Playing online casino games is one of the most enjoyable hobbies we know, but like many other hobbies, for some people, it can become harmful. Just as rock climbers and cave divers need to take steps to keep themselves safe in regard to gravity and confined spaces, so online gaming fans need to make sure that they don't get swept away by their emotions. Here are some of our best ideas for staying safe at online casinos.
Safe Online Venues for Canadian Players
Play at Regulated Casinos
Playing at an unlicensed casino is asking for trouble. The first key to staying safe is to make sure that you only play at fully licensed and regulated online casinos.
The two most respected regulators are the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). These organizations have some of the strictest rules and requirements in the world, so you can be sure that any casino they regulate has to meet the highest standards in terms of player security, game fairness, and responsible promotion.
If you want to be as safe as possible from a regulatory perspective, give preference to casinos licensed by the MGA and UKGC.
Use Player Protection Tools
The majority of reputable online casinos offer at least a few player protection tools that can help you to stay in control of your gaming. Some of the most useful ones are as follows:
| ✔️ Deposit and Loss Limits These allow you to set limits on how much money you can deposit or lose in a stated period of time, such as a day or a week. Having such limits in place will help you to keep your resolve and stick to your budget even if - during the heat of the moment - you are tempted to deposit more and play more. |
| ✔️ Reminders and Time Limits Many casinos will allow you to activate a reminder or "Reality Check" setting that will pop up every so often to remind you how long you have been playing at the venue. This can help you to avoid spending too much time on gaming, but if a reminder isn't enough, you can also set an actual time limit that will prevent you from playing beyond a certain length of time. |
| ✔️ Take a Break and Self-Exclusion Should you decide that you want to take a break from online gaming at a particular venue, or maybe even quit playing altogether, you can make use of Take a Break and Self-Exclusion tools. These will effectively lock you out of the venue and prevent you from playing for either a stated period of time (Take a Break) or permanently (Self-Exclusion). |
Adopt Healthy Playing Habits
The third main approach to staying safe at online casinos is to adopt healthy playing habits such as the ones detailed below:
| ✔️ Play to a Budget Set aside a specific sum of money that you can afford to use for online gaming in a given week or month. If you lose this sum, don't play again until the following week or month. And it should go without saying that you should never borrow money for gaming purposes. |
| ✔️ Know the Games Get to know new games by playing in demo mode or with free spins before committing any real money to them. Also, read up on casino games that involve skill so that you are aware of how to best approach them. This will help you to avoid making potentially costly mistakes. |
| ✔️ Maintain Perspective Online gaming is fun, but it isn't the only fun thing in life. Make sure that you have other hobbies that you can enjoy so that you keep gaming in perspective. |
The Final Word
Keep the above principles in mind and you should be able to enjoy your online casino gaming hobby without getting yourself into trouble.
| For more advise on how to stay safe at online casinos, visit our dedicated Responsible Gaming page, which has helpful information and advice. |
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