Responsible Gambling

BetWest is dedicated to providing an entertaining and responsible online gaming environment. We understand that for most of our players, gambling is a form of recreation. However, we also recognise that for a small percentage, it can evolve into a serious problem. Our commitment to safer gambling is fundamental to our operations and extends beyond mere regulatory compliance. We aim to protect our players, prevent problem gambling, and promote responsible practices.

This page outlines the tools and policies BetWest has implemented to help you manage your play effectively. We believe in empowering our players with information and resources to ensure their gaming experience remains positive and within their control. Should you ever feel your gambling is becoming problematic, we encourage you to utilise the features discussed here or seek external assistance.

Problem gambling can affect individuals from all walks of life, and its signs are not always immediately obvious. It is important to be aware of the indicators, both in yourself and in others. Early recognition can facilitate timely intervention and support. Some common signs include:

• Spending more money or time gambling than you can afford or intended.
• Feeling a need to be secretive about your gambling activities.
• Chasing losses, meaning you gamble more to try and win back money you have lost.
• Gambling affecting your relationships, work, or other responsibilities.
• Feeling anxious, guilty, or depressed after gambling.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop gambling.
• Losing interest in other hobbies or activities you once enjoyed.

If you identify with several of these signs, or if friends and family express concerns about your gambling habits, it may be time to consider whether your gambling is problematic.

Maintaining control over your gambling activities is key to ensuring it remains a fun and harmless pastime. BetWest encourages all players to adopt responsible gaming habits. Here are some guidelines to help keep your play enjoyable and within limits:

• Set a budget for your gambling and stick to it. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.
• Set time limits for your gaming sessions and adhere to them.
• Avoid chasing losses. Accept that losing is part of gambling.
• Do not gamble when you are feeling stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Balance gambling with other activities and hobbies.
• View gambling as entertainment, not as a way to make money.
• Take regular breaks during your gaming sessions.

By following these principles, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing gambling-related problems and ensure your experience with BetWest remains positive.

BetWest provides robust tools to help you manage your spending and betting activity. You can set personal limits on deposits, losses, and wagers over specific periods. These limits are designed to give you greater control over your gambling budget and prevent you from spending more than you intend.

• Deposit Limits: You can set a maximum amount of money you can deposit into your BetWest account over a daily, weekly, or monthly period. Once this limit is reached, you will not be able to deposit further funds until the period resets.
• Loss Limits: This feature allows you to define a maximum amount of money you are willing to lose over a daily, weekly, or monthly period. If your net losses (wagers minus wins) reach this threshold, you will be prevented from placing further bets until the period resets.
• Wager Limits: You can also set a maximum total amount you wish to wager over a daily, weekly, or monthly period. Once this limit is met, you will not be able to place any more bets until the next period begins.

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. Requests to increase or remove a limit will be subject to a cooling-off period before they become active, in line with regulatory requirements and our commitment to player protection.

If you feel you need a short break from gambling, BetWest offers time-out and cool-off options. These tools allow you to temporarily restrict access to your account for a defined period, helping you to regain perspective or simply take a pause.

• Time-Out: You can choose to take a time-out for periods ranging from 24 hours up to several weeks. During a time-out, you will not be able to log in to your BetWest account, deposit funds, or place bets.
• Cool-Off Period: This option provides a slightly longer break, typically ranging from one month up to six months. Similar to a time-out, your account will be inaccessible for the chosen duration.

These periods are designed to be irreversible once activated for the chosen duration, ensuring that your decision to take a break is respected. To initiate a time-out or cool-off, please navigate to the "Responsible Gaming" section in your account settings. Your account will automatically reactivate once the selected period has expired.

For players who believe they need a more significant break from gambling, BetWest provides comprehensive self-exclusion options. Self-exclusion is a formal process that allows you to voluntarily close your account and prevent yourself from accessing our services for an extended period.

You can choose to self-exclude for periods of six months, one year, three years, or five years. During a self-exclusion period:

• Your BetWest account will be immediately closed, and you will be prevented from logging in.
• We will take all reasonable steps to prevent you from opening new accounts with us.
• You will be removed from all marketing and promotional communications.
• Any remaining funds in your account will be returned to you in accordance with our terms and conditions.

Once activated, a self-exclusion cannot be reversed until the chosen period has fully elapsed. We strongly advise you to consider self-excluding from any other gambling operators you use as well. To request a self-exclusion, please contact our customer support team, who will guide you through the process and provide any necessary assistance.

BetWest is committed to preventing underage gambling. It is illegal for anyone under the legal gambling age (which is 18 years in most jurisdictions) to open an account or gamble on our platform. We employ robust age verification procedures to ensure that only eligible individuals can access our services.

• During the registration process, all players are required to confirm they are of legal gambling age.
• We conduct electronic age verification checks using third-party databases.
• If we are unable to verify a player's age, their account will be suspended, and no gambling activity will be permitted until satisfactory proof of age is provided.
• Any funds deposited by an underage player will be returned, and any winnings forfeited.

We urge parents and guardians to take measures to prevent minors from accessing gambling websites. This includes using filtering software, supervising internet usage, and keeping account details confidential. If you suspect that a minor has accessed our site, please contact us immediately.

To help you keep track of your time spent gambling, BetWest offers "Reality Checks" or session reminders. This feature is designed to periodically inform you about the duration of your current gaming session. When enabled, a pop-up message will appear on your screen at pre-set intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes or 60 minutes).

The reality check message will typically display:

• How long you have been playing during that session.
• Your net winnings or losses during that session.
• Options to continue playing, review your account history, or end your session.

This tool serves as a helpful reminder to take breaks and consider how much time you are dedicating to gaming. You can customise the frequency of these reminders or activate this feature within the "Responsible Gaming" section of your BetWest account settings.

If you are unsure whether your gambling habits are becoming problematic, taking a self-assessment can be a useful first step. BetWest provides a short questionnaire designed to help you reflect on your gambling behaviour and identify potential risks. This assessment is entirely confidential and for your personal insight only.

Consider the following questions honestly:

• Do you spend more money or time gambling than you intended?
• Have you tried to stop or cut down on your gambling without success?
• Do you feel anxious, guilty, or irritable because of your gambling?
• Has gambling caused problems in your relationships or at work/school?
• Have you lied to hide the extent of your gambling?
• Do you chase losses, trying to win back money you have lost?
• Do you borrow money or sell possessions to gamble?
• Have you lost interest in other hobbies or activities because of gambling?

If you answered "yes" to several of these questions, it may indicate that your gambling is becoming a concern. We encourage you to utilise the responsible gaming tools available on BetWest or consider seeking advice from professional support organisations. Remember, recognising a potential problem is the first step towards addressing it.

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)