Whether you’re playing mobile games, console games, or at an online casino it’s important to be responsible and keep check of your gaming habits. This is particularly true at online casinos due to the ability to spend real money, but things like microtransactions in new video games and mobile games can also spiral out of control.
Below, you can find five simple things you can do to stay in control and practice responsible gaming – especially at online casinos.
Make use of deposit limits and other tools
When real money is involved, it’s important to control your spending and be disciplined. Luckily, the best online casinos have a range of tools to help, including deposit limits.
The first thing you should do when you register an account at an online casino is set a weekly or monthly deposit limit – once that limit’s triggered, you won’t be able to spend more.
Third-party sites also have useful tools such as bonus calculators, like the one you can check here. These tools can help you select the best bonuses to help you go longer without having to spend more money.
Set play time limits to avoid burnout
It’s incredibly easy to zone out when playing online casino games or video games, lose track of time, and experience burnout. You can combat this in several ways. Firstly, some online casinos actually have reminders or “reality checks” – these are pop-ups that trigger when you’ve played for a specific amount of time.
Secondly, you can set manual time limits by setting an alarm/timer on your smartphone. For online casinos, it should be 15 minutes or less per session. This gives you plenty of time to play games while still remaining in control and avoiding burnout.
Play with smaller spin/hand values
Consider this scenario – you deposit $20 at an online casino and play a video slot at $2.50 per spin. You lose all 8 spins and are left with nothing and as a result, so you then have to make another deposit if you want to continue to play.
To avoid this, it’s preferable to set a lower spin value – ideally, the lowest possible spin such as $0.25. Sure, the winnings won’t be as high, but you will get more entertainment value from your deposit. You’ll also be using your money in a much more sensible manner.
Only use disposable income to play with
Online casinos, sportsbooks, and video games should be a source of entertainment and you should treat any associated spending as such. If you want to deposit money at an online casino or purchase something on a video game, make sure the money you are using is disposable.
This means that you have all your regular costs such as bills, rent, and gas covered first. Disposable income is what you have left once the essentials have been paid for. You can also take this one step further and only use disposable income that’s left after other disposable things like holidays and savings are accounted for too – but this depends on your lifestyle and what you want to do with your free time.
The point is, don’t prioritize online gambling or video games if you have outstanding bills to pay!
Keep your gaming public knowledge
There is a temptation to hide your gaming habits, especially when real money is involved, but this can lead to issues. It can cause problems with trust, but also it gives you an excuse to spend more and keep less control over your spending habits.
To avoid this, make others aware that you play at online casinos, sportsbooks, or purchase in-game microtransactions in video games. If your loved ones and/or friends are aware, they can help if you encounter difficulties, and also step in if they feel you are becoming irresponsible.
Don’t solely rely on other people to keep you in control though – it’s ultimately your responsibility, not theirs.
Stay safe and practice responsible gaming
The key to responsible gaming is to stay in control and be disciplined. Decide how much you’ll spend on gaming that month and don’t go over that ceiling. It can be tempting to spend more when there’s the potential for real-money winnings at a casino, or when a video game is having some sort of limited-time event. But spending more than what your budget allows is a bad habit that can lead to things spiraling out of control.
It starts with self-inflicting limits on your spending by using things like deposit limits. Next, limiting your playing and gaming sessions can also help burnout or overspending. At online casinos, using smaller hand and spin values is a great way to manage your bankroll, and it’s also important to keep your gaming habits visible to other people – like your loved ones and family.
By doing these things, you can prioritize entertainment and keep your online casino and online gaming activities healthy.
