According to data provided by UKGC in the UK, the Gaming sector had a collection from January to October in 2011 of 62.3 billion euros which grew to 70.3 million euros in the same period in 2012 with an increase of 8 billion euros, equal to 12.8%. The same research shows that winnings increased from 47.65 billion to 56.23 billion euros. What remains in the end is the difference, or rather the spending of players which settled in the period of 2012 at around 14 billion euros against the 14.7 billion euros of the previous year. In short, it seems that more has been won…
Where does the money that players have spent go, minus their winnings? About 7.4 billion end up in slot machines. 2.4 billion end up at Justuk’s games not on GamStop. 1.7 billion in the lottery. Then comes 545 million in sports-based games, 408 million in bingo, 250 million in horse racing games, and 293 million in card games organized in a form other than tournaments and fixed-odds games of chance and 127 million end up in remote skill games.
The sector is therefore constantly growing and there are many companies, even listed on the stock exchange, that are part of this world.
Is it legal?
It depends. There are authorized sites and others that are not. There is an organization responsible for monitoring the application of the directives issued in the UK and it is the UKGC. On the UKGC site there are lists of authorized websites and lists of those that are blocked. So it is not so easy to run into sites that are not legal in the UK.
The task of UKGC is precisely that of ensuring a legal and responsible gaming environment in a technologically monitored context and capable of certifying the work of the concessionaires.
In particular, UKGC guarantees the principles underlying the democratic state through the protection of consumers, in particular minors, the weak and those susceptible to pathological and/or compulsive gambling phenomena.
What Does Responsible Gambling Mean?
Clear rules, maximum transparency, safety for all, this is the message that UKGC wants to support with the message “Safe, Legal and Responsible Gaming”.
A strategic choice that focuses on the distinction between legal and illegal gaming, contrasting the fun and excitement of a game controlled and guaranteed by the State with the negative consequences of clandestine gaming.
What About Non GamStop Casinos?
It starts with the control of minors. In the UK, it is forbidden for anyone under the age of 18 to open an account and play on a non GamStop casino. All appropriate age verification controls must be adopted to ensure that all players are actually adults. Players must take all precautions in the event that there are minors at home or elsewhere who have access to a computer connected to the Internet, so that they do not learn their username and confidential password and to not leave children unattended in front of the computer while the adult player is using it to play.
Every online gaming site, authorized by UKGC, must display on one page the authorization code with the rudder symbol and a link to the UKGC page where the player can verify its veracity, see example. Check out Tiki Taka Casino secure login.
Risks Not to Be Underestimated
While most people gamble healthily and moderately, for some, gambling can spiral into unmanageability.
• The game should be just for fun and not as a way to earn money
• Avoid chasing losses
• Only gamble with amounts that you can afford to lose without affecting your basic spending budget.
• Control the time spent playing by activating the time control functions present on the sites.
• Check the amount of money you spend while gambling often.
• Use the deposit limit options to control the amount you can top up as well as the self-exclusion option.
• If you need to take a break
Many operators have a call center service to ask for advice on your gambling behavior.
Tips for Staying in Control
If you are worried that gambling is affecting your life (or someone else’s) too much, the following questions can help you find out.
Do you think you have a problem? Ask yourself the following questions…
• Aren’t you working or studying to play?
• Do you gamble to escape a boring and unhappy life?
• When you gamble and run out of money, do you feel lost and desperate and feel the need to gamble again as soon as possible?
• Have you ever gambled away your last cent to the point of gambling away your money for a coffee or a bus ticket home?
• Have you ever lied to hide the amount of money or time you spent gambling?
• Have you ever been criticized for your gambling addiction?
• Have you ever lied or asked for a loan just to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts?
• Do you prefer to spend money in the game rather than putting it towards something else?
• After losing at gambling, do you feel the need to play again to recover your losses as quickly as possible?
• Do you feel depressed, more or less seriously, because of gambling?
If the answer to more than one of the above questions is yes, then it is very likely that you have a serious compulsive gambling problem.
