Responsible Gambling

When you first venture into the world of gambling – both online and in land-based casinos – it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and hoopla. Casinos offer all kinds of bonuses and promotions to entice you to start playing, and make it seem so easy for you to start raking in the money. How can you lose? But before you start, please remember to play responsibly.

The concept of responsible gambling involves not only the player, but also whatever gaming establishment the player patronizes. As the player, you might feel tempted to jump right in and get started, but you’ll want to make sure of a few things before you do that. First, make sure that you are thoroughly familiar with the rules of the game you’re playing. It’s not only more fun to play if you know what’s going on, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions and plays.

Know what the terms and conditions are for any account you create, and any bonus or promotion you sign up for. It’s easy to get carried away when there are certain requirements for cashing in on a bonus. But is it really worth losing more than you can afford? Remember the adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some casinos will entice you with an amazing bonus opportunity that requires a tremendous amount of play (funded by a sizeable bankroll) to cash in. We’re not saying not to sign up, just be aware.

Know your casino – it’s up to you to choose a reputable casino. There is a lot of information on casinos available to you, all you need to do is look for it. What should you be looking for? Start with player reviews and see what players have to say. Benefit from their experiences. You’ll want to find established casinos with good reputations. Make sure they conduct secure transactions so you are never compromised. And make sure their gaming software been audited by independent companies to ensure fair play. Also, you can tell a lot about a casino from their internet presence. How transparent is their site? Do they make it easy to find information and contact them? Or do they make you jump through hoops to find what should be basic information? If it’s the latter, you might want to think twice about playing there.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, you have to know when to stand up and walk away. The smart player knows exactly what he can afford to lose. He’ll create his bankroll, and when that runs out, that’s it. He doesn’t say “just one more hand! I’m sure I’ll get it this time!” Thinking like that is what gets people in trouble. It’s not wrong to get caught up in the excitement of playing, but don’t get so caught up that you stop thinking and throw all caution to the wind. There will always be another opportunity for you to play.

If you need more information about responsible gambling or think you might need more support, there are several resources online you can refer to including The Responsible Gaming council at http://www.responsiblegambling.org/en/index.cfm .