Player Protection

All you need to know about player protection

Player protection & risk of addiction

Gambling is as old as mankind. However, gambling does not mean only opportunities, experience, and excitement, but can also involve risks. That is why it is under state supervision and is available only to people aged 18 or over.

For most of our guests, gambling is simply an enjoyable leisure activity. However, some people lose control over their gambling behaviour for various reasons: gambling becomes a serious problem for them and can have severe social and economic consequences. Gambling can be addictive.

As a responsible state-licensed company, we are particularly committed to player protection. It is our goal to limit the risks of gambling and prevent gambling from turning into a problem.

Information

The following links provide helpful information on player protection as well as information on self-exclusion as a PDF file for you to download.

Play with responsibility

application for self-exclusion

Gambling ban Information sheet

Third-party exclusion/notification by third parties

Gambling responsibly

To ensure gambling stays fun and to maintain control over your gambling, always observe the following rules for gambling responsibly:

Before you play, read our game explanations to inform yourself about the rules and procedure of the game and the win and loss probabilities for the individual types of game.
Set your personal betting limit so that it is in reasonable proportion to your income (maximum 25% of disposable income).
Never play with borrowed money.
Set a strict loss limit before you start playing. Stop playing when you have lost that amount.
Never gamble to win back the money you have lost.
Set a limit on how long you will play and how often you will play.
Be sure to balance gambling with other recreational activities.
Gamble for entertainment, not to make money.

Decide in advance the level of winnings at which you will stop.
Take regular breaks from gambling.
Never gamble secretly or with a guilty conscience.
Never gamble under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.
Be vigilant: the risks of problematic gambling behaviour increase the higher your losses, if you are depressed or suffer stress in your day-to-day life.
Do not gamble to suppress personal problems or to cheer yourself up.
Inform yourself about problematic gambling behaviour. Knowledge can protect you when dealing with gambling.

Myths and facts about gambling

Myth	Fact
Gambling is a quick and easy way to make money.	Profits are possible, but in the longer term, significant losses can also occur.
You can tell if a slot machine is “ripe” and about to pay out.	You can tell if a slot machine is “ripe” and about to pay out. Slot games pay out their winnings randomly. They do not follow any pattern. The outcome of each game is completely independent of previous games. There is no way to predict the game outcome and therefore no such thing as a “ripe” slot machine.
Players can influence the outcome of the game when playing slots or roulette.	The outcome of games of chance such as slot machines and roulette cannot be influenced. The outcome of the game is already determined the moment the player clicks on the start button.
“Almost wins”, where the winning line or field is just missed, indicate that a bigger win is imminent.	The symbols of the slot machines or the roulette ball come up at random. The outcome of previous game results is therefore absolutely no indication of imminent winnings.
After a series of losses, the chances of winning increase. Therefore, the stakes should be increased after losses to return to a winning streak.	There is no strategy to increase the chances of winning. All results in games of chance are independent of each other and purely random. Losses do not mean anything about the further course of the game. It is especially dangerous to try to recoup losses.
The evaluation of those numbers which have already come up in roulette (“permanents”) increases the chances of winning.	Numbers that have already come up do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the outcome of future games. A roulette ball has no memory. It always falls purely by chance on one of the 37 numbers in the wheel, regardless of which numbers have already come up.
After “red” has won 10 times in roulette, the probability of “black” coming up in the next game is greater than for “red”.	The game results in roulette are independent of each other. Even in the 11th game, the probability of “red” or “black” winning are the same.
The house always wins.	Chance determines profit or loss in gambling and both are possible. If the guest wins, the bank loses and vice versa. But due to the fixed and guaranteed payout ratios of between 94 and 98 percent in state-licensed gaming, a small percentage of the stakes remains in the casino. Of this gross gaming revenue (stakes minus winnings), the casinos of Lower Saxony transfer approximately 70 per cent to the state budget for their casinos. The remainder is used to run the gaming operations, e.g. for salaries, investments and rent. Only after deducting all these costs can the casino company report a profit.

Problem gambling

The following information is about different types of gamblers and includes myths and facts about problematic and addictive gambling behaviour.

Types of gamblers:

Gamblers can be divided into three subgroups:

Casual or recreational gamblers
They are looking for diversion, entertainment and pleasure from gambling in their free time, without any abnormalities or problems.
Problem gamblers
They reveal initial problems with gambling such as feelings of guilt, conflicts because of gambling, or gambling in secret, but no serious consequential damage has yet occurred.
Addicted gamblers
Addicted gamblers feel an irresistible craving for gambling, have lost control over their gambling behaviour and continue to gamble despite the harmful consequences.

We offer a “self-control“ system which gives you the opportunity to check your gambling behaviour.

