Responsible Gambling

Shikaka is dedicated to providing a secure and enjoyable online gaming environment. We understand that for most individuals, gambling is a form of entertainment. However, we also recognise that for a small percentage of players, gambling can transition from a harmless pastime into a serious problem. Our Responsible Gaming policy outlines the measures we have implemented to prevent problem gambling, protect vulnerable players, and promote responsible practices across our platform.

We are committed to upholding the highest standards of player protection, adhering strictly to the guidelines set by our licensing authority. This commitment is woven into every aspect of our operations, from game design to customer support, ensuring that your experience with Shikaka remains positive and controlled.

Problem gambling can manifest in various ways, often impacting an individual's financial stability, relationships, and overall well-being. It is crucial to be aware of the signs, both in yourself and in others. Recognising these indicators early can be the first step towards seeking help.

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you can afford.
• Feeling the need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement.
• Chasing losses, attempting to win back money lost through further gambling.
• Becoming restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
• Lying to family members, friends, or others to conceal the extent of gambling involvement.
• Jeopardising or losing a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of gambling.
• Relying on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling.
• Preoccupation with gambling, constantly thinking about past gambling experiences, handicapping, or planning the next venture.

If you identify with several of these signs, or if someone you know exhibits them, we strongly encourage you to consider seeking support.

Maintaining control over your gambling habits ensures it remains a source of entertainment. Shikaka promotes several strategies to help you gamble responsibly:

• Gamble for entertainment, not as a source of income: View gambling as a leisure activity, not a means to solve financial problems.
• Set a budget and stick to it: Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you start playing and do not exceed that amount.
• Set a time limit: Determine how long you will play and adhere to that timeframe.
• Never chase losses: Accept that losses are part of gambling and do not try to win back money you have lost.
• Do not gamble when stressed, upset, or under the influence: Emotional states or intoxicants can impair judgment.
• Balance gambling with other activities: Ensure gambling does not become your sole form of entertainment.

Shikaka provides tools to help you manage your spending effectively. You can set various limits on your account to ensure you gamble within your means. These limits can be set for daily, weekly, or monthly periods.

• Deposit Limits: Restrict the total amount of money you can deposit into your Shikaka account within a specified timeframe. Once this limit is reached, you will be unable to deposit further funds until the period resets.
• Loss Limits: Control the maximum amount of money you are prepared to lose. If your net losses (wagers minus wins) reach this limit, you will be prevented from placing further wagers until the period resets.
• Wager Limits: Limit the total amount of money you can stake on bets within a set period. This helps manage the overall volume of your gambling activity.

You can adjust these limits at any time through your account settings. Any request to increase a limit will typically involve a cooling-off period before it takes effect, allowing you time to reconsider. Requests to decrease limits are usually applied immediately.

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.

• Time-Out: This option allows you to take a short break, typically ranging from 24 hours to 6 weeks. During a Time-Out, you will not be able to log in or gamble on our platform.
• Cool-Off Period: Similar to a Time-Out, a Cool-Off period allows for a temporary break. The duration and specifics may vary, but the intention is to provide a brief cessation from gambling activity.

Once you initiate a Time-Out or Cool-Off, it cannot be reversed until the chosen period has elapsed. This ensures that the break serves its intended purpose without immediate temptation to resume play.

For individuals who require a longer break or feel they need to stop gambling entirely, Shikaka offers a comprehensive Self-Exclusion program. Self-exclusion allows you to voluntarily prevent yourself from accessing your account for an extended period, typically ranging from 6 months to 5 years, or even permanently.

During a self-exclusion period:

• You will be unable to log into your Shikaka account.
• We will take reasonable steps to prevent you from opening new accounts.
• You will be removed from all marketing and promotional communications.

Self-exclusion is a serious commitment. Once activated, it cannot be reversed until the chosen period has fully expired. We encourage you to consider the duration carefully. If you choose to self-exclude, we also recommend considering self-exclusion from other gambling operators where you hold accounts.

Shikaka strictly prohibits individuals under the legal gambling age from participating in any of our gaming activities. Our platform is not designed for, nor does it target, minors. We employ robust age verification procedures during the registration process to confirm that all our players are of legal age.

We urge parents and guardians to take responsibility for preventing minors from accessing gambling sites. Here are some steps you can take:

• Use filtering software to block access to gambling websites.
• Keep your Shikaka login details confidential and secure.
• Do not leave children unsupervised with devices where you are logged into your gambling account.
• Educate your children about the risks associated with underage gambling.

If we discover that a minor has accessed our services, their account will be immediately closed, and any winnings forfeited.

To help you stay aware of the time you spend gambling, Shikaka offers Reality Checks and Session Reminders. These features are designed to prompt you at regular intervals during your gaming session.

• Reality Checks: These pop-up messages will appear on your screen at pre-set intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes or 60 minutes) to remind you how long you have been playing. The message typically includes information about your session duration and net winnings or losses during that period.
• Session Reminders: Similar to Reality Checks, Session Reminders provide periodic notifications to help you monitor your play time. You can often customise the frequency of these reminders.

These prompts are intended to encourage you to take a break, review your activity, or consider ending your session, thereby promoting more mindful gambling behaviour.

Understanding your own gambling habits is a critical step towards responsible play. We provide a self-assessment questionnaire to help you evaluate your relationship with gambling. This tool is anonymous and designed to offer insights into whether your gambling behaviour might be becoming problematic.

The self-assessment typically includes questions about the frequency of your gambling, the amounts you spend, your emotional responses to wins and losses, and the impact gambling has on other areas of your life. Answering honestly can help you identify potential risks and determine if you should consider seeking further support.

This assessment is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a professional diagnosis. If the results raise concerns, we strongly advise you to explore the support resources available.

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

National support: Canada

• Responsible Gambling Council
• ConnexOntario · Helpline: 1-866-531-2600
• Self-exclusion: BetGuard (iGaming Ontario)

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)