Why Education Works Better Than Bans

Limits don’t cure addiction — knowledge does

Limits and Bans: Real Help or Just the Illusion of Safety?

Every time I come across deposit limits that are supposed to help fight gambling addiction, I’m convinced these measures bring more harm than good.

In the UK and many European countries — for example in the Netherlands, Sweden, or Belgium — regulators impose strict caps on deposits and stakes, demanding more and more documents to “prove” that a player can afford to gamble.

The result is predictable: irritated players move to offshore operators where there’s no regulation, no requirements, and no protection. Here’s a recent report on the growing popularity of the offshore market in the Netherlands.

Who Decides How Much I’m Allowed to Lose?

Why should anyone else decide how much of my own money I can lose? If I consciously choose to spend part of my income on casino play, the regulator shouldn’t interfere.

Yes, this opens up a minefield: how can we be sure a person really understands what they’re doing and doesn’t suffer from addiction? But gambling addiction is far from the only form of dependency.