Responsible Gambling

Nowadays, there's a lot more awareness around responsible gambling than there was at the start of the online gambling industry. Even if you thought of "Responsible Gambling" as a term that doesn't apply to you because you manage to stay in control of your play, the fact remains that if you gamble, whether that's for pennies, pounds or more, it's recommended to be sincerely mindful of the phrase.

All of us here at NewSlotSites.XYZ sees online gambling as a fun way to enjoy some light entertainment and socialise and have bantz with your mates. If you're lucky, you can even win some cash at the end.

Why Responsible Gambling Is Important To Us

We are, essentially, a gambling guide for those interested in playing online slots at UK casino sites. We started this slots guide because we enjoy playing online and wish to extend our enjoyment and knowledge to others who enjoy playing slots, just like us.

All our slot and casino articles are published after being thoroughly checked to ensure that whatever we put on this website will help you, the reader, have a safe, fair and legit time when you play online. For this reason, we not only have an emphasis on safe sites but also on responsible gambling. What we don't want is for anything we publish to be used the wrong way or to have a damaging effect on people's lives. All of our slot and casino reviews are unbiased and fact-checked to ensure the credibility of each article. We remain impartial and always remind our readers that gambling involves financial risk. We know everyone wants to win, but there are absolutely no guarantees that you'll win anything.

What Does Responsible Gambling Mean?

Casinos, Slots, Sports Betting, Bingo, Poker, Scratchcards, eSports, Loot Boxes... the list could go on. One thing is for sure: gambling is everywhere. While most people gamble online for the thrill of chasing those wins, eyeing up a progressive jackpot or having a fun bet with their mates, gambling can become problematic for some people. If problem gambling is left unaddressed, it can lead to serious financial, personal and mental issues that are harder to beat down the line.

How To Gamble Responsibly

We believe the golden rule to responsible and safer gambling is to know your limits and never go past them. Even if you're tempted to chase losses, don't. Set a budget, time limit or your preferred playing limits, and don't cross them. You'll remain level-headed by keeping within your limits so that nothing can get out of hand or unravel. This is where it can start to go wrong for some people. We've put together some do's and don'ts to keep in the back of your mind; they may help you stay in control when you next gamble online:

Don't:

• Don't treat gambling as an opportunity for reckless behaviour.
• Don't gamble when you're highly stressed, depressed, intoxicated or otherwise distressed.
• Don't see gambling as a way to fix any financial issues
• Don't play at unlicensed gambling sites as they probably won't have the appropriate in-account responsible gaming tools that help most people.
• Don't borrow money to gamble.

Do:

• Do start by setting loss limits based on the money you can afford to lose.
• Do know when to stop.
• Do make careful decisions about how you spend your time and money.
• Do be careful where you play your games. We recommend playing at UKGC licensed gambling sites that must 100% support responsible gambling.
• Do set a reasonable time limit for gameplay sessions.
• Do take frequent breaks.
• Do think to alternate gameplay with other (non-gambling) activities
• Do talk to someone if you feel your gambling is spiralling out of control or you suspect someone you know has developed a gambling problem.

Underage Gambling

Gambling is prohibited by law for any persons under the age of 18. Regulated casinos and new slot sites, such as the ones we feature, conduct regular checks to ensure no one under 18 can play. All regulated casinos will ask customers to fully satisfy their KYC ("Know Your Customer") checks to ensure no one under 18 is playing illegally. KYC checks include sending the casino a copy of your Photo ID, Proof of Address (such as a utility bill) and sometimes, proof of payment and source of wealth (SOW) details. Casinos ask this to remain fully compliant with their licensing obligations (or risk a massive fine from the UKGC) and ensure minors cannot access gambling games.

We make it clear that we only accept readers/users over 18. Per our terms of use, if you are under 18, you must leave this website immediately.

