Responsible Gambling Guide
Gambling is an entertainment that has been around for centuries now, and it is fair to say that it still remains one of the most popular pastimes for millions of people around the world. Though it might be tons of fun, as with all the pleasures in life, you’ve got to be responsible and cautious when you gamble or else it can inflict some serious damage upon your wealth, personal life, career, and all the other aspects of your well-being. Today, we are going to talk about the dark side of gambling, the problems it causes, and the possible ways you can avoid or solve these problems before serious damage is done.
How to recognize a problem
Despite common misconception, not all of the gamblers have problems with their hobby — some of them hold it at bay, have fun, win money, and enjoy their lives with gambling being just a small part of it. At the same time, there are people who have little to no control over their passion for gambling, and these people are the ones to risk everything they hold dear just to indulge in their hobby. These are the people who have a serious issue, and the best way to step on the right path is to start recognizing the problem.
Be honest with yourself. Did you lose more money than you could afford to lose recently? Does gambling take too much of your time? Does it take too much of your money? Have you ever compromised your personal or career life for gambling? Try to answer these questions honestly, and if the answer to at least one of those questions is yes, you should probably start to recognize you went too far and that there’s a problem. This is where you’ll begin to realize something has to be done, and though the first step is usually the hardest to make, you’ve got to make it become stronger.
How can I stay at control
You know what they say, there’s no stronger enemy than yourself, and that is true – controlling your passions and desires might be the biggest challenge you’ll ever face, but it does not mean you cannot win. If you’ve just recognized there’s a problem, you already made your first step to victory, so how do you keep your addiction at bay? As it is the case with most online casinos, you can just delete your account; this would be a good thing to do.
Cool-off a bit, avoid casinos and gambling in any form for some time and see how your life changes. Be sure, you’ll see yourself having more money, and more time the very first month you quit playing. But what if your craving is too strong? You might still want to gamble from time to time, which is expected. If you know gambling has been too much of a trouble, you should abandon it forever, but if you know you can control yourself, you can allow playing once in a month or so. Just remember to set limits for yourself because even one evening of gambling may cause too much financial and emotional damage if you cannot control yourself.
Responsible Gambling Tips
Controlling yourself is a real challenge, especially if you have a history of addiction and have faced some troubles already. To avoid further escalation of your problems, you need to stay strong, focused, and committed, and to achieve this, you need to follow certain rules. If you do everything right, and if you really want to achieve control over yourself and your desires, you might want to use some of the following tips:
Be Honest With Yourself – always ask yourself whether it’s worth it. How much have you already lost? How much have you won? Is that really that beneficial for you, or you just throw away your money without no substantial reward?
Set Limits for Deposits – never deposit more than you can afford to lose. Depending on your overall wealth, only deposit the exact amount of money you won’t have any troubles losing. Remember, casinos are not meant for you to win.
Set Time Frames – does the time you spend on gambling interfere with your personal life? If yes, establish the time frames for your hobby and never go over your limits.
Don’t Trust Superstitions – there are days when you feel really lucky, and you might think to yourself that it is the day you win your million. It is not! You will lose 9 out of 10 days, that is how the casinos work.
Never Chase Your Losses – if you already lost most of your money and feel like one more game will be your lucky game, trust me, it is will not! You’ll lose more. Stop and come back next time or better not come back at all.
Never Borrow Money – let me be square: if you borrow money for gambling, you’ve already reached the bottom. You are almost done with it. Never borrow money for gambling because it would be the end of you.
How can I seek help?
There’s no shame in getting help. More so, it takes lots of strength to recognize you have a problem, and you need help. There are people who love you, your family, and friends who’d be happy to know you’ve let go of your destructive habits, and these people will surely help you. The best way for you to start dealing with your problem is to reconnect with your loved ones and don’t be scared, even if your addiction has already done some damage to your relationships, people who truly love you will accept you. They will see you trying your best to become a better person, and they will stand by your side on your path.
