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Playing Online Casinos after you
have been on Gamstop |
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Self-exclusion systems are a
great tool for helping people with problems in relation to their gambling and
use of them is positively encouraged. In the UK its known as Gamstop and this
program is way ahead of its counterparts in other countries, indeed some don't
have anything at all. In Australia the equivalent is a combination of state or
territory wide programs and individual operators provision of self-exclusion.
You can find these through the Australasian gaming Council. In the USA its also
both state wide and individual casinos and sportsbooks but some states have no
program at all.
We actively encourage the use of self-exclusion for
people with problem gambling issues whether they have got into difficulty
already or feel vulnerable to the temptation of gambling. However the pressure
on gambling operators is increasing around the world and for some people what
they thought would be a temporary bar from their online gambling actually turns
into a permanent exclusion across all major operators.
Pressure from the
United Kingdom Gambling Commission has forced operators that offer gambling
services to anyone in the UK and any operator that wants a UKGC license to join
a national self exclusion scheme. This is supposed to be controllable by the
individual with the freedom to select a period of absence of their choice, but
this has become not the case for many people trying to return to online
gambling at major online casinos or bookmakers. The reason is big gambling
firms are too scared to let people return as they fear the possible
consequences should the player get into difficulties. The media are there
waiting to pounce on the gambling industry any time they can get an individual
to reveal a tragic story and the UKGC are ready to hand punishments that make
them look like they are doing something effective.
Return to Gambling
So the problem
people are finding once they have sat out the prohibition period is that as
soon as they apply to join any of the
online real money
casinos that they find through local internet searches, they are refused
membership. What was meant to be a medium term rest from gambling has turned
into a life-long ban which seems like a punishment. And some of these people
were basically forced into joining the scheme by others who thought it was best
for them. There are of course ways around this blanket ban that should always
be considered with great care.
Shady Operators
There is another more insidious
problem that can come from joining a self-exclusion program. Operators with no
morals, and an over-whelming desire for profit, have been known to use the ban
to manipulate the result of a players gaming. This they do by allowing people
who have barred themselves at another gambling outlet to join up, deposit money
and start to gamble. If they lose then no action is taken but if they go on to
win then the casino suddenly realises that they shouldn't have let
the player join up in the first place and will rescind membership, return
deposits and refuse to pay any winnings. And some of these are well known
companies.
The way
out
As the internet knows no borders you obviously can use its
power to reach beyond the scope of state wide blocking where you live. You can
easily search for casinos in other countries, European, Australian or even New
Zealand and you'll find things like crazyvegas online casino or one of a
thousand others. The important thing to remember is to check every site you go
to, and want to join, has its license. There will be a link found lower down on
the homepage and you can follow that through to the licensing authority website
where the details of the license can be checked. There are no 100% guarantees
where ever you go but this is minimum level protection you want for
yourself.
If in doubt stay
with Gamstop
Whilst we encourage people to explore their options
when in control of their gambling, it is absolutely clear that if you have any
doubt about you being able to gamble safely within sensible limits then stay
within the self-exclusion umbrella of Gamstop, or whichever state wide
organisation you have signed up to. |
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