Although recreational gambling is associated with benefits such as having fun, entertainment, and social connectedness, problem gambling may cause adverse consequences and online gambling is not an exception. Most people gamble online without experiencing negative consequences, but for some, online gambling can cause significant harms to themselves, their families, and their communities. Responsible Gambling (RG) refers to efforts made by gambling operators, governments, and other gambling decision-makers to reduce gambling harms. One type of RG program is to provide RG tools to gamblers. These tools aim to prevent or reduce gambling harm by increasing player self-awareness and self-control.
This brief provides an overview of the variousRG tools available on regulated and unregulated online gambling websites, discusses how these tools differ between jurisdictions, and presents research evidence about the effectiveness of these tools on changing player behaviour.
