Winning isn’t everything: Responsible gaming tips for UK online slot players

Online slots are attractive because of the huge jackpot prizes and big payouts you can earn; however, they also provide a fun factor and excitement, and the key is striking a balance and making sure that fun prevails. To do this, you need to know how to gamble responsibly, and I have some fantastic tips for you below.

1. Set limits for your gaming

Limits are your friend when it comes to slots and staying responsible. They help you stay disciplined, control your gaming and always play within your means. Whenever I play slots or other casino games online, I have three types of limits – time, spending and deposits.

Time limits

When you play video slots, it’s so easy to zone out and lose track of the time. This can be unhealthy for your mind, but also for your bank balance. Before you know it, an hour has passed and you’ve emptied your account balance.

To prevent this, set yourself a time limit for the gaming session. Due to the nature of casino games, I advise setting limits of 10-15 minutes maximum. Set an alarm on your phone and when that alarm goes, log off.

Spending limits

Similarly, if you aren’t disciplined with your spending, you can soon burn through your deposit money and have nothing to show for it. To combat that, set a spending limit for the session.

For example, if you have a balance of £25, say that you are only going to spend £5 of that or that you won’t let your account value go below £20. With a clear limit like this, you can play for longer and avoid being annoyed when you blow your entire balance in five minutes!

Deposit limits

Most reputable platforms allow you to set daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits. Once you hit that limit with your Visa card or other payment method, you can’t physically deposit more. This is one of the most effective controls available.

Think about your budget, and what spare money you have and set your deposit limits accordingly. For example, you could set a monthly deposit limit of £50.

2. Research your games beforehand

I always research the slots I play beforehand, so I know I’m getting a fair deal and not wasting my money. Information you should look for includes the software developer, RNG analysis, RTP and volatility. This is the info you can find at https://www.online-slot.co.uk. Info like RTP and volatility allow you to gauge your chances of winning while knowing the software developer of slots ensures the games aren’t rigged.

For example, I tend to only play slots from well-known developers, such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Play’N GO, IGT and Playtech, as their games are all audited and tested by third-party labs.

3. Only spend free money on gaming

This should be a given, but it’s surprising how many people don’t think about where their money for online gambling is coming from. Simply put, only ever spend money you don’t need on slots and online casinos.

You shouldn’t dip into your holiday fund, bill account or savings, for example. In fact, slots should be your last priority and your first priorities should be paying the bills, building savings and paying for other fun things. After that, if you have any cash left, sure, play some slots!

4. Use the lowest possible bet values

Video slots like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest have variable bet limits per spin. You can change this value and set how much you spend on each spin. If you set a higher spin value such as £5, your winnings will be much larger, but I guarantee you’ll also burn through your bankroll much quicker. Instead, play it safe, be responsible and play with the minimum bet values. For example, Starburst allows you to set the spin value to just £0.25 per spin. This way, you can play for longer and have more fun too.

5. Don’t try and “play out” of a losing streak

This is a tricky one and I’ve fallen victim to it before, but you need to be disciplined and know when to walk away. The premise is simple — if you hit a losing streak, don’t try and power through to recoup your losses and don’t be tempted to start increasing your bet values to win back the money quickly.

This can work, but you can just as easily get caught in a death spiral and empty your account within a few minutes. If you hit a losing streak, put your phone down, log off and stop playing for a bit.

6. Use responsible gambling tools if necessary

All reputable casinos today have a wealth of responsible gambling resources and tools that help you prioritize fun and prevent any bad habits from developing. Make sure you are aware of these tools and use them if you feel it’s necessary.

For example, if you think you are spending too much time and money on slots, you can self-exclude yourself from your account or activate a timeout period. Casinos also often offer time and spending limits that you can set. You can use self-exclusion to effectively block your account for a preset period such as 1-6 months, or indefinitely.

Online slots should always be fun – Never a chore

I hope you’ve found this guide useful and can put these responsible gaming tips to good use. Always prioritize fun when playing slots and other casino games, and temper this excitement with discipline, control, budgeting and using the tools that online casinos provide.