Gaming responsibly and for fun should be your priority, even from your first playing session. You cannot achieve this alone, and gaming companies should provide specific tools and resources in this regard.
You might wonder why playing responsibly is so important. Well, that is because so many statistics show that it is very easy to fall into an addiction when you game.
Playing responsibly is a must, so here is how to start doing it:
- Don’t think about gaming as a source of income, and only play for fun.
- Monitor the time you spend on gaming platforms. You can do so by simply setting a timer on your phone or accessing the platforms proper tool if they have one.
- Take regular breaks.
- Only game with the extra money that you have.
Why government regulations are important
For players to have a safe space to game, platforms must comply with some regulations. This is why the government of each country should add a set of rules that gaming platforms have to consider for their brands.
Some government regulations have been implemented in recent years, which means that gaming is on its way to becoming safer. For example, in Uzbekistan, the government has asked all operators to obtain an NAPP license. This means that they will be systematically controlled.
Moreover, it looks like Thailand is trying to legalize it. This is an important step because people still forecast illegally. This new law means that Thailand will be able to regulate the industry.
In addition, every country should have restrictions on ads. This is a worldwide problem because it also makes young people start gaming, thus leading more and more people to addictions.
Responsible Gaming Tools
Over the years, platforms have implied certain tools that their customers can use. These include cool-offs, self-exclusions, and even deposit limits, which we will talk about in this section.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion refers to a specific period when you will not be able to access your account in any way because there is a risk of addiction issues. Platforms will add this to your account if you request it, but there are some cases in which, if there are clear signs of addiction, the platform will immediately terminate your account.
An interesting fact about this is that you’ll be able to do cross-branding in some cases. This means that if you self-exclude with a platform, other brands will not let you create a new account with them.
This limit usually lasts longer than any others and can go up to a few years.
Cool-off
In case you’re ever going to need a small break from gaming, you can simply set a cool-off period. This is a temporary solution, and you will not be able to open your account in the meantime. Platforms often provide cool-offs with periods that are between 24 hours and a few weeks.
This one is crucial because it often puts things into perspective. It is a great opportunity to take a step back and see how much you’ve really spent. Reflect on this aspect and then decide if you want to continue or even set a deposit limit.
Deposit limits
Having a budget is a must when you start playing on a new platform. However, it may be hard to establish yourself without any tools. This is why some platforms have deposit limits available that you can set to your player account.
But are they effective and easy to use? Well, there are three instances:
- Some platforms have strict rules and will ask you to add a deposit limit right from the moment of your registration process. This is effective because you’ll set your budget right from the start.
- The mild scenario is when you have the tools available in your account settings. You can go there yourself and add whatever limit you want.
- The worst case is when platforms require you to contact customer support to add any limit to your account. This can become burdensome, especially if they don’t have a quick live chat option and you have to wait.
Whenever you play on a new platform, you should first check the limits available to you. This is a very telling aspect of how a platform operates because you should be safe when playing.
If you love playing and want to game without the risk of losing any cash, you can take advantage of a promotion that advertises free spins no deposit required keep your winnings. There is no need for you to make any initial investment, and you can try out the platform you decide to play at.
Responsible gaming resources
As gaming is getting more and more developed and lots of people become prone to addiction, new institutions have become available. They’ve come on the market so that you have a safety net in case of issues.
One of these is GamCare, which provides 24/7 care via a helpline for players with addictions in England, Scotland, and Wales.
There is also GamingTherapy, which has very similar services and helps players in countries from Asia, Europe, and North America. They’ve recently included Australia and some countries from Africa.
NetNanny is a great resource for parents to restrict gaming websites on their children’s phones and electronic devices
GamStop is available for platforms that are licensed in the UK, and it helps with getting you restricted from entering them in case you have gaming issues.
AI tools in regard to responsible gaming
In addition, with the rise of AI, certain tools powered by it have also entered the gaming world. In an article, Daniel Reitberg explains how different AI tools help with responsible gaming. Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
- AI algorithms can monitor the patterns of players’ playing, how long and how much they play, and how risky this behaviour becomes.
- AI can assess certain risks and give the players feedback, thus giving them an insight into their gaming behaviour.
- AI provides chatbots that can help players make educated choices and play responsibly.
- AI has developed so much in the past few years that it can easily detect signs of addiction.
- AI effectively collects data and brings it to the attention of operators so that they can develop responsible gaming available on their platforms. This way, they have all the information necessary to create a safe gaming environment.
What makes a good responsible galing page?
Before you make an account on a new platform, it’s good to have some aspects in mind. Even if you don’t know yourself as prone to gaming issues, you should check if the platform has a good responsible gaming page.
You usually find the link to it in the footer of the platform or on the terms and conditions page. We’ve listed the following aspects that should appear when you open it:
- Useful resources: this means there should be proper links to pages that help combat underage galing and addiction.
- A self-assessment quiz: Most platforms have this, and it comes in the form of a few questions that help you analyze your gaming behavior.
- All tools explained: There should be a comprehensive guide on how to add limits, request self-exclusion, cool-offs, and even close the player account.
We know that some players are already aware of their addictions. But remember always to take advantage of these tools, as their main goal is to prevent possible issues.
Conclusion
It is more than certain that you, as an individual, cannot prevent a possible addiction on your own. This is why platforms must come up with innovative and curated tools to help their players game responsibly.
The gaming world is proceeding towards a safer space to play with the inclusion of tools such as self-exclusion, cool-offs, limits, and resources.
