This page is dedicated to responsible gambling, an essential aspect of gaming that ensures its enjoyment while remaining safe and responsible. Here you’ll find essential principles, tools and resources for playing responsibly while maintaining control and awareness during gambling sessions.
Responsible Gambling
What is Responsible Gambling?
Responsible gambling refers to engaging in betting and casino activities safely, responsibly, and mindfully. This involves understanding risks, setting reasonable limits, and never allowing gambling to have adverse impacts on personal, family, or professional pursuits – in other words ensuring gambling remains entertaining without negative side-effects for oneself or others.
How We Support Responsible Gambling on Sloterman
At Sloterman, our aim is to promote responsible gambling by addressing potential challenges players may experience when gambling. Our approach includes:
- Comprehensive Reviews: We conduct comprehensive and trustworthy reviews on every gambling site to verify they offer appropriate customer support and tools to combat responsible gambling.
- Monitoring Player Feedback: At our partners’ casino brands, we continuously evaluate user feedback to maintain accurate and relevant content on each casino brand. We do this through monitoring reviews from players as well as opinions posted on our site.
- Education on Responsible Gambling Tools: We aim to educate visitors on responsible gambling tools by offering a list of them and explaining how they work so that they may gamble safely.
- Safe and Trusted Listings: We aim to create an environment where players can locate reliable casinos equipped with effective responsible gambling tools that are easily accessible on our listings site.
- Fair Gaming Checks: We examine casinos to ensure they implement fair play, including RNG technology, to deter potentially problematic gambling behaviours such as overgaming and overspending.
- Gambling Addiction Guidance: On this page, we also have guides for recognizing signs of gambling addiction as well as discussing prevention and assistance options.
Gambling Addiction: First Signs
Gambling addiction is a serious medical condition characterised by an uncontrollable desire to gamble despite any negative consequences, often progressing from harmless recreational betting into compulsive habits that negatively impact various aspects of an individual’s life. Recognizing early signs of gambling addiction is vital for timely intervention and successful recovery.
Consider these questions when trying to ascertain whether your gambling might be harmful:
- Are you playing long sessions of gambling at once (one sitting) and feel the need to increase stakes (or increase limits)?
- Are you excited about raising the stakes?
- Are you annoyed when gambling?
- Do you sometimes experience frustration while gambling?
- Are you using gambling as an escape from reality?
- Have you tried unsuccessfully to decrease the time you spend gambling?
- Have you increased the sums in your deposit accounts recently?
- Have you borrowed money to gamble with?
- Do you hide your gambling from family and friends?
- Have you sold assets to fund gambling activities?
- Are you breaking promises to loved ones to gamble?
- Do you ever feel left out when gambling at the casino?
- Have you attempted repeatedly to recover losses?
- Do you find yourself being dishonest about your financial situation?
- Are you feeling as though you’re becoming dependent on gambling?
If your answer to any of the following questions is “Yes”, especially multiple or all, you must understand that there may be a gambling issue and seek help to manage them more responsibly. Below we offer resources and safe gambling tips for doing just that.
How to Avoid Irresponsible Gambling Addiction
To keep gambling under control and enjoy it more safely, it’s essential to adopt practices that reduce addiction. Here are a few suggestions on how you can gamble more safely:
- Beginning With an Open Mind: Before engaging in gambling, make sure your mind is clear. Avoid using gambling as an outlet to alleviate emotional or psychological strain.
- Monitor Your Finances: Make sure your spending fits within your budget, never gambling away funds you cannot afford to lose.
- Learn the Casino Deposit Conditions: Familiarising yourself with the casino’s deposit limits and stakes/RTP terms will allow you to manage expectations more effectively while mitigating risks.
- Acquaint Yourself With Games: Knowledge is power in gambling; so arm yourself with it for success.
- Assess Losses Objectively: It is crucial that you monitor and track your losses objectively so you know when it is time to stop to avoid further loss chasing.
How to Detect Gambling Addiction
Recognizing the signs of gambling addiction is vital for early intervention. Here are some behaviours that may indicate an addiction:
- Mood Swings/Depression: Prevalent mood shifts associated with gambling activities, including periods of high elation followed by sudden lows.
- Preoccupation With Gambling: When thoughts about gambling take priority over other life interests and daily responsibilities.
- Constant Losses: Experiences regular losses while continuing to gamble in hopes of recovering them. Uncontrolled Spending: Difficulty in managing or stopping spending for gambling activities which causes significant financial strain.
- Deception: Lying to family and friends about the extent of your gambling or trying to cover up its presence.
- Inability to Stop: A desire to gamble regardless of negative consequences and unsuccessful efforts at stopping it.
If you or anyone in your life exhibits these behaviours, it may be wise to seek additional advice on managing gambling habits responsibly.
Responsible Gambling Tools
To support responsible gambling and prevent addiction, various tools help control and monitor gambling behaviours:
- Reality Check: This tool serves to remind players during gaming sessions about the amount of money and time spent, leading to reflection on their gambling habits and encouraging reflection upon these habits.
