Responsible Gambling

Shikaka is dedicated to providing a secure and enjoyable online gaming environment. We understand that for most players, gambling is a form of entertainment, a pastime to be enjoyed responsibly. However, we also recognise that for a small number of individuals, gambling can transition from a casual activity into a serious problem. Our commitment to responsible gaming is fundamental to our operations and extends beyond mere compliance with regulatory requirements. We strive to empower our players with the tools and information necessary to maintain control over their gambling habits, ensuring that their experience with Shikaka remains positive and within healthy limits.

We actively promote responsible gambling practices through various measures, including self-help tools, clear information, and trained support staff. Our aim is to prevent problem gambling, identify individuals at risk, and provide assistance to those who may be experiencing difficulties. We continuously review and update our policies and procedures to reflect best practices in responsible gaming, working in collaboration with industry experts and regulatory bodies.

Problem gambling can manifest in various ways and is not always immediately apparent. It is crucial to be aware of the signs, both in oneself and in others. Recognising these indicators early can be vital in seeking help and preventing more severe consequences. Some common signs include:

• Gambling more money or for longer periods than intended.
• Feeling a need to be secretive about gambling activities.
• Chasing losses, trying to win back money that has been lost.
• Gambling affecting personal relationships, work, or studies.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Experiencing feelings of guilt, anxiety, or depression due to gambling.
• Neglecting responsibilities or hobbies in favour of gambling.
• Thinking about gambling constantly.

If you or someone you know exhibits several of these signs, it may indicate a developing gambling problem. Seeking professional help is a proactive and important step.

Maintaining control over your gambling activities is essential for ensuring it remains a source of entertainment. Here are some practical tips to help you keep gambling fun and prevent it from becoming problematic:

• Set a Budget: Decide on a strict amount of money you are willing to lose before you start playing, and never exceed it. Treat this money as an entertainment expense.
• Set a Time Limit: Determine how long you will play and stick to it. Avoid letting gambling consume excessive amounts of your time.
• Balance Gambling with Other Activities: Ensure gambling is just one of many leisure pursuits. Maintain a healthy balance with family, work, hobbies, and social activities.
• Do Not Chase Losses: Accept that losses are part of gambling. Chasing losses often leads to further financial difficulties.
• Avoid Gambling When Stressed or Upset: Emotional states can impair judgment and lead to impulsive decisions.
• Do Not View Gambling as a Source of Income: Gambling outcomes are random and unpredictable. It should never be seen as a way to make money or solve financial problems.

By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing a gambling problem and ensure your experience with Shikaka remains enjoyable.

Shikaka provides you with robust tools to manage your spending and activity proactively. You can set personal limits on your account at any time. These limits are designed to help you control the amount of money you deposit, the amount you can lose, and the total amount you wager over a specified period.

• Deposit Limits: Restrict the total amount of money you can deposit into your Shikaka account over a daily, weekly, or monthly period.
• Loss Limits: Define the maximum amount of money you are willing to lose over a daily, weekly, or monthly period. Once this limit is reached, you will be prevented from placing further bets until the period resets.
• Wager Limits: Control the total amount of money you can wager over a daily, weekly, or monthly period, regardless of wins or losses.

You can set or adjust these limits directly within your account settings. Any request to decrease a limit will be applied immediately. Any request to increase a limit will involve a cooling-off period before it takes effect, allowing you time to reconsider your decision. This measure is in place to protect you and promote responsible gambling.

If you feel you need a short break from gambling, Shikaka offers Time-Out and Cool-Off options. These features allow you to temporarily restrict access to your account for a defined period, providing a pause from your gambling activities.

• Time-Out: This option allows you to take a short break, typically ranging from 24 hours to several weeks. During a Time-Out, you will not be able to log in or place any bets.
• Cool-Off Period: Similar to a Time-Out, a Cool-Off period can extend for a longer duration, often up to six months. This provides a more substantial break if you feel your gambling is becoming problematic.

During a Time-Out or Cool-Off period, you will not receive any marketing communications from Shikaka. Once the chosen period expires, your account will automatically reactivate. These options are available in your account settings and can be initiated at your discretion.

For individuals who feel they need a more significant break from gambling, or who are concerned about developing a gambling problem, Shikaka provides a comprehensive self-exclusion program. Self-exclusion is a formal process where you voluntarily request to be excluded from gambling with us for an extended period.

You can choose to self-exclude for periods ranging from six months to five years, or even permanently. During a self-exclusion period, your account will be closed, and you will be prevented from accessing any gambling services on Shikaka. We will also remove you from all marketing lists and take all reasonable steps to prevent you from opening new accounts with us.

Self-exclusion is a serious commitment and cannot be reversed once activated. If you choose to self-exclude, we strongly recommend that you consider self-excluding from all other gambling operators you use. Information on how to initiate a self-exclusion can be found in your account settings or by contacting our customer support team.

Shikaka is strictly committed to preventing underage gambling. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 (or the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction, if higher) to open an account or gamble with us. We employ robust age verification procedures during the registration process and continuously monitor for any attempts by minors to access our services.

Our age verification checks may require us to request documentation, such as identification, to confirm a player's age. Accounts found to belong to minors will be immediately closed, and any winnings will be forfeited. We urge parents and guardians to take responsibility for preventing minors from accessing gambling sites. This includes using filtering software, monitoring internet usage, and keeping login details secure. Protecting minors is a shared responsibility, and Shikaka is dedicated to playing its part.

To help you stay aware of the time you spend gambling, Shikaka offers "Reality Checks" and "Session Reminders." These tools are designed to provide periodic notifications during your gaming sessions, prompting you to reflect on your activity.

A Reality Check is a pop-up message that appears at pre-set intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes or 60 minutes) while you are actively playing. This message will inform you of the duration of your current session and may also display your net winnings or losses during that period. You will then have the option to continue playing, review your account history, or log out.

You can customise the frequency of these Reality Checks in your account settings. This feature is intended to encourage regular breaks and help you make informed decisions about continuing your play. It serves as a gentle reminder to maintain perspective and control over your gambling habits.

Understanding your own gambling behaviour is a critical step in responsible gaming. Shikaka encourages all players to periodically take a self-assessment to evaluate their relationship with gambling. This simple questionnaire can help you identify if your gambling habits are healthy or if they might be moving towards a problematic pattern.

A typical self-assessment might include questions such as:

• Do you spend more money or time gambling than you intended?
• Have you ever tried to stop gambling, but been unsuccessful?
• Do you feel anxious, guilty, or depressed after gambling?
• Has gambling caused problems in your relationships or work?
• Have you ever lied about the amount of money or time you spend gambling?
• Do you ever gamble to escape from problems or feelings of boredom?

Answering these questions honestly can provide valuable insight. If you find yourself answering "yes" to several of these questions, it may be an indication that you need to reconsider your gambling habits or seek external support. This self-awareness is key to maintaining control and ensuring gambling remains a harmless form of entertainment.

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

National support: United Kingdom

• GamCare, National Gambling Helpline · Helpline: 0808 8020 133
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous Great Britain · Helpline: 0330 094 0322
• Self-exclusion: GAMSTOP

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)