6 Practical Things You Can Do To Stop Minors From Gambling
October6October 6, 2022
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6 Practical Things You Can Do To Stop Minors From Gambling

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Darts Betting Tips

Kids and gambling should never mix. We all know that’s true. But at the same time, it can be difficult to know how to practically try to make sure kids stay away from gambling.

We’re going to give you a few straightforward tips that you can use in your life. Nothing difficult to follow. Just things you can keep in mind to give you a little more peace of mind when it comes to kids and gambling.

1. Familiarize yourself with age limits in your jurisdiction

Depending on where you live, the minimum age limit for gambling can vary. In some places it’s as low as 18 years of age, meanwhile other places it can be 21 years of age. So at the start of your journey to discourage kids and gambling, know the correct age limit you’re dealing with.

2. Keep your passwords to yourself

We’ve all been there before. Your teen wants to use your phone for something or other. So you just shout out your passcode so they can type it in. And that’s fine. But if you also have online gambling accounts that you’re logged in to on your device, or if you use the same passcode or password for those accounts, you’ve just given them access to your online gambling accounts.

So remove the temptation straight away by not giving your child access to passwords they can use to access gambling accounts. And also remember to log out every time you use your online gambling accounts too.

3. Make use of parental controls

Parental controls are an extremely easy thing that you can use on any device your child uses. Whether that’s their own smartphone, yours, tables, laptops or smart TVs, they can all be a little more secure when a parental control is put in place.

It’s usually fairly self-explanatory in settings, but if you can’t find out how to do it yourself, a quick Google should clear things up.

4. Get external software for extra security

If you feel like you need an extra layer of security, you can get external software to keep kids and gambling separated. NetNanny covers a wide range of different not-safe-for-children areas. Meanwhile GamBlock is specifically for gambling.

5. Report minors using your account (or creating their own)

If you suspect a minor is using your account or that they have created their own, report it immediately to the online gambling site. They are compelled to shut down and suspend all activity on accounts they think are used by underage players. Winnings will be forfeited and they’ll be banned.

Because of age verification software, this should not be happening too frequently. But there’s always a chance, so definitely report it if you are suspicious.

6. Know when to talk about kids and gambling

Talking to kids about gambling is also really important. It might feel like it’s the last thing you should do, but talking to them in a straightforward way about it will mean they’ll get the facts from a trustworthy source. Tell them that gambling doesn’t make sports more exciting. Tell them that gambling is designed so that people lose more than they earn, therefore, it’s not a smart way to make money. And tell them that it’s possible to get addicted to gambling.

More responsible gambling articles

At Betting Darts, we take responsible gambling seriously. That’s why we have a range of articles to help inform you about the world of responsible gambling. Here are some you might be interested in:

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Frequently Asked Questions: How Do I Budget For Sports Betting?
August26August 26, 2022
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Frequently Asked Questions: How Do I Budget For Sports Betting?

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All About Darts Darts Betting Sites Darts Betting Tips

Do you want to know how to work out your betting budget? Well we’re here to tell you that it’s one of the best things you can do.

Darts fans often like to place a wager on a big tournament. And maybe your interests move out of darts and into other areas, like other sports, bingo, casino or poker. If you add up all of those bets, it could turn out to be quite a pretty penny.

As long as you aren’t a problem gambler, placing the odd bet is fine. But of course, you need to make sure you can afford it. And that’s why it’s so important to work out your betting budget.

Frequently Asked Questions: How do you work out your betting budget?

What is the first thing I need to do to work out my gambling budget?

First things first, figure out how much you spend in total on gambling. This could be per week, month or year. Remember, be honest with yourself. Look at all angles of this, from sports, casino, poker, bingo. Online and offline. Everything you spend counts.

Some months you might spend more or less. Best to work out the average over a period of time to see how much you tend to spend. It’s easy to find out your transaction history on online betting sites, just go to your account for the rundown.

Then for offline spends, take a close look at your bank statements and receipts to add up your spends there.

How do I work out my disposable income?

The amount you spend on your gambling budget depends heavily on your disposable income. To figure out what that is, you’ve got to add up your gross income (after taxes). Then you also need to take out major living expenses, including rent/mortgage, bills, grocery shopping, insurance, pension, utilities, loan repayments, childcare, education fees, and all the other non-negotiables you spend money on.

