When you hear the word “gambling”, the first thing that probably comes to mind is stressing over something you staked on. But it doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, it shouldn’t be like that for anyone.
Gambling is a form of entertainment, and if you do it responsibly, it can easily be a favorite pastime. With safe gambling practices, you are bound to enjoy it because everything will be under control. But not everybody sees it that way, and we understand. That is why we have written this piece. We’ll talk about the practical strategies you can use to build safe gambling habits, allowing you to enjoy it as a pastime. Read on, learn and enjoy.
What is safe gambling?
To start with, many “gamblers” don’t know the concept of safe gambling. So, what is it? It is when you bet responsibly, such that you don’t see gambling as a way to make money. Instead, it is purely a form of entertainment. With more US states beginning to legalize online gambling, many people will deviate from doing it safely, and that is not good enough.
If you are an avid gambler already, here is a checklist for you to know if you are on the right track:
- Betting beyond your time and financial limits: If you are betting when you are meant to be doing something else, chances are you are getting into an unhealthy addiction. As for finances, make sure you are not staking with money that you cannot afford to lose.
- Emotional decision making: If gambling is entertainment for you, you’ll be detached from it. That way, your betting decisions won’t be influenced by emotions; rather, they will come from a place of calculated risk.
- Understanding the game of chance: As much as many don’t like to admit it, gambling is a game of chance. So, you can’t have a 100% win rate. Occasionally, you’ll get it wrong, and that’s fine. Just make sure you’ve come to terms with that.
Ways to implement safe gambling as a pastime
Now that we’ve established what safe gambling looks like, how do you go about it? Let’s talk about it.
Setting limits
In this case, we are referring to both financial and time limits. Before you start gambling, make sure you have a predefined amount that is allocated to it. That way, you are not risking funds that are meant for your day-to-day living.
At the same time, you also need to set a maximum loss limit for each session. Since losses are inevitable, you must be prepared. And if you hit that limit at any time, be disciplined enough to respect it. Then for the reverse case, you must also have a win limit. Once you win a certain amount, be disciplined enough to call it a day.
Then beyond financial limits, you must also have a time allocation. By this, we are referring to pre-planned gambling sessions – they must be deliberate.
Choose a safe and reliable platform
Playing your favorite real-money games should be done on licensed and regulated platforms. This is to ensure that all your sessions are fair and safe, providing a healthy environment for you. Moreover, reliable platforms usually have responsible gambling tools to help you stay on the right track.
For those who don’t know how, here are some things to look out for when identifying safe and reliable platforms:
- License: A valid license from a reputable body such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is a must. Any platform without a license is a no-go area.
- SSL encryption: SSL encryption is a way to safeguard you during your gambling session. You can always cross-check this with the padlock icon next to the website address on your browser’s address bar.
- Reviews and ratings: Nothing is better than practical reviews and ratings from fellow players who use the platform. Search for legit player reviews and read the detailed ones to get unfiltered opinions.
Understand the role of luck and skill
Although gambling is referred to as a game of chance, not everything is 100% dependent on luck. There are also some casino games that are games of skill. So, if you don’t like to leave the fate of your results in the hands of random number generators (RNGs), you should invest in games of skill.
These games of skills are poker, blackjack and sports betting (to some extent). The outcome of these games depends mainly on your knowledge, skills and strategy. But if you want something that is purely reliant on luck, go for the likes of slots, roulette and lotteries.
Knowing the difference between luck and skill-based games is very important because it helps you to set realistic expectations. That way, you’ll be less frustrated about the outcome of any session. It will also help you to accept losses as part of the game.
Know when to stop
As simple as it may seem, many gamblers don’t know when to stop. This is very important because sometimes, it is better to step back and do nothing. If you don’t, you can find yourself chasing losses and betting more than you planned. Such individuals can end up turning to gambling as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety and even financial problems.
If you are going down that rabbit hole already, it is not too late. Here are things you can do:
- Use self-assessment quizzes to gauge your gambling habits, helping you to know where you stand.
- Use self-exclusion, cool-off periods and deposit limits available on your gambling platform.
- Seek support from services like Gamblers Anonymous and BeGambleAware to combat addiction.
- Remember that seeking help is a responsible decision, and it is never too late.
Wrap up
Now, you’ll agree with us that gambling can be an enjoyable event that you use as a pastime. It doesn’t have to be something stressful or mentally taxing if you approach it the right way. Remember that it should be something you do for fun, and not as a source of income. With this mindset and utilizing the pointers we provided, you’ll be in for a good time.