Responsible gaming

At its best, playing at online casinos is an entertaining and exciting activity. At worst, it's a real problem.

We believe in helping our community get the most out of their gaming experience. Playing responsibly is a big part of this.

We know everyone loves a win – whether that’s a few pennies at the poker table or a massive progressive jackpot – but it's important to not lose sight of the losses.

As any seasoned and sensible player can confirm, the appeal of online casinos lies in the thrill of playing the games rather than their outcomes. This is a view we strongly support.

However, some players can get addicted to gambling. If problem gambling is left unaddressed, it can lead to serious financial, personal and mental issues.

We care about your well-being and so do the best online casinos out there. There are options available to you if you feel that your gambling behaviour is getting out of hand.

Gambling should never be a cause of worry or stress. When it stops being fun, it is time to take a step back.

How to gamble responsibly

The golden rule in the world of online casinos is to know your limits and never go past them.

Don’t treat playing as an opportunity for reckless behaviour. Instead, make careful decisions about how you spend your time and money, where to play, how to have fun and, most importantly, when to stop. As the saying goes, by failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.

These guidelines are a good start to gambling responsibly:

1. Start by setting bet and loss limits based on the money you can comfortably afford to lose, and stick to them
2. Never borrow money to gamble
3. Set a reasonable time limit for gameplay sessions
4. Take frequent breaks
5. Alternate gameplay with other activities
6. Avoid gambling when highly stressed, depressed, intoxicated or otherwise distressed
7. Talk to someone if you feel your gambling is spiralling out of control

Underage gambling

Underage gambling is prohibited by law. Online casinos conduct regular checks to ensure that no one under the age of 18 is permitted to play.

Gambling can prove risky for adults, and it's downright harmful to minors. On Bojoko, we make it clear that we only accept users over the legal age of 18.

This is to safeguard the interests of groups who are especially vulnerable to the ill effects of gambling.

UK online casinos require players to send them verifying documents as proof of their identity and, thus, their age.

How to recognise if you have a problem

Problem gambling doesn't happen overnight so it can be hard to diagnose in yourself or others.

The symptoms usually develop over time and the earlier you notice them, the higher the chances of making a quick recovery.

Here are the classic signs to look out for:

• Playing over your limits - You gamble with money you can't afford to lose and money that should be going towards essential expenses such as rent or a mortgage, utilities, groceries etc.
• More time and money spent gambling - You spend too much time gambling with increasing sums of money.
• Chasing your losses - You're trying to win back the money you've lost, believe you have special luck or abilities, or that you're due a change in luck.
• No more fun - You feel you need to play no matter what and you're constantly thinking of the next opportunity to gamble.
• Got to find money - You do or are willing to do anything to get money for gambling, including borrowing, cheating and stealing.
• Missing commitments - You're late to appointments, absent for increasing time periods from commitments such as work or school, call in sick more than average, and act secretive about your whereabouts.
• Personality changes - You exhibit frequent mood swings, seem worried, agitated or irritated, and you're sometimes in distress or depressed, with a tendency for manipulative or controlling behaviour.
• Bad finances - You're getting in debt and have no realistic way of paying it back.
• Loved ones hurting - People close to you are suffering from your gambling and have pointed out you might have a problem.

Seek help immediately if the symptoms described apply to you. Acting in good time is the best possible thing you can do for your health and the well-being of those closest to you.

You may not ever experience all or even most of these signs. Even one is a reason enough to do something about it.

More information about gambling addiction is available on the NHS website. If any of the above sounds familiar to your situation, it might be time to assess your gambling habits.

What to do if you have a problem

If you’re displaying signs of problem gambling or addiction, there are many ways to take a step back or get the support you need.

Depending on how severe the problem is, you should either try toning down your gambling, stopping it completely or seeking help from professional sources.

TAKE A SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST

Some gambling support organisations and online casinos offer a self-assessment test that allows you to determine whether a gambling problem is present and how severe it may be.

GamCare's self-assessment tool, for instance, walks you through 16 statements to determine your gambling risk level.

SWITCH ON "REALITY CHECKS"

“Reality checks” are notifications that appear in online casinos which remind you about your playtime. These measures were implemented by the Gambling Commission in the UK to ensure that players are alerted about the length of their sessions on a regular basis.

This is a good option if you notice that your gambling sessions are getting longer and longer without you realising it. A reality check is like an alarm clock that signals you that it's time to do something else than gamble.

TAKE A BREAK OR SELF-EXCLUDE

You can be the master of your own self and elect to take a break from gameplay when you notice you’ve been playing for a while. This way, you can take control over the time you spend playing and the choices you make.

Taking a break can be refreshing and help reduce the stress. Just put your account on a month-long break and see where you are. If you feel like you can't handle being away from a casino for that long, you may have a serious issue and need to take heavier measures.

Online casinos are also required to offer the option of self-exclusion. You can request to be barred from accessing your player account for a length of time, ranging from hours to years, and delete your account permanently too.

BLOCK ONLINE CASINO AND BETTING SITES

Going a step further than self-exclusion, blocking online casinos and betting sites can be done if the temptation to gamble anywhere is too strong.

You can do this by tweaking the settings on your browser or operating system. Using a password-protected website blocker or gambling-specific blocking software is a smart choice.

gamban®

The best software for blocking gambling websites (including online casinos, sports betting, bingo, lotteries and any other form of betting) in the UK.

Website: https://gamban.com/

GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is a self-exclusion service that allows you to sign up and make sure casinos will not accept you as a customer.

All UK-licensed online casinos must check a player's identity with GAMSTOP before they can let them join.

Website: https://www.gamstop.co.uk/

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