Want to play Slingo online? Us too! Slingo is one of our favourite online games. Its clever blend of slots and bingo makes it fun to play, and there’s a great selection of Slingo games to choose from.
But like with all online games, it’s important to know how to play responsibly. In this article we’ll discuss lots of different ways to help you protect yourself from harm and stay in control while gambling. From setting a budget to using player limitation tools, there are lots of things you can do to make sure that gaming stays fun.
What Is Slingo?
First things first – what exactly is Slingo? In case you haven’t played it before, we’ll explain how it works. Slingo is essentially a series of online games that blend elements of slots and bingo together in a simple format to create a fun new way to play. Most Slingo games are played on a 5x5 grid filled with numbers – a little like a bingo card.
A reel at the bottom of the grid is filled with numbers and other symbols (such as Wilds or Super Wilds), and the aim of the game is to match up symbols on the reels with those on the grid.
Match numbers to mark them off on the grid, with the aim of completing horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines – a bit like in bingo. Complete lines to move up a ladder on the side of the reels, either unlocking bonus games or bigger cash prizes as you go.
At the top of the ladder is a Full House prize, awarded for marking off every number on the grid.
There are Slingo versions of many of the most popular slot games, including Slingo Rainbow Riches and Slingo Monopoly, as well as lots of original Slingo titles. Slingo has been popular ever since it burst onto the scene in 1994, and it’s showing no signs of stopping!
What Is Responsible Gambling?
You’ve probably heard of the term ‘responsible gambling’ before, but its meaning might not always be clear. Let’s dive into it a little deeper…
For many people, gambling is a great way to have fun while playing your favourite games. However, it’s important to be transparent about the risks, too.
It is possible to become addicted to gambling, and some people find it difficult to stay in control of how much time and money they are spending at online casinos.
Responsible gambling refers to gambling that does not put yourself or others at risk, whether that’s financially, mentally, or in any other way.
At online casinos like Spin Genie, there are a number of gambling tools and features designed to help you gamble responsibly. Keep reading to learn more about how they can benefit you.
Set Deposit Limits
When you create a Spin Genie account you will be given the option to restrict your daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit to any amount you want. You will be unable to exceed your limit unless you manually change it from within your account, and this feature is designed to help you stay in control.
You can also set budget limits informally, by deciding how much you will spend before each gaming session. Once the money is up, it’s time to stop playing.
You should only ever spend what you can afford to lose, and never gamble with money that should go towards rent, bills or other expenses.
Set Time Limits
It’s also a good idea to set a time limit before playing. You might decide to play for 20 minutes, for example, or until a particular time. To help you stick to it, you could try setting an alarm or a timer on your phone. And no snoozing – once your time is up, stop playing!
To help you stay aware of how long you’ve been playing, each Slingo game has a timer in the top right corner of the game screen. Check it regularly, and make sure you don’t play for longer than you said you would.
Take Regular Breaks
We all like online gaming, but it’s important to take regular breaks. Never let gambling get in the way of personal relationships or day-to-day life, and remember that it should be a fun and entertaining activity.
You could decide to take a break for a day, a week or even longer. If you’re finding it hard to stay away, tell a friend or family member so they can support you or find a fun activity to do instead, like exercising. You could also use our player limitation tools to help you (see below).
Use Player Limitation Tools
If you need to take a break from gambling but need some help sticking to it, you can use our Player Limitation tools. Choose a Cooling-Off period of between 24 hours and six weeks, or use our Self-Exclusion option to freeze your account for an extended time period.
During the Cooling-Off or Self-Exclusion period you won’t be able to gamble or deposit, and you won’t receive any marketing material.
Try Play Controls
In any Slingo game, you’ll be able to select ‘Play Controls’ from the burger menu (the three horizontal lines that look like a burger if you use your imagination).
You can use Play Controls to set the number of extra spins, the maximum extra spin price, the total single game stake and limit the total single game loss.
As soon as you reach the limits you set while playing the game, a message will pop up saying ‘Limit Reached’ and informing you that the game will now end and any winnings will be collected. Clicking ‘OK’ will end the game.
Use Reality Checks (or Game Status Reminders)
In the My Account section of the website you can set a Game Status Reminder, which will tell you how long you have been playing for and give you options to continue playing, review your game history or close the game.
You can also decide how frequently you would like the Game Status Reminder to appear. This is a helpful way to keep yourself in check and notice if you might have been playing for too long.
Try SafeMate
SafeMate is a useful new tool in the Responsible Gambling section of your account. It allows you to track how much money you have spent, what you have won or lost, and how much time you have spent gambling over the last six months.
You can use it to see whether your gambling habits are changing, and it can even compare you to other similar players and give you a gambling health check score.
Ask for Help
If you’re concerned that your gambling is becoming a problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for support and advice. They’re open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and you can also talk to them via WhatsApp or live chat – visit their website for details.
Play All Your Favourite Slingo Games Responsibly Here at Spin Genie
Play all the latest slots at Spin Genie – a safe, secure online casino with all the latest games. Choose from over 6,000 slot games, including Slingo slots and live casino games at our easy-to-use site, whether you’re on desktop or mobile. Take advantage of our exclusive welcome bonus for new players and get 120 free spins when you sign up (min. £10 deposit). Join us today for a fun online gaming experience in a safe and supportive environment. Always play responsibly, and never spend more than you can afford to lose.