- Budget Control and Spending Limits: Setting personal budget limits and restricting how much money can be deposited or wagered within any specified period helps maintain financial control and avoid overspending.
- Take Breaks: Regular breaks can help prevent compulsive behaviour from emerging and promote an equitable approach to gaming.
- Maintain a Log of Losses: Monitoring losses is essential to understanding the financial impact of gambling, and can also act as a deterrent against betting beyond reasonable limits.
- Control of Time Spent in Game: Tools designed to limit how long one spends gambling can help prevent extended sessions.
- Self-Exclusion Scheme: This voluntary facility for those looking to temporarily stop gambling provides a formal process where gamblers can ask gambling operators to prevent them from gambling with them for a specified period.
- Age Verification (18+): Ensuring all players are 18 or over helps protect against underage gambling and uphold legal and ethical standards within the gambling industry.
Self-Exclusion Scheme: How Does It Work
Self-exclusion allows individuals to take proactive steps toward managing their gambling by voluntarily opting out of certain platforms. Here’s how it usually works:
- Voluntary Request: Gamblers who wish to self-exclude themselves can do so voluntarily by contacting either their gambling platform’s customer service or through an approved online portal.
- Set Period: Gamblers who choose an exclusion period ranging from several months to several years will no longer be allowed to access or create accounts with operators during this time.
- Enforcement: Once processed, their account(s) will be suspended and they will no longer receive marketing communications from the company.
- End of Period: Once an exclusion period ends, access is not automatically reinstated; rather, individuals must take active steps to request reinstatement and may require further assessments to resume gambling responsibly.
Prevent Underaged Gambling
Responsible gambling practices are essential in protecting minors from accessing gambling activities. Casinos that practise responsible gambling uphold stringent age restrictions for registration or participation – no one under 18 years old is allowed. This aligns with New Zealand’s zero-tolerance policy against underage gambling.
- Age Verification: Casinos conduct rigorous identity and age verification checks in the registration process to ensure all players meet the age requirements for opening an account or placing bets.
- Strict Policies: Some casinos may establish even stricter age restrictions, such as 21 years and over, as a precaution against young adults being misled into entering.
- Protection of Minors: Our focus on minors gambling prevention goes beyond simply stopping them from gambling – it also seeks to safeguard them against any associated harms. Information and resources are provided to parents/guardians so they can keep gambling activities out of reach of children.
World-Known Organisations to Protect from Gambling Addictions
Numerous organisations worldwide provide help and resources for those struggling with gambling addictions. Here is a list of some of the notable ones:
| Organisation Name | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Gamblers Anonymous | Provides support groups for people who want to stop gambling. | Visit website |
| State Government Pages | Offers local resources and support for gambling addiction. | Check local government websites |
| UK Gambling Commission | Regulates gambling and supervises gaming law in the UK. | Visit website |
| BeGambleAware | Offers information to help people make informed decisions about their gambling. | Visit website |
| The Betting and Gaming Council | Represents betting and gaming, providing safer gambling efforts and member codes of conduct. | Visit website |
| eCOGRA – iGaming Testing & Inspection (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) | Specialises in the certification of online casino software and systems. | Visit website |
| HM Government of Gibraltar – Remote Gambling | Regulates all forms of gambling in Gibraltar. | Visit website |
| Isle of Man Government – Gambling and E-Gaming | Manages and regulates the gambling and e-gaming industries on the Isle of Man. | Visit website |
| The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) | Regulates online gambling on behalf of the States of Alderney. | Visit website |
| GamCare | Provides support, information, and advice to anyone suffering through a gambling problem. | Visit website |
| Gordon Moody | Offers residential, online, and advice services for severely addicted gamblers. | Visit website |
Main Organisations for Responsible Gambling
Here is a list of key organisations often seen at the footer of casino websites as indicators of their commitment to responsible gambling:
| Organisation Name | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| BeGambleAware | Offers information to assist people in making well-informed gambling choices. | Visit Website |
| GamCare | Provides support, information and advice regarding gambling issues. | Visit Website |
| GamblersAnonymous | An association of people who share their experiences to address gambling-related problems. | Visit Website |
| Big Deal | Focuses on young people’s problems related to gambling. | Visit Website |
| Gambling Therapy | Provides online support and free advice for those affected by gambling. | Visit Website |
| Gordon Moody Association | Provides treatment and support services for severely problematic gamblers. | Visit Website |
| Samaritans | General emotional support as well as assistance with gambling-related stress relief. | Visit Website |
| International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) | Consists of representatives from gaming regulatory organisations across the globe. | Visit Website |
Where to Get Help in New Zealand
Individuals seeking gambling help in New Zealand have access to support services across various cities.
