Responsible Gaming
Online gambling is a lot of fun and is one of the best forms of entertainment. But since it also involves money, we want to make sure that you are playing safely and responsibly and at sites that are transparent, fair and safe.
At Foozoo, we are thoroughly committed to responsible gambling and want to guide you through the world of online casinos, to ensure that you have a safe enjoyable experience and you won’t be taken advantage of.
So what is Responsible Gaming?
Responsible Gaming is commonly perceived to be a social issue where there is a concern that gambling might be addictive and harmful for a very small percentage of people who play. Today Operators and Regulators are increasingly focused on ensuring that the participating remains fun and fair and that those who need help can find it easily.
Below we outline a few steps on how to go about this;
Play Responsibly – “This is How”
The main objective when gambling is to have fun. When it stops being an entertaining pastime, you should sit back and think why. This is how you can make sure that you control your gambling habits, and your gambling doesn’t gain control of you:
1. Set yourself a strict limit
This applies as much to the amount of money that you spend on your gaming sessions, as it does on the length of time you spend playing. Before you sign into your account, decide with yourself how much money you want to play with and, more importantly, how much you can afford to spend. This is your gambling budget and the onus is on you to stick to it, come what may.
The same applies to how long your gaming session continues. Set yourself an alarm for 10 minutes before it’s time to end and start wrapping up. Don’t tell yourself ‘just one more spin’ or ‘just one more hand’. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a winning streak and you want to keep playing, nor does it matter if you’ve lost more than you bargained for and you want to recuperate some of those losses. Just stop!
2. It’s another form of entertainment
If you go out or have a hobby, it will cost you money. If you had to categorize those things in your monthly budget, they would probably fall under ‘Entertainment’. That’s where online gambling should also lie. Just as you budget for X amount to eat out once a month, you can set aside Y amount to play at an online casino. Don’t budget with hopes that you’ll win money playing. The amount put aside should be the amount that you spend. Anything extra is a bonus.
3. Ask yourself if you can really afford it
It’s all good and well to budget online gambling into your monthly expenditures but you need to be honest with yourself if you can afford it. Can the money be better spent for more important things such as your mortgage, school or other debts?
4. Be aware of exactly how much you spend
If you see a monthly statement of how much you spend at the online casino, you’ll always be on top of the numbers. Make it a habit to check your spending on a regular basis.
5. Know that the odds are against you
Remember – casinos and sports books always have the edge. You should be realistic about your chances of winning the bigger jackpots. The odds of taking home massive prizes worth millions are small. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t go for the big jackpots. It’s just to say that you should be aware and realistic about your chances.
6. Maintain the right frame of mind
How well do you function if you’re angry or upset? Would you trust yourself if you’re drunk? Then why would you even think of making important decisions related to finances if you’re not in the right frame of mind? You need to be absolutely present and emotionally on top of things if you play at an online casino. Do not use gambling as a pastime to ‘cheer yourself up’ after a fight with your spouse or after a few drinks. It won’t be the happy ending you hoped for.
