Due to digitisation, online gambling has become extremely popular and easy to access, which also increased the need for players’ protection from gambling harm. By positioning itself as the leading and reliable player in the online casino reviews market, BetPokies.org feels the responsibility of providing Aussie readers with responsible gambling initiatives.

BetPokies, which is owned by ZehrMedia LTD, was established in 2020 by John Gold, who is currently the site’s editor-in-chief. John Gold decided to create a comprehensive Responsible Gambling guide, educating the gaming community about the importance of safety in the online gambling environment.

Destructive Impact of Irresponsible Gambling

Unfortunately, gambling experience can turn from fun to destructive without you even realising it. On gamblershelp.com, you can find real people’s stories about how gambling negatively affected or even ruined their lives. Let’s take a look at one of them, a story shared by Australian gambler Chris:

“I have always been the smart one, gambling is for hopeless people who believe in luck rather than hard work so I thought. It all started when I lost my job, I used my savings to open up a restaurant but due to insufficient experience it failed and I was in debt. I turned to gambling, thinking I was smart and could beat the system.

It worked and then I thought why not make a little extra and maybe make a career out of this? I had my formula all written down and a plan that worked, but then I got greedy and it was a free fall. I lost all my money including my winnings, sold some of my belongings and lost it again and I was still in debt.

I’ve contemplated suicide but it’s just money I lost, there are still things to live for. I’m angry with everyone right now, angry with my mother for birthing me without my permission, angry with my friend for always telling me about this and that. Why was I born, I ask myself, I didn’t ask to be born just to suffer.

I calculated I got it right, but the minute I go out of line I lose everything cos I always get greedy and chase my losses. I lost almost 20k just this morning, not including my winnings. I scraped some money, my last, starting again with my new formula of not chasing losses and not being greedy. Hopefully, it works. I’m not as smart as I thought after all”.

BetPokies Assists Safe Gambling Practices

BetPokies.org is a leading online platform that specialised in providing hand-tested gambling guides and reviews, as well as consequently promoting responsible gambling practices on online gaming sites. Recently, the website started including responsible gambling paragraphs into their articles. The paragraphs are not focused on general recommendations, such as “set a budget”, but offer specific recommendations connected to the reviewed brand.

The platforms also offers a separate guide dedicated to the topic, providing the readers with information and resources to overcome problematic gambling. In our opinion, this guide is one of the most informative ones among other “Responsible Gambling” pages offered by BetPokies’ competitor websites.

Even though the guide was written by John Gold alone, he says that the page is the result of the work of the whole team. He also adds: “As a team, we believe that our responsibility goes beyond just reviewing casinos—we’re committed to ensuring that our readers can enjoy gaming safely. I didn’t want to create just another generic Responsible Gambling page that repeats the same advice found everywhere else. Instead, we focused on providing practical, brand-specific recommendations that genuinely help players stay in control while enjoying their favourite games.”

John also shared some comments about this guide he has received from BetPokies’ readers:

“Thank you, BetPokies! Reading your “Responsible gambling” guide really helps me to control my gambling”.

“thanks to betpokies I realised I am slowly getting addicted to gambling. thanks to the “responsible gambling” guide I managed to take it under control, I found social organisations that helped me for free and now I for sure know that gambling if nothing more than entertainment for me, same way as going to the cinema or something)”.

Safe Gambling Recommendation from John Gold

With over 10 years of experience in gambling and 4 years as the chief of a gambling review website, John Gold definitely has something to say about responsible gambling. Let’s have a look at the main advice BetPokies has to offer.

The website’s team shares basic responsible gambling recommendations, such as setting your financial limits, sticking to the budget you’ve set, and avoiding gambling under the influence of substances or emotions. Along with that, the team shares information about banks, and how exactly people with gambling problem signs can use the instruments provided by the financial institutions.

Since gambling addiction is a huge issue in Australia, with 2 out 5 Aussies gambling weekly, BetPokies shares support websites and helplines that can be contacted by anyone in need for free. The guide also provides readers with self-exclusion options offered by casinos, as well as self-exclusion and filtration programs, such as BetStop and BetBlocker, that you can install on your PC and mobile devices.

BetPokies’ John Gold also shared, that the website is planning on collaborating with BetBlocker, a self-exclusion program you can get for your PC and mobile devices. In case the collaboration happens, BetPokies will help BetBlocker find URLs of casinos trying to avoid blocking in order to provide people who require it with a safer online environment.

BetPokies Shares the Early Signs of Gambling Addiction

The signs of gambling addiction can be very different, but in general, they can be classified into three categories: financial, behavioural, and time signs. BetPokies’ team collected all the main ones, so that their readers can get acquainted with them and, in case needed, notice them in themselves or their close ones. On the “Responsible Gambling” page of the website, you will also find a quick test made of 7 questions, which will help you recognise signs of unhealthy gambling.

As John Gold mentions in the guide, in order to overcome your addiction, you have to admit that you have a problem. He says: “…overcoming a gambling addiction is a process that takes time and effort. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have setbacks, and always reach out for help when you need it.”

Gambling, in case of an unhealthy addiction to it, can be replaced with other activities. BetPokies’ expert contacted psychology experts and analysed how exactly players can fight the addiction, replacing it with, for example, hobbies or therapy, based on the reason for their gambling issue.

BetPokies also has a page dedicated to gambling statistics, which shows how influential this niche is in Australia. Based on their expert’s self-made research, almost 40% of adults practice gambling at least once a week regularly, while 75% of Aussie adults have tried gambling at least once. This means, that the chances of your family members or friends being into gambling are quite high. BetPokies team provides their readers with recommendations on how to help addicted gamblers surrounding you.

While gambling is a popular activity among adults, children become targets of the potential negative influence of their older family members. Even though in Australia, gambling is prohibited for underage people, statistics provided by Australian Gambling Research Centre show that, in fact, children are also participating in this activity – “5% of 16-17 year-olds reported betting on sports games as well as horse and dog races which have strict age restrictions. Even though it’s not legal, about 2% of 16-17 year-olds reported having spent money on poker machines, casino table games and Keno”. The page offers valuable tips on how to recognise unhealthy gambling in your children, along with a special Kids Helpline number and recommendations on how to prevent the appearance of the addiction.

If, after visiting and reading the “Responsible Gambling” guide from BetPokies.org, you still think there’s something more you find important to add to the guide, contact John Gold via [email protected] with your ideas!