Responsible Gambling

The wide range of benefits like jackpots and huge payouts, 24-hour availability of casino games and having a good time on the casino’s website attract people to gamble. The fact is that many people find it difficult to cope with their desires, which turn out to be incommensurable with the possibilities. As a result, among the fans of gambling, a concept such as gaming addiction happens very often.

Gamblers find it difficult to cope with their desires and cannot stop playing, as a result, many of them lose their money, staying often in the red. To prevent players from developing an addiction, today’s online casinos have a special section called responsible gambling.

Responsible gambling is a social responsibility initiative in the gambling industry (by both governments, operators, and gaming service providers). The principles of responsible gambling aim to promote transparency and fairness in the industry and to raise awareness of the risks in gambling, such as ludomania or gaming addiction. Now the QYTO team is going to reveal the purpose of this Responsible gaming guide for vulnerable casino players in New Zealand.

Features of Responsible Gambling

The Responsible gambling page focuses on protecting players from the basic problems associated with betting and gambling:

1. controlling players prone to gambling addiction;
2. prevention of gambling by minors;
3. Introducing ways to protect against criminal activity;
4. protecting personal data and money transfers;
5. ensuring a secure online environment;
6. ethical advertising.

According to generally accepted responsible gambling regulations, the operator or company is committed to bringing a culture of gambling by explaining to players that betting is not a way to make money and always involves the risk of losing funds.

What Is Ludomania or Gambling Addiction?

Gambling addiction or ludomania is the uncontrollable desire to gamble. Of course, everyone may occasionally want to go to a casino, try their luck at a slot machine or buy a lottery ticket. And this is normal. However, a gambling addiction occurs when the desire to gamble becomes compulsive.

Gambling addicts are unable to control not only their desire to gamble but also their behaviour while playing. All that matters is gambling and winning. All a gambler thinks about is winning. For the sake of the game, they are capable of skipping work, ruining relationships with loved ones, spending the entire family budget, gaining credit, and even committing illegal acts. That is why it is so important to start gambling addiction treatment on time. To learn more about gambling in New Zealand, you can visit the site of the Ministry of Social Development.

Why People Become Game Addicted — Problem Gaming Reasons

Unfortunately, it is very easy to become a casino game addict. Even right after a player makes the first bet. It is like with alcohol or cigarettes, someone tries it once and leaves it forever, and someone tries it again and again and… every day. People do not become a gambling addict — addiction is a person’s essence that manifests itself during the game.

Some people start playing because of curiosity, social gambling, “to turn off the brain” and escape from everyday issues, to free themselves from monotony, to escape from boredom and loneliness; dissatisfaction with life, unfulfilled personal and professional satisfaction; sexual dissatisfaction; immaturity of the psyche in teenagers and children.

If a gambler cannot imagine their life without betting or is not able to take a short break at least, they suffer from the Problem gaming disease. Please, do not confuse addiction with regular gambling. Most bettors gamble for fun, but not all of them are addicts.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Game Addiction

There are various signs and symptoms that mean a player may have a gambling problem. Although the most important factor is whether players cannot realize they are addicted. Here is the list of questions that may help casino customers to understand they have symptoms of gambling addiction:

1. Does gambling seem to be an important part of your life?
2. Do you feel angry or frustrated when you lose?
3. Have you been increasing your deposits and gambling to cover losses?
4. Do you use gambling as an escape from other problems in life?
5. Have you had gambling problems before?
6. Have you sought help in an attempt to reduce the amount of time you have spent gambling in the past?
7. Do you hide your gambling activity from family and friends?
8. Have you ever borrowed money from others as a way of funding your online gambling account?
9. Have you ever sold your possessions to earn money for gambling?

You may have a gambling problem if you answered yes to at least one of these questions. If you would like to know more about this, or if you would like a more comprehensive analysis of your own gambling activities, you can take part in the Gambling Problem test that is available at the BeGambleAware site.

How Online Casinos Care About Problem Players?

Self-control is necessary at all times to eliminate the possibilities that contribute to addiction. However, not everyone has this quality, especially when they are at the mercy of gambling feelings. This is why outside control is necessary. Fortunately, there is a list of limits that can be set in Responsible Gaming mode:

• The length of time spent in the casino. Visitors pre-set the length of time they can stay on the site. Accordingly, once it is over, access to gambling will be suspended.
• Amount of deposit. Players set the amount of daily or one-time deposit.
• Size of the bets. Visitors to the casino set the maximum allowable bet for their games. Players cannot make a bet more than the established threshold.
• The amount of loss. Setting a limit on the amount of possible loss, players cannot lose more than they would like.

Once the desired limits are set, players do not have to exercise self-control while gambling. The resulting gambling experience is rich, vibrant, and memorable. And once the bets are placed, players will not have to regret their actions, which may not have been considered.

