Understanding the Importance of Responsible Gambling
The glamorous world of gambling is a formulaic concept. We’ve all read and seen stories about people making a big hit at the casino, cashing in chips for millions. We have to admit, though, that those are more of an exception than a rule. Most of the time, betting is more likely to result in small wins or worse – in losses. Your attitude towards those can make or break gambling for you. Staying in control of how much time and money you spend playing is key in responsible gambling so that you get the pure thrill and excitement it’s meant to bring without the negative effect of addiction.
Signs of Addiction – How to Tell If You or Someone Else Needs Help
People who are unable to accept the fact that they’ve lost and that they need to stop before they incur any more losses or people who depend on the short-lived adrenaline rushes brought on by gambling can have their social life and financial status negatively affected by compulsive gambling. In addition to the loss of money and debt, problem gambling can also influence your health, work, education, and relationship with family and friends.
Understanding you have a problem is the first step to effectively dealing with it, so if you have any doubts that you or someone you know may be experiencing gambling addiction, you need to seek help immediately. If you find any of the statements below relevant to the way your gambling is affecting your life, it’s a good idea to limit your access to gambling sites and talk to someone about it – help is available in many forms via the phone, online, and in person.
The most wide-spread problem among people with gambling problems is losing money and going into debt. Financial issues are usually the first sign of addiction. If any of these statements describe your actions (or the actions of someone you know) you need to reconsider your betting habits.
- I gamble more money than I intend to
- I try to win back money that I have lost gambling
- I gamble with money that really should have been used for something else
- I sometimes borrow money to enable me to gamble
- I feel bad when I think of how much I have lost gambling
Compulsive gambling may render you incapable of keeping up with your work assignments or fulfilling other responsibilities. How is your gambling routine affecting your day-to-day life? Are any of these true for you?
- I sometimes stay away from work or studying in order to gamble
- Other people say that I spend too much time gambling
- I devote time to my gambling when I really should be doing something else
- I don’t want to spend money on other things when I can use them for gambling
- Sometimes after losing I feel the need to gamble again as soon as possible
Addiction seriously hurts people’s social lives and their relationships with family and friends due to the large amount of time spent gambling and the change in behaviour that comes from losing and struggling financially. Have you experienced any of these yourself or have you noticed anyone else display them?
- People close to me have expressed concern I gamble too much
- I feel restless if I do not have the opportunity to gamble
- Sometimes I feel bad when I think about my gambling
- I have lost interest in my hobbies and spending time with my family
- I do not want to tell other people about how much time and money I spend on my gambling
How to Gamble Responsibly
Before we continue, we have to clarify that not everyone who gambles has a gambling problem. Developing an addiction is a predicament that only few people face but is still a possibility we all need to consider. There are different biological, psychological, and environmental factors like dopamine levels, sensation seeking, impulsivity, and more that pre-determine how prone to addiction a person might be. Online casinos make it extremely easy for players to register and bet using just a debit card or an e-wallet, but they also offer options for you to stay in control of your budget.
Bankroll Management
The most common problem among gambling addicts is the loss of money and debt. It’s essential that you never wager more money on a game than you can afford. Always budget wisely how much you can afford to lose and accept the fact that you can’t predict the outcome of a game – be it an RNG game or a live dealer table. Don’t double your bet in the heat of the moment – casino games and slots are unpredictable so you can never be certain whether you will get twice your money back or lose even more.
Don’t try to make up for losses wagering money you hadn’t planned on spending on the game and never spend money you don’t really have or you need for something else. If you find it hard to impose those limitations yourself, you can contact customer care at UK online casinos and ask them to set them for you.
Self-Limitation
All licensed online casinos have a serious focus on responsible gambling and offer options to players in order to control their betting habits. If you feel like you’re spending too much time at the casino, you can activate a reality check for a specific period of time so that when it’s up, you will be reminded how long you’ve been playing and if it’s time for you to stop. You can also opt for maximum limits on the deposits you make so you will be prevented from exceeding the amount of cash you can afford to bet. If you feel like setting limits is not enough, you can also take a break from gambling altogether. Casinos offer the option for players to take a time-out for a period that can be in the range of 24 hours to 30 days. During this period, you can access your account and withdraw any funds you have but you won’t be able to make a deposit or place bets.
Self-Exclusion
If you feel like you’re teetering on the brink of addiction, you can opt for self-exclusion and have your account closed for a prolonged period of time that may last up to five years. You will be able to withdraw any funds you have in your account but you won’t be allowed to bet any money. It’s important that you exclude yourself from all gambling sites where you have accounts and we also highly recommend that you unsubscribe from all kinds of newsletters or promotional materials you receive. Delete all aps and other downloaded software, unfollow (and/or block) betting operators on social media. You may also find it useful to install software that will block all gambling websites.
Find Help –Responsible Gambling Organisations in the UK
If you have come to the realisation that you, a member of your family, or a friend is struggling with addiction, you need to seek professional help immediately. Try to identify the cause of your addiction yourself – why are you gambling? Is it for the adrenaline rush or for financial reasons? Are you alienating yourself from friends and family or struggling financially as a result of your gambling habits? Providing honest answers to these questions may be overwhelming but there are plenty of places for you to get help. Many organisations in the UK help people deal with addiction by providing advice and support over the phone and online or hosting support groups. You have many options to tackle addiction that are both anonymous and free. If you’re looking for assistance, here’s a list of UK organisations that can help you deal with gambling addiction.
This is perhaps the largest and most popular UK charity organisation that provides support and counselling to people with addiction and their families. Hundreds of people take advantage of their online and face-to-face support groups to overcome addiction and return to a normal healthy lifestyle. The organisation also supports partner agencies with funds and training to promote responsible gambling.
GambleAware was formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust and is the leading charity in the UK that deals with prevention and minimising the negative effect of problem gambling. The organisation raises funds from the gambling industry itself and uses them for education, prevention and treatment, as well as research to help spread awareness about addiction.
Gamblers Anonymous help people who have at any point had or are currently facing problems with gambling by bringing them together and encouraging them to support each other, sharing their knowledge and experience. Membership in the organisation is completely free so if you’re willing to join a support group, you just need to sign up. The organisation’s website also supports a forum and a meeting finder where you can look up a group in your area.
Part of the Gordon Moody Association, Gambling Therapy is a free online service aimed at helping people outside the UK with support and advice on compulsive gambling. They organise recovery and support groups and offer plenty of useful information on their website that is available to UK residents, too. The organisation has developed a software called GamBlock that helps people control their betting habits online.
Recognise the Problem – Prevent and Deal with Addiction
Gambling should never make you feel bad; it’s intended to provide fun and safe entertainment, not a problem or addiction. Even though you may not consider yourself to have an addictive personality, it’s still highly recommended that you be certain about your betting habits in order to prevent problems early on. Evaluate your attitude towards gambling – what do you bet on and most importantly why do you bet? Once you realise that you or someone close to you is having hard time quitting gambling and this is hurting them financially and socially, you can take some steps on your own to help you deal with problem gambling. Overcoming addiction is hard but possible if you reach out and seek help and support.