Online casino games are enjoyed by millions of people in Ontario and while there’s plenty of fun to be had, it’s important that you play responsibly.
With any form of game at an online casino there’s an element of risk – it’s part of the thrill of placing a wager and potentially winning. But just like all things, moderation is key to ensure you stay in control of your play and keep having fun.
It’s important to understand the risks that come with playing online casino, the signs of gambling harm and how to make sure you stay safe while you play.
What are the risks of online casino 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, which can impact your day-to-day finances and have long-term implications for your overall financial stability and safety.
Another very common risk is spending more time gambling online than you should and to the detriment of 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.
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 on online casino play is a pretty apparent risk, but it can look like quite a few different behaviours, such as:
- Depositing larger amounts than you have in the past or would do ordinarily.
- Burning through your cash and depositing again shortly afterwards to keep playing.
- Ignoring any limits or guidelines you’ve set for your play in the past.
- Wagering larger amounts than you have in the past, hoping for a bigger payout.
- “Chasing your losses” by gambling larger amounts and more often to try and win back money you’ve lost.
- Using money that should be spent on other things to fund your gambling – be it your rent, bills, grocery money or cash for the kids, etc.
- 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.
Just like with your money, the use of your time is also a big factor to keep an eye on to make sure you’re playing responsibly. Signs that you’re spending too much time gambling, or thinking about gambling include:
- Ignoring time limits you might have set for yourself for playing, or not having any in the first place.
- Ignoring your responsibilities at work or around the house so you can spend more time playing.
- You feel compelled or like you have to gamble.
- Skipping out on family time and social events for more time at the casino.
- Not being present with friends and loved ones when you are spending time with them.
- Spending less time or giving up on your hobbies so you can gamble.
- Wedging in time to gamble in amongst or during other activities and parts of your life.
- In your spare time, you’re thinking about the next time you can play or a past loss.
What to do if you think you have a gambling problem
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 like 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.
Now that you know how to stay in control of your play, it’s time to have some fun at Casino Time.
