Responsible Social Gameplay (RSG) & Problem Gaming

With the potential to win real prizes without spending money, there is a possibility of developing problem gaming habits when playing at these sites. To prevent this from happening, we at SweepsKings have decided to inform our readers of the importance of responsible social gaming.

As you read, you’ll learn how to play safely, protect your loved ones, use responsible gaming tools at the casinos we promote, and where to get professional help.

What is Responsible Social Gameplay?

Responsible social gameplay is a set of rules or principles that guide your gaming activities in order to prevent the development of undesirable gaming habits. Also known as Responsible social gaming practices (RSGP), the aim is to promote casino gaming for entertainment purposes, shifting the focus from just the profit element to the fun of placing bets on your favorite social casino games.

Responsible social gameplay is actually a shared responsibility among the player, operator, and third-party stakeholders. Everyone has a part to play in creating a safe and healthy gaming environment. Recently, the Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA) was launched as a new trade group for promoting a responsible social gaming environment among other things. And companies like Blazesoft and High 5 Entertainment are already on board. The moral is that responsible gaming is becoming more vital than ever.

That said, our focus in this guide is on how to do your part as a player. This includes spending a controlled amount of time on the site, playing within a budget, and spending only your dedicated “play” funds whenever it becomes necessary to buy coins.

Responsible gaming and responsible gambling are pretty much the same thing applicable in different contexts. Throughout this guide, we use them interchangeably to highlight the dangers of gambling addiction across all settings (real money casinos, social casinos, sweepstakes).

What is Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling is a situation in which an individual has no control over how they act when it comes to their gambling activities. All undesirable gaming habits fall under problem gambling.

These include spending more money than you can afford to lose, playing for an excess amount of time, and usually neglecting family, friends, school, and work to enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with online gaming.

Prevention: Responsible Social Gaming Tips & Guidelines

To ensure that you play responsibly, here are some excellent tips that you must remember at all times:

1. Always assume you will lose any money you spend on the sweepstakes casino. This way, you have minimal expectations and are less likely to chase losses.

2. Only play with your entertainment funds. Don’t use money for your daily expenses, and don’t borrow money to play social casino games.

3. If you don’t find any responsible gaming tool or promotions on a casino, don’t play on the site. Responsible gaming is one of the assessment criteria for our reviews here at SweepsKings and is an indicator of a legal sweepstakes site.

4. Learn the signs of problem gaming and constantly assess yourself. If you notice you’re spending excess time playing games, trying to win back losses, or starting to see gaming as a source of income, then it’s time to take a break.

5. Don’t let gaming replace other hobbies. The key is to play in moderation without giving up other activities you enjoy.

6. Avoid visiting sweepstakes casinos when you’re mentally, physically, or emotionally down. Seek professional help for these issues, and don’t try to play games to ease your pain.

7. Always have a budget and time limit, but sticking to these limits is more important.

8. If you play with others, only roll with individuals who showcase excellent responsible gaming habits.

9. Just like driving, alcohol and social gaming don’t mix. If you’re playing casino-style games under the influence, you won’t be able to enforce your responsible gaming rules.

10. Avoid canceling your Sweeps Coin redemptions, as that usually leads to spending outside your initial budget.

Self-Exclusion on Social Casinos

Unlike the time-out feature, which usually lasts for a much shorter duration, self-exclusion blocks your account for an extended period, usually up to 5 years. On the social casinos we promote, we verify that they all offer the option for players to exclude themselves from their service for a period. Although self-exclusion is a more drastic measure for curbing problem gaming, it’s the best option if you feel you’re becoming a compulsive player.

Bear in mind that self-exclusion halts pending payouts and prevents processing new prize redemptions. Self-exclusion also affects related or sister sites. So if you self-exclude from Chumba Casino, for instance, you’ll also be locked out from other VGW sites, like LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker, until the self-exclusion time lapses.

WOW Vegas has a cool feature allowing players who haven’t yet registered to self-exclude, acting as a preemptive measure.

Helping Loved Ones Struggling with their Gaming

If you find out that someone close to you is struggling with problem gaming, you can help them get over this addiction. However, when you try to help, don’t try to control their life or be judgmental.

At SweepsKings, some of the actions we recommend to help out your loved ones include:

Talk to them about the problem and let them know the consequences (debt, strained relationships, health issues).

Use blocking software like Net Nanny, Cybersitter, Gamblock, BetBlocker, or Betfilter to prevent access to gaming sites.

Be careful when lending money to anyone with a gambling problem. Only do this if you can control or know what they will be spending it on to avoid encouraging their gaming habits.

Protect your banking details and find ways to address withdrawals from a joint account.

Find new activities to help them socialize, deal with boredom, or overcome stress – depending on why they play in the first place.

Help them get professional support to avoid getting overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Now you know all there is to know about responsible gaming, including the signs, symptoms and impact of problem gambling. Responsible gaming is fundamental for anyone who enjoys playing at sweepstakes casinos, and advocacy groups like the American Gaming Association are calling for more focus to be placed on responsible gaming within the sweepstakes ecosystem.

The best casinos are already doing their part to promote a safe gaming environment. It’s left to you to assess yourself or your loved ones and use the tools and resources at your disposal to ensure neither you nor they fall into the trap of problem gambling.

What SweepsKings would like to see in the future is a body like the SPGA establishing a national Self-Exclusion Register, helping players abstain proactively from all sweepstakes casinos. GAMSTOP in the UK and BetStop in Australia play the same role, but we haven’t yet seen such a measure taken in the US.

For further direction or help, don’t hesitate to contact SweepsKings and we’ll ensure you get in touch with a professional.