Betting on games of chance over the internet has been an option since 1996. However, it was not until the smartphone age rolled around that most people became aware of online gambling. Nowadays, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, anyone from anywhere can wager on virtually any event imaginable. Thus, as a side-effect of this possibility, more people than ever have now developed a compulsion towards this pastime.
According to a 2020 survey commissioned by GambleAware, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.4 million Brits can get classified as problem gamblers. What is more worrisome is that only a negligible percentage of these individuals seek help to cope with this issue. Below, an exploration follows concerning what makes betting online more attractive than wagering at physical venues and how are non GamStop casinos playing a role in increasing the number of people hooked on this hobby.
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It Makes Betting Super Convenient
Naturally, there are brick-and-mortar casinos and betting shops that operate 24/7. That is not always the case with these establishments, but ones that run at all times do exist. Still, for a person to partake in games of chance or sports betting inside a venue offering these, they must get appropriately dressed and travel to such a spot. Online play is available via desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones.
Virtually any device that can access the internet can run a casino website. There are even ones exclusively optimized for smartwatches. Hence, the internet gaming sphere offers unparalleled convenience. It allows users to pick up a device, begin betting, stop whenever they feel like it, and resume their adventure when they again get the urge to test their luck. The requirements are a device that can plug into the World Wide Web and a stable connection that guarantees uninterrupted play. That is all.
Everyone Loves Promotions
At land-based casinos, players get treated to comps mainly as free drinks. In the digital sphere, the perks are far more robust. They start with free bets and no deposit bonuses that allow players to do some on-the-house gambling. The catch regarding free bet promos is that they can only get used on matches that boast a specific win coefficient. No deposit funds/spins, on the other hand, can only get utilized on high variance slots with programing that dictates to these games to only payout substantial wins rarely. Therefore, no one can rake in massive profits from these offers.
Aside from the standard deposit match and cashback deals, operators also attempt to lure back those no longer active on their site by sending them reactivation bonuses. These may appear like limited-time-only offers with an exclusive vibe to them, but, in reality, they are nothing more than a standard decoy to get players to hop on back a platform and continue spending money. Operators know that promotions are one of the chief industry drivers and that they play a vital part in players picking one site over its competition. As a consequence of this information, they seek to supply a steady stream of tempting deals that will keep everyone active.
Online Compulsions Are Simple to Hide
In this day and age, most people have a smartphone obsession. Per some polls, around 75% of phone users consider themselves addicted to these devices, and 65% of these individuals admit to checking their phones up to one hundred and sixty times during the day. That means that there is nothing out of the ordinary for someone to stare at his device’s screen for extended periods. These individuals can masquerade their betting activity as standard phone browsing without raising any eyebrows or suspicions.
Moreover, there is little difference between a casino fun-play app and a real money one. That means that a person engrossed in gambling with its hard-earned cash can easily lie about playing for fun when they are gambling. Online play does not mandate that anyone leave their house, meaning anyone can gamble in the privacy of their abode without anyone else being the wiser.
It Makes Losing Track of Spending Simple
Things could get out of hand quickly if gambling site users, regardless of whether they are playing at a UKGC-regulated platform or casinos not on GamStop, gamble without implementing responsible betting features. One of the primary such measures is the ability for players to set deposit/loss limits, which restrict their gambling budget and only allow them to spend what they can afford. However, the problem with these restrictions is that they are easily circumventable. Plus, everyone can hop over to another foreign, non GamStop casino if they find their self-imposed restrictions overly limiting.
Gambling sites offer a vast array of payment methods, and most of these facilitate instant deposits, allowing everyone to refuel their gaming balance in seconds. That can lead to excessive spending, as those that are chasing losses can regenerate their casino funds from their transaction option of choice in no time, causing them to make more decisions that have not gotten thoroughly thought out. Stats show that users are also far more likely to keep spending if they get provided highly personalized service. Operators strive to accomplish this by keeping everyone engaged through loyalty perks that further stimulate gameplay.
How the UKGC Is Attempting to Help
In March 2020, the UKGC teamed up with the not-for-profit organization The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited to bring the nationwide self-exclusion database GamStop to every UKGC-licensed platform. That was one step in trying to provide superior player protection. It allowed players that believe that they are developing a compulsion toward online casino play to impose a time-restricted ban on their gaming activity.
The UKGC followed up the introduction of GamStop by banning credit cards as a viable payment method from all UK-based gambling sites. In February of 2021, it expanded its anti-gambling-addiction portfolio of measures by announcing the addition of wait times of two and a half seconds between slot spins, lowering max bet limits, removing the auto-play function, and more. All that led to many Brits searching casinos not using GamStop. Many now view these platforms as alternative gaming homes that offer things that were only recently available in the UK market.
Non GamStop Casinos – The Inadvertent Byproduct of Strict UK Regulation
According to the gambling platform site non-gamstop-casinos.com, some industry experts call casinos not using GameStop an unwanted side-effect of stringent UKGC-regulation. The definition of a casino not on GamStop is a platform based in a foreign country that gets regulated by that territory’s licensing body. Though, unlicensed platforms can also get this label. Naturally, such platforms should not earn anyone’s trust, as they have no defined dispute resolution procedures, they promise no fair gameplay, and they do not implement any responsible gaming tools.
Non GamStop casinos licensed by an international regulator like the Malta Gaming Authority or Gaming Curacao incorporate many safety criteria that the UKGC uses. They undergo fairness audits, have defined dispute resolution policies, have gotten vetted for financial stability, and more. Overall, they are secure interactive gaming hubs that in most categories are on par with those licensed by the UKGC while being superior in a few. It should get mentioned that they do not have the same level of player protection that UK-based hubs administrate.