It is very well-documented that gambling of any sort can rapidly spiral out of control. Without guidelines and principles coming from the individual and the operators of gambling business, it is very easy for a person to fall into gambling addiction. Regardless of what they might earn from such addiction, online gambling operators have to do their part in preventing such a thing from happening.
The eGAP’s Responsible Gambling Guidelines
Gamblers actually need all the help they need as it is incredibly simple for them to go beyond the normal fun and games. Gambling addiction is very critical as the individual rarely shows outward signs the way an alcohol or substance addict features. It is rather subtle, but nonetheless very depressing and downright destructive.
eGAP, as dictated by eCOGRA takes gambling addiction very seriously. Hence, it includes, among its many checks and monitoring, the procedures used by online casinos to inform people regarding the risks that online gambling brings. More than just the information, these online casinos must have a setup that will stop people from becoming gambling addicts or help gambling addicts recover.
In very clear terms, any online casino should notify online gamblers about the importance of responsible gambling and how it affects the bettors if it goes unhindered. Virtual casinos must feature possible help options on their webpage, including email address and hotline numbers. There should also be self-help instructions and assessments to help individuals determine their status as far as gambling is concerned.
The responsible gambling advocacy should not be limited to information. This must incorporate processes and actions that can validly back their advocacy claims. The option to limit the amount of deposits should be available at all times. Any player who wishes not to access his account must be granted his or her request as soon as possible with all remaining balance fully returned. During this self-exclusion period, online casinos must also exclude the individual from any adverts or promotional items. For at least half a year, the said player must not be able to access his or her account.
Besides these drastic measures, players should have all the necessary information to keep track of his gambling activities, which should a timekeeping device that is highly-visible on screen. This will allow the gambler to know how much time he has spent in his or her gambling activities. The help should involve the capacity to retrieve gambling records such as losses, winnings, deposits, payouts, and other such pertinent information. An overall idea of the gambler’s monetary standing should serve him or her in good stead.
As help should always be available all the time, the 24/7 customer support should have adequate training in dealing with people who have issues concerning their gambling. The responsible gambling advocacy should be strictly implemented by someone with authority from the management team.
Lastly, the responsible gambling guidelines will only work if the gambler makes it a point to use discipline in his or her activities. No amount of guidance or recommendations coming from online casino sites will matter if the person chooses to ignore them.
