Understanding Responsible Gaming

The world of online casino gaming has grown in leaps and bounds in just a few short years. Alongside calls for the global regulation of the industry – in terms of issuing licenses to registered online casino operators – is a growing interest in responsible gaming codes of conduct.

In essence, Responsible Gaming practice encompasses a variety of factors such as:

·         Dealing with problem gambling

·         Underage gambling

·         Making online gaming safer

Online casino players can relate to the concept of gaming according to rational decision making. A situation where casino players are willingly engaged in gaming with the objective of having fun, not acting out of desperation, is the mainstay of the safe and acceptable gaming experience.

This is to say that that responsible gaming is based on individual player circumstances and the overall views of the community on this particular issue. Responsible gaming is thus a collective action by all stakeholders in a community. This includes business, community and political groups.

The idea is to create a casino gaming environment that meets player expectations and is socially responsible. The concept of responsible gaming conduct guards against underage gambling, irresponsible gaming and reckless gambling.

Irresponsible gaming is relatively easy to identify. This can take the form of children gambling, elderly persons with little or no control over their gambling impulses or even impoverished persons seeking their fortune by gambling with money they simply don’t have.

There are many easily adoptable ways of ensuring that problem gambling doesn’t occur. Players should bear in mind that there are ways to combat the sometimes overwhelming urges to place another casino gaming wager. Such responsible casino gaming steps include:

• Set up a budget and stick to it
• Know the games you’re playing
• Don’t gamble under the influence
• Once you’re winning, game with your profits
• Do it for the fun experience of gambling
• Know when to walk away from the casino
  

Identifying problem gaming behaviour is relatively easy. Signs that a player is engaged in activities that should be considered harmful both financially and emotionally include:

• Spending too much time gaming
• Spending too much money gambling
• Losing interest in day-to-day activities in favor of gambling
• Deception, borrowing and other negative behavioral changes

Many responsible gambling operators have concerns about the impact of gambling at community level, especially in indigent communities. Their goals are the following:

• Helping people who have been negatively affected by casino gambling
• Understanding the social impact of gambling
• Promoting responsible gaming and online casino gaming
  

Gaming authorities are numerous today. These many organizations including eCOGRA, Gamcare, RGRC (Responsible Gaming Resource Center) and the Responsible Gaming Council are all there to act as watchdogs for player interests. Online casino operators have gotten onboard as it’s in their interests to protect their players and maintain their patronage.