| Organisation | Description | Phone | Support Email | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling Helpline New Zealand | Provides free and confidential 24/7 support to anyone affected by gambling | 0800 654 655 | info@gamblinghelpline.co.nz | _ |
| Asian Family Services | Support and counselling services for those impacted by gambling in multiple languages. | 0800 862 342 | office@asianfamilyservices.nz | Level 1, 128 Khyber Pass Rd, Grafton, Auckland 1023 |
| Mapu Maia | Pasifika gambling support service offering culturally sensitive support. | 0800 664 262 | help@mapumaia.nz | National Office Ground Floor, 15 Jack Conway Avenue Manukau, Auckland 2104 |
| Department of Internal Affairs | Government department that administers gambling legislation and offers support services. | 0800 257 887 | info@dia.govt.nz | 45 Pipitea Street, Wellington 6011 |
| The Salvation Army | Provides counselling and rehabilitation services for those suffering from gambling issues. | 04 384 5649 | sef@salvationarmy.org.nz | 204 Cuba Street, Wellington 6011 |
PGF Organization for New Zealand Gamblers
The Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF) offers support and treatment services to anyone experiencing problem gambling in New Zealand. PGF also caters to a diverse demographic by offering services in multiple languages to ensure accessibility across communities.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 0800 664 262
- Email: help@pgf.nz
- Languages Spoken: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Samoan, Tongan, Thai, Hindi, Vietnamese
Key Locations and Details:
- Auckland:
- Physical Address: 7 The Strand, Auckland 0622, NZ
- Postal Address: PO Box 8021 Newmarket Auckland 1149, NZ
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30-17:00
- Hamilton:
- Physical Address: 109 Anglesea Street, Hamilton 3204, NZ
- Postal Address: PO Box 19311 Hamilton 3244, NZ
- Palmerston North:
- Physical Address: 180 Cuba Street, Palmerston North 4410, NZ
- Postal Address: PO Box 6506 Marion Square Wellington 6141, NZ
- Whanganui:
- Physical Address: 142 Guyton Street, Whanganui 4500, NZ
- Paraparaumu:
- Physical Address: 110 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu 5032, NZ
- Porirua:
- Physical Address: 16 Hagley Street, Porirua 5022, NZ
- Opening Hours: Monday: 9:00-17:00; Friday: 9:00-17:00
- Dunedin:
- Physical Address: 43 Princes Street, Dunedin 9016, NZ
- Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00-17:00
Please be aware that some locations may vary in their opening hours and may not always be open every day, allowing PGF to serve all the communities within New Zealand effectively.
GamCare in New Zealand
GamCare New Zealand provides round-the-clock support to individuals experiencing gambling-related issues in New Zealand, ensuring help is always at hand. Their services extend across various cities, offering vital resources and assistance for people seeking assistance for gambling addiction.
Key contacts in New Zealand:
- Auckland: Offering 24-hour support services for any gambling-related concerns.
- Wellington: Offering continuously accessible services that can offer immediate support.
- Christchurch: Being available all of the time when necessary.
GamCare International Support Contacts provide access to support in New Zealand at any time, making it easier for residents across New Zealand to locate help when they need it, 24/7.
Statistics in New Zealand
Gambling remains a significant activity in New Zealand, offering various gaming options available to the public. Recent statistics reveal the scope and impact of this activity:
- Pokie Machines: Nearly 49% of individuals who gamble on pokie machines in New Zealand may experience some form of harm as a result of gambling.
- Participation Rates: A substantial share of adult populations engage in at least one form of gambling each year, underscoring its immense popularity.
- Online Gambling: Thanks to digital platforms, online gambling has witnessed increased participation worldwide as gamers look for more accessible gaming options.
These statistics underscore the significance of responsible gambling initiatives and highlight the need for continued support and education to reduce the potential harm associated with gambling in New Zealand.
FAQ
How to detect gambling addictions?
Be wary of gambling addiction by looking out for signs like uncontrollable betting, financial strain, neglecting responsibilities and withdrawing from family or social activities. Seek professional guidance immediately if these behaviours become evident.
What tools can I use for responsible gambling?
Utilise tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion programs and reality checks to manage and monitor gambling habits and ensure they remain within personal boundaries. Look out for tools provided by gambling sites and support organisations.
How does the casino exclude me from gambling?
Casinos utilise self-exclusion programs to prevent individuals from gambling for an indefinite period, providing you with the option to request exclusion through self-exclusion requests. Once approved, they will immediately block access to all gambling services within their facilities and prevent further activity during this period of exclusion.
Where can I get help in New Zealand to avoid addiction?
New Zealand residents seeking gambling addiction help have access to several resources, including Gambling Helpline, PGF Services and Gamblers Anonymous. These organisations provide counselling, resources and support groups designed to manage or prevent gambling addiction.
How can I help somebody from gambling addiction?
Help someone struggling with gambling addiction by encouraging them to seek professional assistance and supporting them in finding resources such as counselling or support groups. Communicate openly and nonjudgmentally while offering emotional support. Together you can set practical boundaries and goals for their recovery process.
