In fact, Australia’s gambling statistics are some of the highest in the world. People throughout the country can’t get enough of playing pokie machines, especially those created by the popular provider Aristocrat. While gambling can be a fun, enjoyable and even lucrative pastime, it can also cause problems. This is why it’s important for casinos to promote responsible gambling.
What Is Responsible Gambling?
This is simply the act of being sensible while gambling for real money. It involves moderation and not overdoing things. Those who gamble responsibly manage to enjoy playing casino games for real money without developing any serious problems. Excess gambling can lead to a range of issues such as:
● Debt
● Reduced savings
● Less spending money
● Depression
● Stress
● Anxiety
● Low self-esteem
● Social isolation
There are two main aims of responsible gambling. These are described below:
1. To prevent serious problems and issues from arising.
2. To make sure gambling for real money is a fun, harmless activity.
Nearly all online casinos in Australia and elsewhere actively promote responsible gambling. It’s in their best interests to prevent gambling-related problems as much as possible. If someone develops a serious problem, the site could get a lot of bad publicity. It could even get fined by a regulatory authority for not doing enough to help the player and stop their problem from getting worse.
How Do Online Casinos Promote Responsible Gambling?
Near the bottom of every online casino web page, there’s a link that says ‘Responsible Gambling’ or ‘Responsible Gaming’. This takes the player to a page that outlines what the casino does to promote responsible gambling. The contents of this vary from one casino to the next. Some of the things you may find on this page are described below.
A Self-Questionnaire This is a series of simple yes/no questions you should ask yourself. Too many yeses or nos may indicate a gambling problem.
Links to Gambling Addiction Charities Visit these sites and you’ll find plenty of help, information and resources. Some examples of these sites include Gambling Help Online and the Australian Gaming Council.
Resources and Tools These are optional changes a player can make to their casino account to reduce/prevent excess gambling. The changes include money and time limits as well as self-exclusion, where a player effectively bans themselves from the site for a chosen period of time.
Tips for Responsible Gambling Most pages on responsible gambling have a number of useful hints and tips to follow. These are aimed at getting players to think about their gambling habits and modify them to reduce their chances of becoming addicted.
Information About Underage Gambling Anyone in Australia who wants to gamble for real money, whether online or in the real world, has to be 18 or older. Casinos have measures in place to prevent underage people from joining. Usually, the responsible gambling page has details about these measures.
Gambling Responsibly When Playing Pokies From Aristocrat
Aristocrat pokies are a lot of fun to play. The provider has been in the gambling business for decades and when it started out, it focused on creating pokie machines for land-based casinos. When online casinos started launching, Aristocrat carried on making pokie machines while at the same time developing digital versions for the internet casino market.
If you play Aristocrat online pokies smartpokies.com/providers/aristocrat, you’re sure to have a great time whether you win or lose. However, you should always take steps to gamble responsibly. Below is a list of simple things you can do to reduce the chances of becoming addicted to gambling.
● Come up with a budget and stick to it. Most Aussies don’t have an endless amount of money they can gamble with. Before you start playing online pokies from Aristocrat or other casino games, set yourself a budget. Don’t spend more than this and if you run out, it’s time to stop gambling and do something else.
● Only spend money you can afford to lose. This is a very important point. The majority of Aussies who gamble online for real money only spend money that isn’t needed for anything. They set aside money for essentials such as bills and food. Any money that’s left over and not needed for something important can be used for gambling. If this money is lost, it’s not a big deal.
● Limit the amount of time you spend gambling online. Spending too much time at online casinos can be just as bad as spending too much money. Sensible players don’t just limit their funds for gambling, they also restrict the amount of time they spend at gambling sites. It can be tempting to stay at an online casino for ages, especially since most Aussie casinos offer hundreds, if not thousands, of games to play. However, it’s always best to have short gambling sessions so you’ve got plenty of time to do other things.
● Don’t gamble if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Another key point, this one is very important because alcohol and drugs can affect your decision- making process. When someone gambles for real money, they shouldn’t be under the influence of anything. Instead, they should be in full control of their thinking and should be able to make sensible, rational decisions.
● Don’t gamble if you’re just doing it to make yourself feel better. If someone’s at the stage where they gamble because it makes them feel better, this isn’t good. Gambling should always be a hobby that doesn’t have a lasting effect on a player’s mood. If someone starts relying on it, they could end up becoming addicted to it.
● If you’re not sure how a game works, play for free first. Nearly every online casino in Australia offers demo play. This is where a player can try out games, including Aristocrat pokies, for free. They can have as many turns as they like without having to spend a cent and risk their money. The advantage of demo play is that it lets players familiarise themselves with a game’s rules and learn the ropes. This is particularly useful for games that require the player to make decisions such as blackjack and poker.
● Think about bet sizes. With Aristocrat online pokies and other casino games, players can typically place bets of many different amounts. Some players might be tempted to bet big so they can win big, while others may prefer smaller, less risky bets. Before gambling with real money, consider how much you’re going to bet in relation to your budget. Smaller bets will make your budget last longer.
When playing online pokies from Aristocrat, or practising any type of online gambling, moderation is key. It’s about knowing your limits and sticking to them. So long as you don’t overdo things, gambling for real money should always be an enjoyable hobby that doesn’t cause any short- or long-term problems.
Staying Safe at Online Casinos
We’ve focused on responsible gambling and in this section, we’ll talk about being safe at online casinos. Thankfully, the majority of casino sites in Australia are perfectly safe and secure. They’re run by reputable companies that can be trusted not to break the law or do anything they shouldn’t be doing.
However, a very small number of online casinos are dodgy, for want of a better word. Playing at a dodgy casino can be risky because there may be problems such as payments not reaching you in time or a casino refusing to give you bonuses. There are a few simple things you can do to stay safe when gambling online.
● Only join an online casino if it has a licence. Sites that are based in other countries can only offer gambling services to Australians if they have a licence from a regulatory authority. If you come across a site that doesn’t have one, it’s best not to join. An unlicensed casino may not be safe, plus if something goes wrong, you won’t be able to turn to a regulatory authority for help.
● Don’t join a casino if it has a negative reputation. Before becoming a member of a casino site, check to see what its reputation is like. If most of the reviews are positive, great. If most of the reviews are negative, you should consider joining a different casino instead.
● Look out for suspicious activity. Even if you join a top-rated licensed casino, things may still go wrong. Always be on the lookout for things that shouldn’t be happening. If there’s a problem or issue of any kind, contact customer support first. If they can’t or won’t help you out, get in touch with the regulatory authority that supplied the casino with its licence.
Gambling online for real money can be an enjoyable hobby. It can also cause problems if you’re not careful, which is why online casinos promote responsible gambling so much. If you want to play online pokies in Australia from Aristocrat, or do any other type of gambling, you should always be sensible. Follow the tips we’ve listed above to reduce the chances of problems occurring. If gambling does start causing issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to a charity and ask for help.
Aristocrat’s pokies are well worth playing. They bring the classic pokie experience to your computer or mobile device. If you’re keen to check out what games this provider has to offer, visit this page: Top Aristocrat Casino Games for Ultimate Entertainment and Wins.
You’re sure to find plenty of great Aristocrat pokies to play online in Australia. Just remember to gamble in moderation and focus on the fun side of playing pokies.
