What are the fundamentals of responsible gambling?

Every player should be aware of the fundamentals of responsible gambling before they even take a peek at their cards or roll the dice. To start, it’s important to know that responsible gambling consists of three strands: education, tools and support. If you’re considering using a gambling site, make sure that they have a good range of all three. 

There are plenty of tools out there to help you keep your gambling behavior in check and they’re more accessible than ever. So, whether you’re a complete novice or an expert gambler, join us to talk all about the very basics of responsible gambling. 

Prevention through education

A common misconception is that responsible gambling tools are only for those with issues, when in fact they’re designed to help every player set healthy limits, stay in control, and enjoy gambling as a form of entertainment. It all starts with making players aware of what constitutes a healthy relationship with gambling and where the line between fun and a problem lies. 

Checklists and questionnaires 

One of the most common educational tools you’ll see available on gambling sites are checklists and questionnaires. They provide players with a list of what they should be aware of, encouraging them to reflect on their relationship with gambling. 

They’re an especially valuable tool as they often contain things you may not have even thought of as being associated with gambling, like how you feel before you start gambling. It can also be quite useful to have all the signs written down as it provides a good list for future reference. 

Promoting understanding 

It’s also important that players know what healthy gambling looks like. Gambling should only ever be done for fun and without the intent of earning or subsidizing income. Once it crosses over from being enjoyable into something which becomes stressful or which players are looking to make money from, it’s no longer a healthy relationship. Gambling sites will always emphasize the importance of this approach to encourage players to evaluate their own relationship and view of gambling. 

Finding the right provider 

On comparison and affiliate sites, you’ll often see advice about how important it is to choose the right provider. Players should only play at sites that genuinely prioritize their safety and have their best interests at heart. A trustworthy platform will offer a full range of responsible gambling tools and resources to help you stay in control.

It’s also important to look for providers that hold a reputable license, as these operators are held to strict standards when it comes to player protection. If you’re unsure where to start, impartial casino comparison sites like BetKiwi can be useful for finding licensed operators with strong responsible gambling measures in place. Their team reviews providers with safety in mind, highlighting gambling sites that offer strong responsible gambling features and are licensed by respected regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority. 

BetKiwi’s reviews are shaped by industry experts, such as Wayne Goodchild, who brings over five years of experience in the industry and is a prominent voice when it comes to supporting responsible gambling. Another standout is Dudley Nader who as a player himself with over 10 years of experience, understands the importance of sites offering responsible gambling tools. This expertise ensures players are directed toward platforms that genuinely support safe play.

Responsible gambling tools 

The next string of the responsible gambling bow is tools which help players manage their time, budget, or playing habits more effectively.. There’s a wide range of these on offer and they depend on the site you’ve chosen to use. Some of the most common include limits, reminders, breaks and self-exclusion. 

The different types of limits 

Limits are one of the most commonly used responsible gambling tools, designed to help players take control of their activity. It’s a great idea to set a limit before you even begin playing at a site to help you prevent harmful habits like overspending or chasing losses. Limits come in a few different forms, including:  

Deposit limits: Restrict the amount players can spend at a provider by preventing them from depositing more than a set amount in a set period. 
Loss limits: These come into effect when players hit a certain amount lost over a set period, and help to prevent chasing losses. 
Session limits: Unlike the other financially focused limits, these focus on the amount of time a player spends on a site, preventing them from continuing after a set amount of time. 

Reminders and breaks 

On many sites, you’re able to set up reminders which appear once you’ve spent a certain amount of time gambling. A popup appears, asking players if they're sure they want to continue playing and highlighting the importance of maintaining control over your activity. 

Reminders are often used in conjunction with breaks or cool-off periods, encouraging you to take a break once you hit a certain amount of time spent at a provider. Breaks can last from a day and stretch up to a couple of weeks, during which time you’ll be prevented from using the site. They’re a valuable tool for maintaining control over your play, especially if you start noticing early signs of losing balance.

Self-exclusion

Similar to breaks, self-exclusion prevents players from playing at a provider, or group of providers, for a set amount of time. They’re usually much longer than the breaks, ranging from weeks to months and even years. It’s even possible to self-exclude from a site permanently by contacting their customer service team. 

Self-exclusion is one of the strictest responsible gambling tools available, as it aims to completely break the gambling habit. Players are unable to access the provider’s services at all, effectively stopping their gambling activity. If you choose to self-exclude from a site, you should also be removed from its marketing lists, meaning you will no longer receive promotional emails.

Blocking gambling ads

If you’re being affected by gambling ads in your inbox or elsewhere, it’s possible to block them. By contacting each provider directly, you can request removal from their marketing or mailing lists to stop receiving their ads.

However, you may still encounter ads on platforms like Google, so it’s important to update your ad preferences there as well. The same applies to social media platforms such as X and Instagram, where you can adjust your settings to mute words like “gambling” or “betting.” Another effective approach is to block accounts that share gambling content or mark ads as “not interested” to help retrain your algorithm.

What gambling support is available? 

For those who recognize they have a problem or aren’t finding responsible gambling tools all that helpful, there’s a second line of defense. All worthwhile providers will include some form of gambling support that you can reach out to.

Where can you get help? 

Support can include round-the-clock helplines which can discuss your relationship with gambling with you. It’s also common to join help groups where players meet in-person to offer and receive support. 

The good news is that if you need help, it’s never been more accessible than it is today. There are online forums and resources like Safer Gambling Aotearoa, which can offer you the advice and support you’re in need of. 

Government initiatives and regulation

The New Zealand government estimates that one in five Kiwis will be affected by gambling harm at some point in their lives - whether through their own habits or someone else’s. That’s why they keep such a close eye on gambling regulation and continue to roll out initiatives to reduce the risks. Their focus is on making support easier to access, improving its effectiveness, and ensuring there are more trained staff who specialize in responsible gambling.

Each year,  the government allocates around NZ$81 million to support responsible gambling , partially funded through a mandatory levy on providers. This money goes toward expanding the workforce, including 18 new clinical internships, as well as building stronger addiction resources, self-help networks, and mental health support.

Why responsible gambling matters

Every player should understand the basics of responsible gambling - from education and tools to knowing where to find support. A good starting point is learning the difference between healthy play and problem gambling. Simple tools like self-check questionnaires can help you reflect on your habits and spot warning signs early.

Picking the right provider is just as important. Safe, licensed casinos should always put your wellbeing first, with tools like deposit limits, reminders, and time-out options. If you ever feel your gambling is getting out of hand, self-exclusion offers a longer-term solution, and support groups or helplines are always available.

In short, staying safe while gam