Myths and facts about problem and addictive gambling behavior:

Myth	Fact
Problems with gambling can only develop in mentally disturbed people.	It can happen to almost anyone. No one believes in advance that they will develop addictive gambling behaviour. And when it does happen, it is often not even noticed, or it is denied. Therefore, be vigilant and please gamble responsibly.
You have to gamble every day to be a problem gambler or addicted to gambling.	It is not only the frequency of gambling that matters. Both frequent and occasional participation in gambling can lead to problems. The decisive factor is whether the gambling behaviour causes financial, family, psychological or other problems for the gambler himself or persons close to him.
Problem gambling is not really a problem if the player can afford it.	Problems caused by excessive gambling behaviour are not only financial. It becomes a problem as soon as gambling appears to be no longer controllable or no longer in line with a person’s values and goals. Spending a lot of time gambling, for example, means having less time for family and friends. Thus, gambling can dominate the player’s life and destroy relationships as well as friendships.
Gambling addicts are irresponsible people.	Many gambling addicts have or have held responsible positions in society. When someone develops addictive gambling behaviour, he or she is no longer able to control their gambling and in this state their behaviour appears irresponsible.
Often it is the partners of problem gamblers or gambling addicts who drive them to gamble.	Problem gamblers are very inventive in justifying their gambling behaviour. By blaming others for gambling, they avoid taking personal responsibility, including the necessary steps to solve their problems.
Financial problems are the main reason for the failure of relationships of problem gamblers.	It is true that financial problems play an important role. However, many life partners say that the main reasons for failure are the lies and loss of trust.
If a problem or addicted gambler is in financial trouble, they should be helped as soon as possible.	Quick help is often the remedy of choice for everyone involved. In fact, helping to solve financial problems can make the situation worse by allowing gambling behaviour to continue.
Problematic and addictive gambling behaviour is readily apparent.	Problems with gambling are easy to hide, as there are no immediate physical symptoms to be observed as with alcohol or drug abuse. Many gamblers themselves only realise very late or sometimes not at all that they have a problem. Self-denial is common.
Gambling does not have a psychological effect comparable to alcohol or drugs.	Although the gambler does not ingest any substances, the psychological effect of gambling is extraordinarily high. This is reported by gamblers themselves and proved by research findings on the release of endogenous substances. Depending on personal predisposition, more frequent participation in games of chance can lead to strong psychological habituation and eventually to addiction.
Gambling addiction is not a recognised disease due to the lack of physical symptoms.	Gambling addiction has now been recognised as a disease in its own right by health care institutions and is now classified as a mental disorder. This means that the costs of treatment of gambling addicts in outpatient and inpatient facilities as well as by established physicians and psychotherapists are covered by the health insurance funds and pension insurance providers.

Gambling ban

The gambling ban is a key instrument for player protection. It applies nationwide to licensed gambling in accordance with the State Treaty on Gambling and is recorded in the OASIS file, which covers all types of gambling. Licensed gaming arcades and online providers are also required to join the exclusion system.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is unlimited and can be lifted upon application after the minimum exclusion period has expired. The minimum exclusion period is one year. A different minimum exclusion period may be agreed, which may be shorter (at least three months) or longer than one year. After the minimum exclusion period has expired, an application to lift the ban can be submitted to the head office of the nationwide exclusion system OASIS (Darmstadt Regional Council). The ban does not end automatically after the minimum ban period has expired.

You can obtain an application for self-exclusion on this website, at our casinos, from our company representatives or from the operator of the OASIS self-exclusion system (Darmstadt Regional Council).

Third-party exclusion/notification by third parties

If we, as the provider, have justified indications that you are addicted to gambling or at risk of gambling addiction, or that your financial circumstances prevent you from participating in gambling, we are obliged to exclude you from gambling. This also applies to justified notification from third parties such as life partners or close relatives. The minimum exclusion period for exclusion imposed by a third party is one year. After the minimum exclusion period has expired, an application to lift the ban can only be submitted to the head office of the nationwide exclusion system OASIS (Darmstadt Regional Council). The ban does not end automatically after the minimum exclusion period has expired.

You can obtain an application from our casinos, from our company representatives or from the operator of the Oasis exclusion system (Darmstadt Regional Council).

Excluded players

To ensure that excluded players are not granted access to our premises, we are obliged to compare guest data with the nationwide OASIS exclusion file each time they enter the gaming rooms. You will need a valid identification document to gain access.

Contact addresses (information, applications, etc.):

Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt (RPDa) (Darmstadt Regional Council)

Bereich Sicherheit/Glücksspiel
Luisenplatz 2
64283 Darmstadt

E-mail for guests:
spieleranfragenoasis@rpda.hessen.de

Applications for gambling ban/release, information:
https://rp-darmstadt.hessen.de/sicherheit-und-kommunales/gluecksspiel/spielersperrsystem-oasis/spieler-faqs

Spielbanken Niedersachsen GmbH

Karen Krüger
Karmarschstraße 37-39
30159 Hannover
Tel.: 0511 163 83-70
E-mail: k.krueger@spielbanken-niedersachsen.de

Offers of help

If you believe that gambling is causing you problems, you should confide in someone and seek help. We advise you to talk to staff at one of the outpatient addiction counselling centres that offer help throughout Lower Saxony.

Gambling responsibly

Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung. (Federal Centre for Health Education)

Hotline:
0800 1372700

NLS

Niedersächsische Landesstelle für Suchtfragen (Lower Saxony State Office for Addiction Issues)

For more information, please visit the NLS website: (German only)
www.nls-online.de

www.neustart-spielerhilfe.de

When gambling becomes a problem

“Neustart” online self-help programme for coping with problem gambling.
Anonymous, free of charge and scientifically accompanied by Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Centre

www.neustart-spielerhilfe.de

You can find specialists specializing in gambling addiction in Lower Saxony at the following link:

Specialists for the prevention and counseling of gambling addiction – Lower Saxony State Office for Addiction Issues

Other counseling centers throughout Lower Saxony:

Directory of Specialist Centers – Lower Saxony – Lower Saxony State Office for Addiction Issues

Ms Karen Krüger
Karmarschstraße 37 – 38
30159 Hannover
E-mail: k.krueger@spielbanken-niedersachsen.de
Tel: 0511 16383-70

Player Protection