Reading time:
Gamble Safely: A Comprehensive Guide to Responsible Gaming
We are here to help you enjoy gambling responsibly and recognize when to take a step back.
CasinoWizard offers this educational guide to responsible gaming to help players learn how to play responsibly and how to prevent gambling addiction.
Read this guide to learn the symptoms of gambling addiction, what you can do to prevent getting addicted and find out where to get help when you feel you have a gambling problem.
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is characterized by similar symptoms as other addictions, such as a drug addiction, an addiction to shopping or an addiction to eating.
An addicted person is unable to control or change behaviour patterns connected to the source of the addiction. Even when the addicted person is aware that these behaviour patterns are harmful or even dangerous, A gambling addict can not stop playing, even if it is hurting their financial position, their relationships, or their ability to function.
Recognizing gambling addiction
The hardest part about being a gambling addict is to realize you may have a gambling problem. Admitting that your gambling activity has shifted from enjoying a form of entertainment to a negative, destructive spiral that severely impacts your life and your relationships is a tough nut to crack for anybody.
(Gambling) addicts are masters at disguising and rationalizing their gambling behaviour.
However, many potential symptoms signal addiction. If you feel you may have a gambling problem, why not go through our checklist and see where you stand?
Symptoms of Problem Gambling
The most common problem gambling symptoms are:
- Losing more than you can afford. You are losing more money than you can afford. Your losses on gambling are hurting your financial health.
- Spending more and more on gambling. You are spending more by making larger bets and making more significant deposits.
- Becoming secretive to your family, colleagues and friends about your gambling activity. Gambling addicts often become secretive or even lie about their gambling activities, losses, and time spent gambling.
- Chasing your losses. You constantly chase your losses, trying to win back what you have already deposited.
- Not feeling happy or impressed by big wins, only relieved. Gambling addicts do not feel or only feel slight joy when they get a big win in the casino. On the contrary, they may feel they had it coming or feel relieved as they can use the funds to pay off debts or, worse, continue playing.
- Borrowing money to fund gambling. Problem gamblers often resort to borrowing money to fuel their gambling activities.
- Becoming restless when there is no access to casino games. If you feel restless when you have no access to casino games, you may be a problem gambler.
- Showing failed control. You have tried to stop gambling many times but have failed. You spend money on gambling before necessities such as rent, food, bills and clothing.
How to Avoid Compulsive Gambling and Play It Safe
CasinoWizard does not encourage you to gamble. In case you still want to play casino games, check out our following recommendations:
- Gambling is a losing proposition by definition and should only be seen as a form of entertainment. In the long run, the casino’s house edge ensures you will never win.
- Make a budget and stick to it. Before you start playing, define your gambling budget and be disciplined: stick to it, no matter what the outcome of your gaming session.
- Never borrow money to fund your gambling activities. Borrowing money to fund gambling may seem like a great way to get quick access to some cash, but it will ultimately lead to financial down and ruined relationships.
- Read our handy money management guide for slot players, with nine handy tips to help you take better control of spending in online casinos.
- Check the game’s rules and payout percentages. If you want to gamble, you want to give yourself the best chance at winning. Many casino games have poor payout percentages, causing you to lose money quickly.
- Set a realistic winning goal and stick to it if you reach it. Before you start playing, determine a realistic amount or a time goal (for example, “I want to double my money” or “I want to play for one hour”) and stick to it. When you have played for precisely one hour, cash out and leave. Have you doubled your money? Great. Cash out and leave.
- Never chase wins or losses. Casino games are never “due” to hit. Don’t expect to win a large jackpot just because you have played for a long time. And that roulette ball does not have memory, nor can it predict the future. There are no trends or patterns in gambling that can be foreseen. When you are losing, do not keep playing or increase your bets to chase your losses. You are only digging yourself into a deeper hole.
- Use responsible gaming tools. UK Online casinos are, by law, required to have responsible gaming tools, such as deposit limits, loss limits, time limits and self-exclusion tools.
- Stay away from newsletters, bonuses and promotions. These are all used to lure you into depositing more and keep you returning to the casino.
- Only play in online casinos with a UK license. Playing in regulated casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission ensures you are playing fair and tested games and that casinos have taken measures to prevent gambling addiction.
Get Support
If you feel you may have a gambling problem and you need help, you can contact these organisations:
GamCare (UK):
www.gamcare.org.uk
GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. They offer many helpful tools, including a powerful Empower Me tool.
GAMSTOP:
www.gamstop.co.uk
Free online self-exclusion. GAMSTOP helps you control your online gambling by allowing you to block casinos online on your devices.
Gamban:
www.gamban.com
Gamban provides an award-winning gambling blocking tool and offers a series of tools to help you quit online gambling. Gamban is FREE for ALL UK residents through TalkBanStop.
GambleAware.org:
www.gambleaware.org
Gamble Aware provides free advice, tools (such as a gambling spend calculator), and support to keep people safe from gambling harm. Take quick, free assessments to start your journey towards support.
Take control of your gambling today!
Access tools, tips, and support to enjoy your favourite games responsibly. Please remember that gambling is never a viable way to increase your income. In the end, the casino always wins.