There’s a responsible gambling slogan in the UK that states, ‘when the fun stops, stop’. And that’s a vitally important message for all players that should not be overlooked.
The opposite – irresponsible gambling – can manifest itself in a number of different ways, but ultimately they all lead to the same outcome: the individual player becoming emotionally distressed and, quite often, financially harmed.
Whether you have experienced this personally or not, it’s well worth taking the time to read the tips detailed in this article. We offer responsible slot gaming strategies that will help you to stay in control of your play – maintaining the fun aspect without causing yourself emotional or financial hurt.
And we’ve also included some links and information on support services, should you find yourself in a position in which you’ve lost some of the control over your online slot gaming.
Self Assessing Your Gambling
One of the first steps to take is to assess your gaming habits. Are you fully in control of how long you spend playing, or do you find yourself loading up your favourite slots at every chance you get – affecting your work or home life?
Are you staking an amount that you can afford to lose, or are you spending more than you’re comfortable with?
Players at Prime Slots can analyse their gaming habits using the tools available in the ‘My Account’ section of the site. You can assess how much time you’ve spent gambling in a given timeframe and how much you have wagered, while also checking individual deposits.
You can easily track your gaming activity over, say, a four-week period. Has it changed? Why has it changed? Sometimes, players are known to gamble more when they are experiencing tough times personally.
These self-assessment tools are a great way to stay in control of your gambling… and perhaps spot when things are starting to go astray.
Setting Limits
Of all the safe gambling tips available, setting limits is one of the most straightforward ways to retain control over your gambling.
Most online casinos and betting sites will enable you to set your own limits, including:
- Session times
- Amount staked
- Deposit caps
When playing your favourite slots or table games, it can be easy to get carried away and lose track of the time – as a consequence of that, you may end up playing more spins than you had intended… and therefore wagering more than you set out to.
By setting a time limit, players can enjoy gaming but know that when the timer is up, their session will end – our ‘reality check’ message will pop up on screen when the time limit has elapsed.
Our players can also set limits on the amount they are able to wager during a gaming session, which is another handy way to retain control. One of the main triggers of ‘irresponsible’ gambling is spending more than you can afford to lose, as well as chasing losses.
By setting a wagering limit, players know that they can budget for their gaming at a level that suits them – if you stake 1% of your bankroll each time you play, that’s a bare minimum of 100 gaming sessions before you need to make another deposit.
Deposit limits, meanwhile, are another important tool for retaining control. These can be set in the ‘My Account’ section at Prime Slots, with daily, weekly and monthly limits available.
This again enables players to impose a strict budget on their gaming, ensuring that it remains at an affordable level for every single individual – retaining the fun, rather than becoming a financial burden.
Knowing When to Stop
Sometimes, even using all of the tools mentioned above isn’t enough.
Unfortunately, some people turn to real money slots when they need to make quick cash – this is misguided, as the RTP of each game reveals the probability of winning big is minimal.
Others seek the endorphin rush of the winning spin; this too is a dangerous mindset.
When your casino gaming has lost its fun and crosses the threshold into problematic, you can engage a temporary or permanent ‘self exclusion’ on your account. Our Cooling Off tool enables players to block their account for a period ranging from 24 hours to six weeks.
Alternatively, using the Self Exclusion option will block your account for a number of years or even permanently.
Playing Responsibly at Prime Slots
There are many organisations that offer free help and support should your gambling become a problem – in many cases, you can do so anonymously too.
The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is a helpful starting point, as are the resources available at GamCare, GambleAware and Gamblers Anonymous.
It’s important to know how to play real money slots, but it’s even more important to know how to enjoy them responsibly. Slot gaming should be a fun hobby; not seen as a means to an end financially.
Please bookmark this article… hopefully, you will never need it. But some, unfortunately, will.
