Exclusion Rules

Online gambling regulations in the US are set by individual states, and there are no self-exclusion laws on the federal level. Moreover, since many of the sites that we feature are based offshore, they fall outside of the scope of state laws.

Nevertheless, self-exclusion and responsible gambling are prioritized by these platforms, and you can exclude yourself directly from each platform. Alternatively, you can request self-exclusion from the authority that regulates the site, such as the Curacao eGaming Commission.

Getting Help With Problem Gambling

The Fastestpayoutonlinecasino.com team understands the risks associated with problem gambling and strongly supports responsible gambling. However, we are not trained to offer specific advice or guidance and invite you to get in touch with one of the following organizations that have the capabilities to assist players in the US.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is an international group designed to help players suffering from compulsive gambling. In-person anonymous meetings are held across the country and are free to join. Members meet regularly to share their stories, and in doing so, aim to help each other recover from the addiction.

In addition, they run hotlines in every state to help players who need more immediate assistance.

National Council on Problem Gambling

The NCPG is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1972 in the US. Its main objective is to advocate for problem gamblers and their families and it runs a 24/7 helpline where trained advisors can offer immediate assistance. The organization collaborates with state legislators and gambling operators to encourage responsible gambling and offers plenty of free and useful online resources.

988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline

While not directly related to problem gambling, players who are experiencing depression or are otherwise in need of free and confidential support are welcome to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline. You can either call or text and you’ll be connected to a trained crisis counselor. Services are also offered in Spanish and run 24/7/365.

Ensuring Fair Gaming

To ensure that you can enjoy a fair gambling experience, we only recommend sites whose games are certified for fairness by independent test labs, such as eCogra. These professional game labs check the random number generator (RNG) that controls the outcome of most casino games and certifies whether it is fair and random. Only certified games are allowed on licensed casinos as only these can guarantee the accuracy of their RTPs and unbiased results.

Additional Responsible Gambling Resources