Your family and friends can become a source of strength for you in the darkest of times, and if you let go of your harmful desires and embrace your beloved ones, it will become much easier for you. Different people might choose different paths – some would seek help in their families, some would turn to faith, some would change through their sheer willpower – whatever path you choose, stay committed, and strong. There also are many organizations in the UK that provide help to the addicts and help them change their lives for good.
Local UK organizations
There are many organizations around the world and in the UK, in particular, that help people overcome gambling addiction. These are different kinds of organizations, some of which function as non-profit companies that provide help for free, and some are specialized therapy centers that require some payment for giving you their services. The choice is up to you, but you should know that these are professionals who know what they are doing and can really help you make a positive change in your life. Here are just some of those:
Gamblers Anonymous
Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Intake Wellness Centre, Doncaster, Rotherham, DN2 6PL
Gamblers Anonymous is an organization that functions in many countries worldwide, including the UK. It was established back in 1957 in Los Angeles to help addicts overcome their issues through a 12-step program that allows you to gradually but surely get rid of your addiction. In more than 60 years, this organization has managed to help millions of gamblers around the world by motivating them to quit their disruptive habit. There are professional counselors who work with the groups of addicts, which is an effective way of overcoming the problem in a company of similar people.
Gam Care
Website: www.gamcare.org.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0808 8020 133 – 020 7801 7000
Address: 2nd Floor, 7-11 St John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TR
GamCare is a charity organization that has been around since 1997 providing gambling addicts with counseling and other services. You can call their free hot-line and communicate via the phone. You can also seek help through their website, or you can ask for a personal meeting with the counselors across the UK. This organization has already helped thousands and thousands of gamblers in Britain, so it might be a good place to turn to in your times of need.
Be Gamble Aware
Website: www.begambleaware.org
E-mail: Complete the online form
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Address: 7 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8PS
Be Gamble Aware is one of the branches of Gamble Aware that provides information and assistance to anyone seeking help in dealing with gambling addiction. This organization is funded by donations, so you can get most of the services for free. Contacting Be Gamble Aware might be your first step to resolving your problems and finally ending your addiction. Remember, asking for help is the sign of your strength and resolve to fight your dark side, which is the most honorable thing you can do.
Gambling Therapy
Website: www.gamblingtherapy.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: 47 Maughan Street, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 2BA, UK
Gambling Therapy is a branch of Gordon Moody Association that has been around since 1971 to help people find willpower and strength to battle their inner demons. This is a non-profit organization that provides assistance and counseling services to people who are ready for a serious and positive change in their lives. You contact them via e-mail and fill out an application form to become a part of the therapy group in which you’ll be working on fighting your addiction. This is a good way to start and continue your path to salvation.
Gamble Aware
Website: about.gambleaware.org
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Address: 7 Henrietta St, London, WC2E 8PS
Gamble Aware is one of the largest charitable anti-gambling organizations in the UK. It has helped thousands upon thousands of people to finally get rid of their addiction and start a new life. This organization provides you with the group and private counseling with psychologists who will surely guide you on the right path to saving your life from the devastating impact of gambling. If you are truly committed to finally facing your weaknesses and reinforcing your strength, this is the way to go.
As you see, there are places you can go apart from your family and friends, where you can receive professional help. If you are reading this, you are probably already prepared for the challenge, and let me tell you; it won’t be an easy path to walk. But! If you really want to save yourself and potentially people you love from the destructive influence of your addiction, you are already taking steps in the right direction. You need to stay adamant in your desire to achieve change in your life, make a positive impact, and become the better version of yourself. With help and passion, you will surely make things right!
Conclusion
Though gambling might be really entertaining and even lucrative at times, it also is dangerous, and gambling addiction has already ruined millions of lives throughout the centuries. It requires strength, willpower, and moderation to enjoy gambling without letting it ruin your life and take away everything you hold dear. It is not to frighten you, but it would be necessary to say that it is better not to gamble at all if you feel like this habit might take the best of you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be afraid to turn to your family and friends, and be sure to use all of your willpower to overcome this problem. Once you do, your life will become so much more exciting than anything casinos would ever offer.