Responsible Gambling

We created this guide in order to help visitors learn more about responsible gambling and to avoid gambling addiction. If you think that you, or someone that you know, might have a gambling problem, this is the right page for you. Keep on reading to find out more information on responsible gambling and how and where you can seek help if you’re experiencing a gambling problem.

What is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible gambling is a concept that gambling providers are now following to ensure that their users are protected from the consequences of gambling. Although gambling is considered to be a popular pastime, it can also be addictive. Responsible gambling covers areas such as the protection of vulnerable players, delivering a fair platform to all gamblers and prevents underage gambling at all costs.

Some gamblers fall under this gambling problem because they are trying to chase a loss. Others might see gambling as a form of escape and not simply as a means of entertainment. There are some players who are addicted to the adrenaline rush and the excitement that one feels when playing for real money . Gambling becomes a serious problem when:

1️⃣ A person undermines his family and friends so that he can gamble.

2️⃣ Financial and legal problems start to emerge due to gambling.

3️⃣ The mental, physical and emotional well-being is being compromised.

How to Recognise a Gambling Problem

If you suspect that you or someone that you know are suffering from a gambling problem, it’s best that you know how to recognise the problem. Recognising the problem is the first step towards recovery and recognising the problem fast might help reduce some of the emerging consequences. Here are a few signs that will help you recognise a gambling problem:

• ❌ Lying about gambling or the money spent on playing games.
• ❌ Chasing big or small losses.
• ❌ Borrowing money for the sake of gambling.
• ❌ Constantly thinking about gambling.
• ❌ Gambling out of need rather than looking at gambling as a source of entertainment.
• ❌ Gambling to forget about day-to-day problems.
• ❌ Looking at gambling as being more important than anything else, including family and friends.

The Consequences of Having a Gambling Problem

When you or someone that you know is going through a gambling problem, financial worries are not your only consequences. Although spending more money than you can afford is considerable trouble, other things are at stake. If things get out of hand, bankruptcy and the loss of one’s home are a possible outcome.

However, there are other consequences that affect family and personal relationships. Family members are more than likely to suffer when there is a gambling problem. Your gambling problems become your family and friends’ problems as well and this might trigger a number of arguments and losses within the family circle. Many players who are struggling with gambling also struggle in the workplace due to lack of performance, stress and preoccupation due to solely focusing on betting. This might eventually lead to unemployment which worsens the gambling addiction since some players might then resort to borrowing money.

How to Practice Responsible Gambling

You can control your gambling addiction. You don’t have to cut gambling out of your life completely. You simply have to learn how to play your favourite games responsibly and with good measure. However, if you feel that this is too hard for you to manage, consider quitting gambling altogether and get professional help from the companies and agencies listed in the nest section of this guide.

Here are a few tips on how to control your gambling and get back to gambling responsibly:

• ✅ Set goals and commitments and try and stick to these at all times.
• ✅ Take action to change your behaviour, thoughts and actions.
• ✅ Start to repair broken relationships of friends and family.
• ✅ It won’t be simple. There are going to be hurdles. Remain positive and keep moving forward.
• ✅ Don’t be ashamed or afraid to ask for professional guidance and assistance.

Getting Professional Help

If you feel like you cannot overcome your gambling problem alone, you don’t have to. Always remember that you are not alone in this and that there is nothing wrong with seeking professional help. Each country has its own organisations, some might be governmental while others are NGO’s that help people avoid gambling addiction. Let’s go through each organisation in each respective market and see how these organisations are helping players from becoming gambling addicts.

🌏 International Gambling Responsibly

GambleAware is the leading charity in the UK committed to reducing gambling-related harms. GambleAware is an independent national charity funded by donations from the gambling industry itself. This organisation funds education, prevention and treatment services and commissions research to broaden public understanding of gambling-related harm. Recently GambleAware launched their new campaign ‘Bet Regret’, which stresses the regrets that players can feel if they gamble without thinking. Ex-England international goalkeeper, David James, has partnered with BeGambleAware to be an ambassador for Safer Gambling and to help raise awareness of ‘Bet Regret’. Below is the video that they created to promote this campaign.

There are also other companies in the UK that can help including the National Problem Gambling Clinic, GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous.

The Canadian market also benefits from a wealthy choice of organisations that help advocate responsible gambling. One of the most popular ones is the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) organisation. CAMH sets the standards for care, research, education and leading social change. You can read more about this organisation and how it can help you gamble responsibly here .

Another very important tool for players in Canada casinos (and worldwide) is this website – www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/online-tools . ProblemGambling.ca provides free tools for online players that help them identify if they are addicts to gambling, how to help reduce gambling frequency and self-help for family members of gambling addicts. This site is available in various languages and also shows videos which help users find reasonable solutions to their gambling problems.

There are also various centres and hotlines across Canadian states that can help people who are going through a gambling problem. Help is abundant in Canada. Do not hesitate to look for it.

🇪🇺 Gambling Responsibly in Europe

As one would assume, there are many organisations in Europe that advocate responsible gambling. Perhaps one of the most popular ones is www.responsiblegambling.org . Across European countries, there are also various centres and hotlines that one can call to seek help if they or someone they know are going through gambling addiction.

If you would like further information or guidance on problem gambling, do not hesitate to contact the above organisations.

Our Approach towards Responsible Gambling

About the author

Lyndsey Grima Contributor [email protected]

With over six years of experience in content writing, Lyndsey is knowledgeable in various aspects in the gambling world, particularly in online casino reviews. Lyndsey studied English at the University of Malta and holds a Masters Degree in English and the Media.