Prevention of Problem Gambling

There are many methods of help if you think you have a gambling problem. Of course, you first need to be honest and admit that you have a problem with it. Once you do that, you need to start dealing with the problem. Do not think that this is something you need to keep in secret, because seeking help from others is a necessary part of solving the gaming addiction problem. Here are some of the steps you can take to control your gambling habits. They include things like:

• Use the deposit limit feature on an online gambling site to make sure you are not spending more money than you can afford;
• Talk to someone you trust and ask them to take control of your finances for a certain period of time. Alternatively, ask them to help you create some kind of budget plan, which means that you will not spend the money you would like to spend for any casino game;
• If you spend a few days without gambling, provide yourself with a non-gambling reward using the money you save from it. For example, get an ice cream or go to the cinema;
• If you do not have the ability to conquer your appetite for gambling, then use the self-exclusion feature to block yourself from joining and depositing on online casino sites;
• If you wish, you can visit the gamblock.com website which gives you the ability to block access to a host of gambling and gaming platforms;
• If you are on a way to stop any gambling addiction, mark each day that you do so successfully in a calendar. This way, you can track your progress and be proud of your achievements.

We have listed some advice that can be helpful for a person who grasps the problem and wants to overcome it. If you cannot cope with your addiction alone, just contact the BeGamble Aware organization and find the necessary support you need.

Usually, all the players have to follow requirements from a particular casino they visit or just listen to their inner voice. For example, do not gamble when you are drunk, do not play at work, always manage the budget, read expert reviews on independent resources, and test a demo game.

Underage Gaming Problems

The law in New Zealand says minors are prohibited to gamble. A responsible gambling operator does not target advertisements at minors — an 18+ sign is set up, and it is not possible to enter an incorrect date of birth.

Do not forget every player needs a payment system to make a deposit. But no payment system will allow an underage person to have an account. But if a minor gives fake data and attaches a card of his parent, for instance, this transaction will also fail because for the deposit to go through, the cardholder must provide personal details.

Moreover, any time a withdrawal is attempted, the user will be asked for a verification document. Due to special preventive measures trusted casinos apply, young people cannot get access to gambling sites. However, sometimes this happens and that is why some control institutions exist to protect underage people in trouble.

The Advertising Standards Authority of New Zealand (ASA) has published a new set of rules for gambling advertising in the country, focusing on protecting children, young people, and other vulnerable individuals from the harms associated with gambling.

The new code applies to the advertising of gambling and casino products, as well as betting on horse racing and sporting events. It was developed by an ASA committee with input from advertisers, agencies, media company representatives, government bodies, and in consultation with the industry and the public sector. These rules are active from 2019.

The Code states that all gambling marketing campaigns must be created with a high level of social responsibility to both consumers and society at large. No gambling advertising should target children under the age of 14 or young people under the age of 18.

New Zealand Organizations Protecting Vulnerable Players

For many countries, casinos and betting companies are part of a culture and economy that is heavily taxed and regulated by law. Some commissions and bodies determine the activities of offline and online casinos. In New Zealand, gaming addicts can get some support from several authoritative companies listed below:

Gamblers Anonymous is a global fellowship of people who share their experiences to help solve their common problem and recover from ludomania. The people at Gamblers Anonymous in charge of phone calls know what you have been through and what you are still going through. They are sensitive, considerate, and understanding. You will find a shoulder to cry on, albeit from afar, and an objective opinion on what to do next.

PGF Services is a Kiwi institution that provides free professional counselling and help for people who fight gaming addiction. This organization carries out group meetings and assists vulnerable participants. Furthermore, addicts get education and training on how to overcome their common problem, advocacy work, and many other helpful services.

Gambling Therapy is a UK-based online service offering free emotional support to gamblers and bettors who are psychologically affected by gambling. People from all over the world can join online help groups or get email support from the organization managers. Moreover, Gambling Therapy provides a 24/7 forum where all gaming addicted people can share their troubles and pains.

Gambling Helpline is a freephone support service for New Zealand residents. The service is available 24/7 and every person having ludomania issues can get some support and guide what to do next. Their managers are qualified to provide some help to customers or redirect them to an appropriate agency.

ChoiceNotChance is an organization developed by the Health Promotion Agency to eliminate gambling problems among local people who suffer from ludomania. The programme also focuses on implementing targeted strategies to change behaviours that provoke people to gamble. On this site, people will learn more about gambling addiction and how it influences human mental health and life in general.

Some countries including New Zealand apply strict regulatory methods, leaving operators without the ability to receive a license or advertise their activities at all. A number of countries opt for a partial ban — that means to allow the advertising of gambling, but at the same time, severely limiting the ability of such companies to advertise or provide their services. These measures may help to prevent gaming addiction to expand among Kiwi people and save many lives for sure.