How To Recognise You Have A Problem

Sometimes the most challenging part of problem gambling is to recognise you have a problem in the first place. Here are some classic tell-tale signs of problem gambling:

• Playing Over your limits: You gamble with money you can't afford to lose and money that should go towards basic expenses such as rent, food or utility bills.
• All Consuming Time: You spend too much time gambling with increasing sums of money.
• Chasing Your Losses: You try to win back your lost money. You can also believe you have extraordinary luck or lucky abilities or that you're due a change in fortune, and you might get that lucky 'break'.
• No Longer Fun: You're constantly thinking of the next opportunity to gamble. It's no longer fun, but you still feel you need to do it.
• Finding New Ways To Fund Your Habit: You do anything to get money for gambling. This includes borrowing, stealing, cheating and selling your possessions.
• Missing Engagements/Commitments: You miss appointments, are absent from responsibilities, and act secretive about your whereabouts.
• Personality changes: You display frequent mood swings, seem anxious, nervous or aggravated, and you're sometimes in distress or depressed, with a tendency for manipulative or controlling behaviour.
• Debt: You've got yourself in debt and have no practical way of paying it back.
• Pushing People Away: People close to you are suffering from your problem gambling and have pointed out you might have a problem.

What To Do If You Have a Problem Gambling

The best way to tackle problem gambling is to realise you have a problem and take the following steps to get help. Below we've listed the steps which can help you get the support you need:

Take A Problem Gambling Test

The test below is a basic yet telling test from the NHS website, which is designed to help you understand if you have a problem with gambling or not.

• Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
• Do you need to gamble with more significant amounts of money to get the same feeling?
• Have you tried to win back the lost money (chasing losses)?
• Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
• Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
• Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including feelings of stress or anxiety?
• Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)?
• Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
• Have you ever felt guilty about how you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

1. Score 0 for each time you answer "never"
2. Score 1 for each time you answer "sometimes"
3. Score 2 for each time you answer "most of the time"
4. Score 3 for each time you answer "almost always"
5. If your total score is 8 or higher, you or someone you know may have problems with gambling.

Switch On Reality Checks/ Utilise In Account Safer Gambling Tools

When you play at legit slot sites, there will be plenty of tools to help you remain in control. These include "Reality checks", which are notifications that appear in your account, reminding you about your playtime. These measures were implemented by the Gambling Commission to ensure that players are regularly alerted about the length of their sessions.

Take A Break or Self Exclude

If you have been playing for some time, decide to take a break. Doing this can control the time you spend playing and your choices. If you need something more definite to help you stop entirely or take a break, there are options to self-exclude. You can request to be barred from accessing your player account for a long time, ranging from hours to years. You can also request that your account is permanently deleted too. All online casinos and slot sites in the UK are required to offer the option of self-exclusion and work with the government-backed GAMSTOP scheme.

Block Access To Online Gambling Sites & Casinos

A step further than self-exclusion is blocking online gambling sites on your devices. There are a few recommended software apps that you can install if this is a suitable method for you. You can add a block by tweaking your browser, operating system settings or account setting with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or you can install and use a password-protected website blocker or gambling-specific blocking software such as:

Gamban

Gamban is arguably the best software for blocking gambling websites, including online casinos, sports betting, bingo, lotteries, and other forms of betting and gambling in the UK. All you need to do is sign up and install a perfectly safe app on your device to block ads and access to gambling sites.

Seek Further Help & Support

If nothing mentioned above is working and it's too difficult for you to quit because you still manage to find ways to gamble, then you should seek professional help. Below are some recommended organisations that offer free, anonymous and professional support. These organisations help people in the same situation as you every day and are well equipped with the best help for problem gambling.

Gamcare

Gamcare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and offers face-to-face counselling. You can also find out more on their main website or on Twitter.

Gordon Moody Association

The Gordon Moody Association offers residential courses for men and women who have problems with gambling – email help@gordonmoody.org.uk or call 01384 241292 to find out more, or visit the main website or the official Gordon Moody Twitter account below.

Gamblers Anonymous

UK Gamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family. You can find out more by visiting the official Gamblers Anonymous website below, or you can also find them on Twitter: