How to play online bingo responsibly

Online bingo games are enjoyed by people all over Ontario and while it’s all good fun, you should be mindful of playing responsibly.

With any game of online bingo, you’re putting up some money to pay, which is all part of the fun as there is potential to win even more. Of course, you can lose money and play can become problematic for some.

That’s why it’s essential to understand the risks that come with playing online bingo, the signs of gambling harm and how to make sure you stay safe while you play.

What are the risks of online bingo play

While there’s fun to be had, online gambling can become problematic if you start to let it impact or take over other important parts of your life.

The biggest and most obvious risk is spending more money than you can afford on gambling. While the amount you put up on a bingo card might seem small, if you’re playing a lot, for a long time, and with higher amounts this can add up over time. This can impact your everyday finances and have long-term implications for your overall financial stability and safety.

Another very common risk is spending more time playing online bingo than you should. If you’re prioritizing the next call of the number, it can start negatively impacting other parts of your life, be it your wallet, your friends and family, hobbies and more. This can include sacrificing time spent on those things or combining those activities with online game play.

These two risks are often the root cause of problem gambling, but what they look like in real terms can be different for each person.

The signs to look out for in yourself and others

Spending more than you can afford playing online bingo seems like something that should be obvious, but it can often take more subtle forms and behaviours, including:

1. Ignoring time limits you might have set for yourself for playing, or not having any in the first place.
2. Ignoring your responsibilities at work or around the house so you can spend more time playing.
3. You feel compelled or like you have to gamble.
4. Skipping out on family time and social events for more time in bingo rooms.
5. Not being present with friends and loved ones when you are spending time with them.
6. Spending less time or giving up on your hobbies so you can gamble.
7. Wedging in time to gamble in amongst or during other activities and parts of your life.
8. In your spare time, you’re thinking about the next time you can play or a past loss.

Just like the time you spend playing bingo, how much money you’re using each time you play is a big factor to watch. When it comes to money, the risks can often creep up on you slowly – it’s not as simple as starting to deposit 10 times more all of a sudden. It looks like:

1. Depositing larger amounts than you have in the past or would ordinarily.
2. Burning through your cash and depositing again shortly afterwards to keep playing.
3. Ignoring any limits or guidelines you’ve set for your play in the past.
4. Wagering larger amounts than you have in the past, hoping for a bigger payout.
5. “Chasing your losses” by gambling larger amounts and more often to try and win back money you’ve lost.
6. Using money that should be spent on other things to fund your gambling – be it your rent, bills, groceries or cash for the kids.
7. Taking on debts or using credit cards to fund your habit, or to pay for things that you should have kept money aside for in the first place.

What to do if you think you are at risk

If you’re exhibiting any of the behaviours listed above or think you might be at risk of developing a gambling problem, you should review our responsible gaming page.

The Casino Time responsible gaming program has information and tools which can help including limit setting, cooling off periods and a self-exclusion program. There are also links to third-party counselling programs for professional help.

Also reach out for support from the people around you, such as family and friends. They should be able to help you connect with services to support you in this process.

How to stay in control of your play

To make sure you stay in control of your play and don’t let the game play you, you should set a budget on how much you’re willing to deposit and play with and stick to it. This should be a hard line that you don’t cross, partly for your wallet but also an important mental marker to keep yourself in check.

You should also set time limits for yourself on how much time you spend playing, as spending long hours and lots of time can increase your chances of gambling harm. This is especially the case if you’re someone who likes to wager small amounts to get more playtime.

The tools you can use to stay in control of your play

You can also use the tools offered by Casino Time to stay in control, including:

• Session limits – set a limit on how much time you can spend on an online casino site in a given day, tracked from the first moment you log in.
• Deposit limits – a hard cap on how much you can deposit over a specific amount of time.
• Loss limits – a limit on how much money you can lose across a given period of time.

So long as you use these tools to stay in control of your play, online bingo will be fun and exciting – especially when playing at Casino Time, the number one online bingo destination in Ontario.