Beginners Guide to Responsible Gambling
Responsible gambling is a critical part of the online casino industry and governs many aspects of the casino operations. Online casinos have become more and more popular over the last few years, particularly with advances in digital technology, especially in the mobile arena.
Responsible gaming is now more important than ever. However, it is also important to note that there is more than one side or aspect to responsible gaming. The responsibility lies with both the online casino as well as the person who chooses to play at the casino.
It is not only a matter of being able to recognize a reputable online casino and knowing what to look for, it is just as important to be aware of the possible dangers that can be associated with gambling. Gambling can be addictive and it can be destructive and knowing how to avoid these potential dangers or how to get help is just as important.
Safety of online casinos
Recognizing reputable and safe online casinos is the first step towards responsible gaming. Casinocanuck has put together a safety checklist that you can use to determine if any online casino is safe and reputable:
Determining online casino safety:
There are hundreds of online casinos operating in the net right now and not all of them are safe or reputable. Some online casinos are set up in such a way that, once you’ve deposited your money, you will never be able to withdraw anything from them. Another important consideration is who you give your personal information and banking details to, there are many scams online designed to look like legitimate operations.
A sure-fire way to know if an online casino is legitimate and above board is to read Casinocanuck’s extensive reviews on recommended Canadian online casinos. It is also a good idea, if you are new to online casino gaming, to start with the casinos on our recommended list only. We detail all the important aspects including details on casino regulators that have approved those particular casinos.
Online casino regulators and watchdogs:
Legitimate and reputable online casinos are always, licenced and regulated by industry-recognized bodies. These licencing authorities will monitor online casinos within their jurisdiction to ensure that everything operates according to strict guidelines.
Major online casino regulators and watchdogs include:
- eCOGRA: e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance
- IMGSC: Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- LGA: Lotteries and Gaming Authority
- OSGA: Off Shore Gaming Association
- GRA: Gibraltar Regulation Authority
- KGC: Kahnawake Gaming Commission
eCOGRA is quite possibly the most well-recognised of all online casino regulatory bodies and is arguably the most powerful. eCOGRA is based in Europe and one of its founding members happens to be Microgaming, the oldest and most respected online casino software provider in the industry.
Choosing an online casino with the eCOGRA logo on its homepage, such as the ones on our recommended Canadian casino list, is a good way to ensure that you are indeed playing at a reputable online casino.
Another way to double-check an online casinos eCOGRA certification is to actually go to the eCOGRA website, just to be sure that the online casino isn’t just using the logo to lure in unsuspecting players.
eCOGRA holds audits on a consistent and regular basis with all of the casinos that have applied for membership with the body. This helps to ensure that all of eCOGRA’s regulations and guidelines are continually enforced.
eCOGRA regulations and guidelines include:
- All eCOGRA online casinos must employ Random Number Generators in their software
- All eCOGRA online casinos must offer fair and correct payout percentages to players and allow access to this information
- All eCOGRA online casinos must allow fair and proper access to players winnings (withdrawals)
- All eCOGRA online casinos must ensure that their casinos employ the latest digital security platforms such as SSL (Secure Socket Encryption) software to guard the safety and privacy of their player’s sensitive information including banking and personal details.
It is also important to note that all players must do their homework before signing up to any online casino. Double-check certification on their website and don’t just take it for granted that an online casino is legitimate simply because it displays recognised regulatory body logos.
We also recommend that you always check back with Casinocanuck to see our updated list of recommended Canadian casinos and read our extensive reviews first.
Avoiding rogue casinos
Rogue online casinos are usually classified as such based on certain types of conduct which can include withholding players winnings based on flimsy reasons, misleading marketing tactics such as bonus offers that don’t actually exist, closing player accounts for no reason while the players still have funds in them and so on.
These rogue casinos are blacklisted after several complaints have been issued regarding their behavior and we recommend that you check our article on blacklisted casinos which will be available soon. Our section on blacklisted online casinos will be regularly updated so that you know exactly which online casinos to avoid and why.
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is a serious problem in Canada and is a disease which effects not only the addicted but also their families, work and other aspects of their lives. Online gambling is also often cited as more dangerous as access to an online casino is instant and can be very private, played within the confines of a person’s bedroom or lounge without anyone knowing about it. You can read more about responsible gambling and signs that there may be a problem at a variety of institutions, including here at the Canadian Safety Council. If you think that you or someone you may know has a problem there are a variety of hotlines available on the website that you can contact.
Our recommended list of Canadian online casinos have not only been hand-picked for their great games, banking and bonuses, they have also been chosen for their responsible attitude towards the dangers of online gambling.
Our recommended online casinos actively monitor the playing behaviours of their members to ensure that players are not establishing gambling patterns that would indicate a loss of control.
These casinos will also include great options such as limiting deposit amounts (bankroll management) to a daily, weekly or monthly limit as well as ‘time-out’ periods, where gamblers can take a break for a certain period of time form the casino altogether.
Finally, Canadian law prohibits anyone under the legal age from opening an account with an online casino. While the legal age to open an account with an online casino differs from one province to another, generally it is either 18 or 19 years of age. Responsible and reputable online casinos will not allow you to open an account with them if you are younger than the legal age.
