BetPokies.org was established in 2020 by John Gold and is currently owned by ZehrMedia LTD. The website is one of the leading gambling review websites in Australia, and now is discussing possible cooperation with BetBlocker, a gambling self-exclusion tool, in order to promote a responsible approach to gambling. Let’s have a look at why this collaboration appeared and how it could be beneficial for both sides.
The Prevalence and Risks of Gambling in Australia
Gambling is extremely popular among Aussies: Australian Institute of Family Studies research claims that 73% of Australian adults gambled at least once in the past 12 months. Unfortunately, the same research states that almost half (46%) of them are at risk of having a gambling addiction.
Gambler’s Help, one of the most significant resources made for helping people having problematic approaches to gambling, shares real people’s stories on how this activity has ruined their lives. Meghan, one of the people who had the courage to share their story, describes her experience: “I have lost my job, my savings, everything I have worked for. I was someone who was trusted, cared for and looked up to. While this is who I worked so hard to be, the other side of me was always so dark, empty, so broken. I have made decisions that will change the course of my life and, worst, my family life.
My actions in my head were always justified as I would pay this back, I would finally get myself into a better place out of this black hole as. Become the person I used to be. Instead of this, my actions were inevitably found out and confronted, by four people I love, four people that will never trust me again. It may sound strange, but at that very moment, a sense of relief came over me. Only because I never saw a way out of my addiction, of my feelings, of my thoughts of hurting myself, and maybe this would be my catalyst.”
Gambling, which at first sight appears to be a fun activity, can be very destructive. There are several ways of overcoming problematic gambling, such as therapy, contacting helplines, blocking gambling-related transactions coming from your bank account, or using self-exclusion programs, such as BetBlocker.
Understanding BetBlocker: Tool for Safe Gambling
BetBlocker, which was founded in 2017, is a non-profit, free-to-use gambling self-exclusion program that helps Australian gamblers have a healthier approach to playing in online casinos. The brand claims that the set-up process takes only 2 minutes and requires no registration, yet it is useful and immediately blocks your access to all available gambling websites. The program is offered for both PC and mobile devices, such as phones and tablets. BetBlocker also has a scheduling system, which allows users to set specific time frames when gambling websites will not be available for usage.
BetBlocker says, that their database of “restricted websites” is updated every week, which makes it an effective tool for blocking casinos that are trying to overcome blocking.
Not to mention, since gambling addiction, like any other addiction, usually comes with the inability to control your own actions, BetBlocker, in order to be an effective tool, does not allow users to cancel the program so easily: “We take go to great lengths to ensure that BetBlocker is as difficult to remove as possible during a Gambling Self-Restriction and our User Support Team will not assist you in removing the tool while there is an ongoing restriction”.
BetPokies: Trusted Gambling Guide
BetPokies is mainly focused on providing unbiased reviews on gambling related products, such as games, providers and casinos, as well as payment methods. The website supports a responsible approach to gambling, offering a whole guide dedicated to this topic.
With the recent information updates on the website, multiple guides, mostly payment-related, have received new paragraphs dedicated to responsible gambling, which are not focused on basic tips such as “budget setting”, but actual instructions on self-restrictions.
BetPokies’ “Responsible Gambling” page was made in cooperation with the whole website’s team, along with law and psychology experts. The guide offers the readers a test that may help gamblers recognise a potential gambling problem. The test takes less than 5 minutes, yet can set a first step for overcoming an unhealthy addiction.
Along with the test, you can find multiple sources, helplines, and suggestions recommended to BetPokies by professionals that might save you, your family members or friends from the complete uncontrolled destruction gambling may bring.
John Gold, BetPokies’ editor-in-chief, was the main responsible person when it came to writing the article. He, as a person who has more than 10 years of gambling experience, shares that during the decade, he’s met plenty of people who clearly needed help but could not admit they had any gambling-related issues. In the guide, he says: “Remember, overcoming a gambling addiction is a process that takes time and effort. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have setbacks, and always reach out for help when you need it. Try to use all the responsible gambling tips stated above”.
BetPokies and BetBlocker: A Partnership for Safer Gambling
BetBlocker’s main problems appear when casinos are overcoming blockages and changing their URLs. Since there are multiple online casinos, tracking each one of them is complicated. That’s where BetPokies offered their help. Since the review website partners with multiple Australian casinos, the source is one of the first ones to know that a casino has changed its link. So, as you see, the idea of the collaboration is to provide people who are trying to overcome a gambling addiction a fully safe and unprovocative space.
You’re probably wondering: “Why would a casino reviewer who makes money of gamblers cooperate with a tool that blocks people from gambling?”. We asked John Gold to answer that question: “Well, I see where the question is coming from. However, our goal at BetPokies is not to sell, but to provide honest and unbiased reviews. Yes, we cooperate with casinos, but responsible gambling is one of our main principles. I would rather lose money than make any of addicted people”.
Judging by John Gold’s answer, we can expect great results from the cooperation of these two, completely different in nature but similar in their ideas, reliable online gambling tools!