Then add up all your discretionary spends. This includes money you spend on hobbies, gym memberships, cinema trips, socializing, going to restaurants. All that fun stuff.

And you’ve also got to figure out how much you want to save every week, month or year. Remember, everyone should aim to have 3-6 months of savings readily accessible in case of an emergency. Especially if you’ve got a big expense on the horizon or you want to splash out on something in the future.

What you’re left with is the absolute maximum you could spend on gambling. But this isn’t what your gambling budget should be, necessarily. Add a little bit more into your pension fund and savings until you’re left with a figure you’re comfortable with.

Get the help you need with a gambling problem

Even if you never spend over your gambling budget, it’s still possible to have a gambling problem. It’s a scary reality, but it’s true.

The good news is that there are lots of professional organizations that can help. In the United States, you can contact the National Council on Problem Gambling on the phone at 1800 522 4700 or online. If you’re in the United Kingdom, you can talk to Be Gamble Aware at 0808 8020 133 or online.

Alternatively, there are lots of other organizations around the world that you get help from.

For more responsible gambling guidance, take a look at:

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6 Things You Should Know About The Mechanics Of Gambling
June24June 10, 2022
1

6 Things You Should Know About The Mechanics Of Gambling

By In
Darts Betting Tips

Let’s take a look under the hood of gambling and find out what makes it tick. We’re giving it to you straight about how odds in gambling actually works.

We’re going to take a look at a variety of different type of betting, including darts betting of course, to find out the truth behind the odds.

1. Odds in darts are based on past performances (but always expect the unexpected)

This might seem obvious, but it’s important to spell out that how sportsbooks work out odds in darts (and sports in general) is a careful analysis of what happened previously. However, as we all know, things don’t always pan out as we expect. That’s why it’s important to say that you should never think of a bet as a “sure thing”. Nothing is for sure in life, and certainly not in darts or any other sport, for that matter.

2. Poker is a game of skill

Poker has a reputation for being a tough game to play and an even tougher game to master. And that is fair. The thing about poker is, the best player usually really does win. Making sure you’re on top of strategy and really think about how you’re playing, plus how your opponents play, really does help. But of course, that’s not to say you won’t run into a bad beat.

3. Slots are totally random

Slots are governed by random number generators, which means they are truly random. Also, owing to the wide array of symbols, paylines, reels and features in many slots games, it’s clear that the number of outcomes possible is mind boggling. The whole idea of a hot or cold slot is kind of misleading. No one can predict when a slot pays out.

Also, it’s important to note that all slots will always have a return to player percentage. This is the average amount a slot pays out over thousands and thousands of slots. It’s not what you can expect to get back every time. And of course, as they are always under 100%, you know over time you’re bound to make a loss.

4. Online bingo and scatchcards are ditto, totally random

Just like slots, RNGs rule the roost over at online bingo and virtual scratchcards. There’s nothing you can do to affect the outcome.

5. Good strategy in blackjack minimizes losses

Some games are total and complete luck. Blackjack is a bit of a mix of luck and strategy. Again, it’s clear nothing is guaranteed. But there are also a set number of outcomes. Therefore, it matters what you do when faced with certain hands. Do yourself a favor and brush up on basic blackjack strategy before you play again. This isn’t going to stop you from losing. But it is going to stop you from making clearly poor decisions.

6. Roulette odds and payouts are (almost) always the same

Roulette has one of the most predictable odds and payouts systems of any casino game. You know what the riskiest bets are and what the pay outs are. And almost every version is the same. With one vital exception.

There are two big camps in the world when it comes to roulette. European and American. European roulette has slightly better odds, simply because it has one less number on the wheel (American has a 00).

Get the help you need with a gambling problem

No matter how well you understand odds in gambling, if you think you have a problem, you need to get help as soon as possible.

Professional organizations can help you with that. For example, in the United States the National Council on Problem Gambling is there on the phone at 1800 522 4700 or online. Meanwhile, Be Gamble Aware is an excellent organization in the United Kingdom. You can phone them at 0808 8020 133 or access resources online.

There are lots of other organizations around the world that you can reach out to in order to get help.

Take a look at our other responsible gambling posts, including:

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