Responsible Gambling

BetWest is dedicated to providing a secure and enjoyable online gaming environment. We believe that gambling should be a form of entertainment, undertaken responsibly and within sustainable limits. Our commitment extends beyond regulatory compliance, we actively promote responsible gaming practices to protect our players and prevent gambling-related harm. We understand that for a small minority of individuals, gambling can cease to be a harmless pastime and may lead to negative consequences. This page outlines the tools and resources BetWest offers to help you maintain control over your gaming activity and provides information on how to identify and address potential issues.

We are licensed and regulated by our licensing authority, and we adhere strictly to their guidelines concerning responsible gaming. Our policies are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they meet the highest standards of player protection. BetWest encourages all players to read this information carefully and to utilise the available tools to ensure their gaming experience remains positive and within safe boundaries.

Problem gambling can affect anyone, regardless of their background or financial situation. It is important to be aware of the signs that gambling may be becoming an issue, either for yourself or someone you know. Early recognition can be crucial in seeking help and preventing further negative impacts. Some common indicators include:

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you can afford or intended.
• Feeling a need to be secretive about your gambling activities.
• Chasing losses, meaning you try to win back money you have lost by gambling more.
• Gambling affecting your relationships with family and friends.
• Neglecting work, school, or other responsibilities due to gambling.
• Experiencing feelings of guilt, anxiety, or depression after gambling.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Thinking about gambling constantly, even when not playing.

If you recognise several of these signs in yourself or a loved one, it may be time to consider seeking support. BetWest provides various tools to help manage your play, and professional help is available.

For most people, gambling is a recreational activity that causes no harm. To keep your gaming experience with BetWest enjoyable and within healthy limits, consider the following advice:

• Gamble for entertainment, not to make money. View any winnings as a bonus, not a source of income.
• Set a budget. Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you start playing, and stick to it. Never gamble with money earmarked for essential expenses.
• Set time limits. Decide in advance how long you will play and stop when that time is up, regardless of whether you are winning or losing.
• Do not chase losses. Accept that losing is part of gambling and do not try to win back money you have lost by gambling more.
• Avoid gambling when stressed, upset, or under the influence. Emotional states or intoxicants can impair your judgment.
• Balance gambling with other activities. Ensure gambling does not become your only hobby or interest.

BetWest encourages a balanced approach to leisure activities, ensuring that gambling remains just one part of a fulfilling life.

BetWest provides robust tools to help you manage your spending and betting activity. You can set financial limits on your account, which will automatically restrict your ability to deposit, lose, or wager above your chosen thresholds. These limits can be set for daily, weekly, or monthly periods.

• Deposit Limits: Control the maximum amount of money you can deposit into your BetWest account within a specified timeframe.
• Loss Limits: Define the maximum amount of money you are willing to lose within a specified timeframe. Once this limit is reached, you will be prevented from placing further bets until the period resets.
• Wager Limits: Set a maximum total amount you can wager within a specified timeframe. This helps manage the overall volume of your betting activity.

To set or adjust these limits, please visit the "Responsible Gaming" section within your account settings. Any request to decrease a limit will take effect immediately. Any request to increase a limit will be subject to a cooling-off period before becoming active, allowing you time to reconsider your decision.

If you feel you need a short break from gambling, BetWest offers time-out and cool-off options. These features allow you to temporarily restrict access to your account for a defined period, without needing to self-exclude completely.

• Short Time-Outs: You can choose to take a break for periods such as 24 hours, 48 hours, or 7 days. During this time, you will not be able to log in to your BetWest account.
• Cool-Off Periods: For longer breaks, you can opt for a cool-off period of 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. Similar to time-outs, you will be unable to access your account during this period.

Once a time-out or cool-off period is activated, it cannot be reversed until the chosen duration has elapsed. This ensures that the break provides effective protection. You can activate these options through your account's "Responsible Gaming" section.

For individuals who feel their gambling has become problematic and requires a more significant intervention, BetWest offers a self-exclusion program. Self-exclusion allows you to permanently close your account and prevent yourself from opening new accounts with us for a minimum period of six months.

During a self-exclusion period:

• You will not be able to log in to your BetWest account.
• You will be removed from all marketing and promotional mailing lists.
• We will take all reasonable steps to prevent you from opening new accounts with BetWest.

To self-exclude, please contact our customer support team, who will guide you through the process. They can provide information on longer self-exclusion periods, up to five years, or even permanently. It is important to remember that self-exclusion is a significant step and should be considered carefully. Once activated, it cannot be reversed for the chosen minimum period. We also recommend considering self-exclusion from other gambling operators you may use.

BetWest is strictly committed to preventing underage gambling. Our services are not intended for, nor available to, individuals under the legal gambling age in their respective jurisdiction. We implement robust age verification procedures during the registration process to ensure that only eligible individuals can create an account and access our games.

Our age verification checks may require documentation such as a government-issued ID. Any attempt by a minor to register or gamble will result in the immediate closure of the account and forfeiture of any winnings. We urge parents and guardians to play an active role in monitoring their children's online activity and to utilise parental control software to prevent access to gambling sites. Keeping your BetWest login details confidential is also crucial in preventing unauthorised access by minors.

To help you keep track of your gaming activity and time spent on BetWest, we offer a "Reality Check" feature. This tool provides periodic notifications during your gaming session, reminding you of the elapsed time since you started playing. You can set the frequency of these reminders to suit your preferences, for example, every 30 minutes or every hour.

When a reality check notification appears, it will display the duration of your session and may also show your net winnings or losses during that period. This serves as a prompt to consider whether you wish to continue playing or take a break. You will have the option to continue playing, log out, or review your account history. This feature is designed to encourage conscious decision-making about your gaming duration and help prevent unintentional extended play.

If you are concerned about your gambling habits but are unsure whether they constitute a problem, taking a self-assessment can be a helpful first step. BetWest provides access to a self-assessment questionnaire designed to help you evaluate your gambling behaviour objectively. This questionnaire consists of a series of questions about your gambling patterns, feelings, and the impact gambling has on your life.

The results of this self-assessment are entirely confidential and are intended for your personal reflection. They can provide valuable insights into whether your gambling might be moving beyond recreational limits. Based on your responses, the assessment may suggest that you consider utilising our responsible gaming tools, such as setting limits or taking a time-out, or seeking professional advice. This tool is available within the "Responsible Gaming" section of your BetWest account.

If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential help is available. These organisations are independent of this site and of any operator:

International support (any country)

• Gambling Therapy (free global online support in 30+ languages)
• GamCare, National Gambling Helpline · Helpline: 0808 8020 133
• Gamblers Anonymous (international 12-step fellowship, find local meetings)