Be Smart & Prosperous – Gamble Responsibly
Gambling can be a very entertaining activity. That’s even more true of online gambling, which allows you to join in the fun instantly no matter where you may be. However, with the comfort and wide-spread of casino sites comes the greater chance for facing problem gambling. According to the latest statistics, half of the Brits gamble. That means there’s a significant chance that you or someone you know might be affected or become affected by problem gambling. We’re far from saying gambling is a bad thing but it could be risky. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to prevent the problem from happening or to deal with it at its different stages, so let’s see what your options are.
How to Be a Responsible Gambler
First of all, we’d like you to think of what makes a responsible gambler. Consider questions, such as why you gamble, what playing casino games means to you, how it contributes to your life and relationships. It’s important that you don’t underestimate the problem and think it could never happen to you. Underestimating it may be the fastest way towards succumbing to it. It’s a sad fact of life that anyone can become affected, so instead of hiding your head in the sand, read on. It’s better to prepare for war and never get into one than to think you’re living in eternal bliss until one day you wake up to realise you’ve gambled your savings and your family away. That’s a bit harsh a picture, I know, but sometimes we need a jolt to snap us out of a dangerous path. For instance, the videos from the BigDeal campaign by GamCare also employed a quite shocking technique, as you can see below.
Responsible Gambling Tips
You can have all the fun and games you want as long as you don’t lie to yourself about it. You should be aware how much time and money you’re investing in gaming. Of course, there are rules of gambling you should respect and not fall for the myths. For example, it’s important to remember that when you’re gambling, you’re paying for entertainment – you’re not investing in a big win. Though life-changing jackpots are real, you should not obsess about them. Do understand that the odds are in favour of the provider – they’d become bankrupt soon if that wasn’t the case. It would be beneficial if you understood the odds as well as the rules of every game you’re playing.
How Safe Is Your Gambling?
So, why do people gamble? Some people find it a great escape from the problems in their lives. For others, it provides a buzz, an excitement from not knowing whether you’ll win or lose. Then, there are those who think it’s fun. Whatever your reasons, be mindful of them and of your behavior. Self-monitoring in an objective manner might be the thing that would allow you to go on enjoying gaming without the need to seek professional help for an addiction. You could do yourself a favour and get educated about problem gambling. Finally, you should consider doing self-assessment tests – they don’t take much time and they tell you a lot.
Underage Gambling
Young people are a particularly sensitive group. For them, the risk is greater for a number of reasons. First, they are much more impressionable and can easily become the victims of peer pressure. Second, the allure of gaming is more thrilling and the hope of a big win – more promising. Moreover, when it comes to underage players, compulsive gambling is not just an emotional and psychological issue, it’s also a criminal offense. Experts say that it’s better for parents to talk to their children about the dangers and risks, explain, and answer their questions rather than just forbid it. After all, kids will become adults and their parents’ task is not to simply help them make it to adulthood but to nurture successful coping patters.
Self-Limitation and Self-Exclusion
Once you start gaming regularly, you should establish limits on how much money and/or time you’re spending on it. Then, you should stick to those limits though it might seem hard at times. Self-limitation means control, so you shouldn’t compromise with it. If you fail to stay within the ranges you’ve set, try to self-exclude. Self-exclusion means that you’re asking an online operator to deny you access to their casino for a certain period. It’s up to you for how long you’d like to self-exclude from iGaming. Operators are obliged by law to provide that option. Though self-exclusion from an online casino is much easier to do, you can self-exclude from land-based casinos as well. If you aren’t sure how to do that, visit the site of one of the specialised organisations, which we’ll tell you all about below.
Responsible Gaming Organisations – Who They Are and What They Do
If you have a problem with gambling which you can’t take control of yourself, you should not despair. There’s hope and you’re not alone. There are plenty of specialised organisations that are there to help you. What’s in common for them all is that they are open to listening to you, they love educating and providing information, and they respect your privacy and anonymity. Their services are free of charge. Let’s have a look at who those organisations are.
GamCare is an independent charity devoted to fighting gambling addiction. They provide direct help to gamblers and their families in face-to-face or on the phone counselling. They also have prevention strategies. The organisation works with partner agencies, to which they provide both training and funding, who help them in spreading the message of the importance of responsible gambling.
Formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, GambleAware is the leading UK charity which works hard on minimising any harm related to gambling. Getting their funding from the gambling industry itself, they have many programmes that educate, prevent and treat gambling disorders. Moreover, they continually work towards stopping problem gambling altogether.
Gamblers Anonymous, as the name suggests, brings people with gambling problems together. It provides resources for self-assessment as well as a literature section where all your questions get answered. The site has a forum and, most importantly, there’s a meeting finder, which allows you to search for groups that meet up in your area. Anonymity is important with these people, so you can rest assured your identity will be protected.
Gambling Therapy, which is part of the Gordon Moody Association, is a free online service available for those residing outside the UK. They provide support and advice to those affected by compulsive gambling. However, even if you are a British resident, you could still find lots of useful information on their website, such as online support groups for gamblers and their friends and relatives.
What Do They Do?
While working with compulsive gamblers and their families and developing preventative strategies may be quite obvious, responsible gambling organisations have other activities as well. They provide consultancy and training for clinicians, educators, researchers, and other professionals. They also offer certification. Getting acquainted with what they do will make you aware of problem gambling and prevent you from becoming a victim in the future. It could empower you to help a loved one. Finally, you might even decide on getting certified as a ‘trained adviser’, which would allow you to help not only those close to you but other people, too.
FAQ
Approach them carefully because they might not be aware of the problem. Ask them to take a self-assessment quiz and send them articles on responsible gambling, e.g. from the site of a specialised organisation.
Take a self-assessment quiz and read all the information provided. Have you set a limit on the time or money you spend gambling. Is sticking to it hard?
If you’ve tried self-limitation and it was too hard for you to stick to your decisions, you can self-exclude from the casino. Simply follow the operator’s procedure and ask to be banned from the site for a certain period of time.