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Casiqo - Responsible Gambling

The attractive monetary rewards gambling involves brings the risk of addiction and financial problems, as players often chase losses or carelessly pursue big wins.

That’s something we have observed firsthand here at Casiqo. Having operated as an online casino offering several rewarding pokies and table games, we have since morphed into an affiliate site, guiding users on how to gamble safely online based on our experience.

The time we spent operating as an online casino brand exposed us to the importance of responsible gambling to maintain the fun of betting online. In this guide, we will walk you through how to stay in control and maintain a positive experience as you navigate online gambling in New Zealand.

How to Recognise a Gambling Problem

It is widely believed that responsible gambling is a subject that concerns people with gambling addictions only. The truth is that all players should use responsible gambling tools to protect themselves and maintain healthy gambling habits.

However, even people struggling with gambling problems are unable to recognise it. Here are some indicators to look out for:

  • Frequently exceeding your gambling budget.
  • Borrowing money or taking loans to fund your gambling needs.
  • Consistently chasing losses incurred while gambling.
  • Extended gambling sessions due to a compulsion that makes you lose track of time
  • Neglecting work, family, and friends to have more time to gamble
  • Lying about money and time spent on pokies and other casino games.

Common Gambling Tools at Online Casinos

Knowing the risks associated with the gambling platforms being within easy reach, many sites now offer diverse features to help players remain in control. These are called responsible gambling tools and usually have dedicated pages at these sites where interested players can self-enrol. They include:

Deposit Limits

Online casinos allow players to limit how much money they can deposit for playing pokies within a given period. This could be daily, monthly, or weekly. While some casinos allow instant deposit limit reduction, they impose waiting periods for requests for extension, reducing the risk of impulsive changes.

Loss Limits

You can also place a cap on how much you can lose within a period. Once this limit is exceeded, the betting site will automatically prevent you from placing further bets for a specified time. Defining loss limits is crucial for stopping gamblers from chasing losses, which is one of the marks of unhealthy gambling.

Time Reminders

Before starting gambling, sites allow users to create a schedule for reminders to pop up on the screen after a given time. These alerts help monitor how long you have been playing for and are also helpful in reminding players to take breaks and assess their gambling activities. Some online casino sites in NZ have this as an inbuilt feature.

Self-Exclusion

This tool is most useful for players who want to take a long break from gambling and is often used as a last resort. By enrolling for self-exclusion, the online casino will restrict users’ access either for a set period or permanently. It will also prevent them from creating a new account and exempt you from promotional materials that can tempt them to return.

Tips to Ensure Responsible Gambling

While deciding on which responsible gambling tools to use, following these tips will equip you to play responsibly:

  • Create a gambling budget before playing.
  • Remember that gambling is for entertainment, not building wealth.
  • Avoid playing pokies when stressed or emotionally overwhelmed.
  • Learn to take breaks in between gambling sessions.

Where to Find Support

Many trusted organisations are providing free, round-the-clock support to NZ players struggling with gambling problems. These include:

  • Gambling Anonymous: Modelled after Alcoholics Anonymous, this globally recognised forum accessible via gamblersanonymous.org connects players and places them in support groups.
  • Gambling Helpline: Players struggling with addiction to pokies can call 0800654655, text 8006 for free or initiate a live chat at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
  • Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand: Visit pgf.nz for cultural support and help via phone call, live chat, and face-to-face counselling.

How Casiqo Promotes Responsible Gambling

One of the ways we contribute to a responsible gambling culture here at Casiqo is by recommending sites that also prioritise this. Our background as a casino operator makes us even more conscious of player protection. Hence, we only choose secure sites with easily accessible responsible gambling tools. We also regularly educate players on the best practices for healthy gambling habits with our content.