Online casino gambling in Canada has reached significant proportions, becoming one of the most interesting sources of entertainment. However, all the thrills associated with it must remain moderate and within the limits of Responsibility; hence, the concept of Responsible Gaming.
What is Responsible Gaming?
Responsible Gaming can be considered a set of measures to ensure that gambling takes place in a healthy, pleasant, and mainly entertaining environment. It is, therefore, in contrast to Problem Gaming and aims to prevent and resolve the difficulties inherent to players.
When discussing this concept in general, responsibility lies at two levels: the casino level and the player level.
How do online casinos work towards Responsible Gaming?
If we consider the license of online casinos before ranking them, it is not for the sake of it. A licensed casino has certain legal obligations, namely implementing a Responsible Gaming program. This implies that the online casino takes certain measures, such as:
Ensuring fair games
Random number generators should be audited and regularly monitored to ensure that games are not rigged. If players have a real chance of winning based on chance, it helps to make the gaming environment healthy. This is why approval from an organization such as eCOGRA or another similar one gives more value to an online casino.
Implementation of game control tools
To create a Responsible Gaming framework, online casinos offer tools that give players more control, in terms of spending, losses, playing time, or even winnings. Thus, players will be able to:
- Establish a deposit limit not to be exceeded on a daily, weekly or monthly basis
- Establish a loss limit
- Set the time of their online gaming sessions
When players feel that they are becoming too addicted or do not have the strength to set limits, the casino should also offer ways to request a temporary or permanent self-exclusion. In short, a licensed Canadian online casino with Responsible Gaming at heart should help establish a leisure environment that maximizes entertainment and reduces negative stress.
The implementation of responsible marketing tools
Casinos use several marketing strategies to attract people to their platforms or retain players: generous bonuses, regular special offers, etc. All this must be done healthily not to encourage the player to play more than necessary, to the point of getting into debt. Also, the player’s settings must be considered before the site offers him a promotion.
Ban on gambling for minors
The legal gambling age varies from 18 to 21 years old, depending on the country or Canadian province. Online casinos should clearly state that they do not accept minors on their sites and conduct subsequent checks after registration to ensure this rule is not broken.
The verification procedure within the framework of KYC
Playing online offers advantages, such as access to the game from home, privacy when playing and the discretion that goes with it. However, this discretion does not stipulate that the online casino should not know who you are. After registration, the casino will ask for information to prove its players’ identities and addresses. This is a crucial and mandatory step before a first withdrawal is successfully made. Players can start playing without it, but verification of KYC (Know Your Customer) is essential before withdrawing their winnings.
Responsible Gaming by Players
For their part, players are also responsible for establishing a healthy leisure environment that is conducive to personal development. Playing is a leisure activity, which should be considered as such, even if you sometimes win money. As a result, players are strongly encouraged to:
- Establish a budget for gambling and stick to it
- Use the tools provided by the Canadian casino to set their own money and time limits
- Ensure that play does not cause conflict or stress
No person is allowed to play if they are not of legal age in their country. Every player must know this and act accordingly. In addition, the following should be avoided:
- Playing while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- To play when you are sad or trying to drown your sorrows
- To try to make up for losses systematically by playing again and again
- Using money from basic needs of life or family to gamble
- Looking to invest money from a major project in an online casino hoping to win more
- Lying to those around him about his gambling addiction
There are multiple rules, but the main thing is that each player remembers that the game is mainly designed for entertainment. This is how you will fully enjoy the titles made available to you.
Some aid organizations in Canada
There are a few questions you can ask yourself to find out if you are addicted. If:
- You regularly borrow money to gamble.
- You constantly argue with your family about your gambling habits.
- You feel like you no longer have a social life because of your gambling.
- You become aggressive when people talk to you about the game.
- You become addicted to alcohol or an illicit substance because of gambling.
- You feel depressed when thinking about gambling or while gambling.
You probably have a problem gambling issue. There are other warning signs, and those mentioned are not exhaustive. In Canada, there are a few organizations that act as Responsible Gaming resource centers and could help you, namely:
- The Responsible Gambling Council: responsiblegambling.org
- Gamblers Anonymous: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
- The Canadian Center on Substance Abuse: https://www.ccsa.ca/Pages/default.aspx
You can ask them for support without judgment. If you want, you can also turn to members of your family whom you trust.
