With the Dutch Remote Gambling Act setting into action, avid casino players in the Netherlands can’t wait to finally enjoy their favorite online casino games in a safe and regulated environment. The act, referred to as KOA for short, will allow online casino providers to open gambling platforms targeted at Dutch players and was put together by the Kansspelautoriteit (KAS), the Netherland’s gambling authority.
Over 40 gambling providers are expected to apply for a license to provide online gambling experiences for Dutch players in the following months, and starting October this year, they will be allowed to open their websites.
Six months can be a long time to wait for players that want to finally be able to gamble on Dutch platforms, but you can use this time to prepare yourself and step up your game. One of the most important things you need to learn is how to gamble responsibly to avoid putting your life and personal assets in jeopardy.
Gambling can take on a mind of its own at times, and you will need lots of self-control to know when and how to take a break. This is what we are here to discuss today, with a list of tips and best practices you can put to use if you want to gamble responsibly. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Focus on the experience, not on the wins
Gambling can bring quite substantial winnings, but we have to be realistic and consider that only a small percentage of casino players manage to secure constant profits. It’s not that you can’t make money from gambling, but it does require lots of time, effort, and some high skill levels to do so. This is why casino games should be perceived as a form of entertainment rather than a way to grow your wealth. This is a healthy perspective that will keep you from fixating on winning and forgetting to enjoy the experience.
If you expect to lose money just as much as you expect to win money, your losses won’t seem as important when they do appear. Think of it kind of like going to see your favorite band in concert or your favorite movie – these are both forms of paid entertainment, and the experience is exciting no matter if you happen to win something extra in the process or not.
After a series of losses, it is only natural that you will feel a bit disappointed, but it may help if you do some other things to understand the industry better. For example, attending an online casino event organised by hotel Padova will help you learn more about the history of gambling, the market in general, and how it became such a huge form of entertainment. This should take some of the edges off and help you see gambling as a method to have fun rather than just focus on the winnings.
Keep a fixed gambling budget
The best way to be in control of your actions and avoid gambling issues is to set a fixed budget aside for this. This should be money you are ready to lose at any given point without hurting your overall financial stability. It can be 1% of your monthly salary, 5%, or even 10% if you feel you can afford it; the main purpose here is to set limits and stick to them so that you will be able to enjoy casino games without running into trouble.
You are allowed to spend your spare money on any form of entertainment you choose, but what matters is that you keep a balance and don’t risk the money that you need for other, more important things. Worrying about money will make you want to start chasing losses, and that puts a lot of pressure on your plays, leaving you prone to mistakes. Once your gambling budget is drained out, it’s time for you to stop until you are ready to get back in the game with money you can afford to lose.
Set limits and don’t break them
We already discussed budget limits, so this refers to other types of limitations you need to set, such as the time spent playing online. We all know how easy it is to lose yourself in something you find entertaining, but too much of anything is never good. Let’s face it, you can sometimes even forget to brush your teeth, even if all tips from the dentists say you should never skip this important action.
Set time limits that will help you keep your online casino activity as a hobby instead of a disruptive habit and try to stick to them for as much as possible. If you don’t do this, you not only risk draining your funds, but your personal life will almost certainly have to suffer as well. Keep track of how much time you spend playing at online casinos, and don’t let it take over all your spare time. Remember that balance is key in everything you do, so try to avoid going to great extents just for one more game.
Don’t neglect your personal life
When you find something that you truly enjoy doing, it can sometimes get difficult to remember there are other things out there as well. This can happen regardless of the hobbies you have but can be easily prevented if you are responsible. If you feel you are spending too much time playing your favorite online casino games, it’s time to turn off your computer or set your smartphone aside and focus on the rest of your life.
Take regular breaks, go out with friends, and use the time you have to take care of the rest of your life. Don’t spend all night playing slots if you have work in the morning, and don’t postpone going out with friends just because you want to play another game of poker. There is enough time to do everything if you learn how to plan things the right way.