Responsible Gambling
Most people gamble responsibly online without issues. However, sadly, a small minority of gamblers develop a gambling problem. While we cannot act as therapists for those with a gambling addiction, we can offer advice to help others avoid it altogether.
Many online gambling sites in the United Kingdom have various tools available to tackle problem gambling. Here are some of the options you should be able to utilise, and we recommend using these tools even if you do not consider yourself the type to develop an addiction.
- Use the tools on the website to limit the times you can gamble.
- In all cases, there will be a way to limit the amount of money you can deposit into your account each month. Yes, it is going to be easy for you to remove these limits if you really wanted, but most people do not. You may wish to read one of our guides to maintaining a bankroll to find out more about depositing money into your account.
- You should regularly check the amounts of money you are depositing and withdrawing. This will enable you to determine whether you are spending too much.
If you feel as if you have a problem, then you can self-exclude from gambling websites. This is one of the most significant benefits of the UK Gambling Commission. If you self-exclude through one website, you will be excluded from all the other websites operating within the United Kingdom too. This is a ‘last resort’ thing, but many people have found it highly beneficial.
How do you know you are developing a gambling addiction?
Sadly, many people do not realise that they have developed a gambling addiction until it is far too late. You must learn how to spot the warning signs early. This way, you can put the controls in place before the problem gets out of hand. The ‘symptoms’ of gambling addiction are much the same as those of many other addictions out there. This may include:
- Avoiding activities to continue to gamble.
- Constantly increasing stakes in order to get that gambling ‘hit’
- Mood swings
- Told people that you are winning when you are gambling, even though you are losing tons of money.
- Theft to finance gambling.
- Constantly trying to win back losses. This means depositing increasingly more cash.
- Borrowing money to gamble.
- Selling owned items to gamble.
Basically, if you feel like you are constantly gambling and losing more money than you can reasonably afford to be losing, then there is a chance that you are suffering from a gambling addiction, which needs to be dealt with.
What are your first steps if you know you have a gambling addiction?
First, always contact the online casino to opt into the self-exclusion programme. You should not use the other controls that the site has in place if you are suffering from a gambling addiction; they won't help you now.
You should also feel free to ask for help. Talk to your friends and family about your addiction. If you trust them, then ask someone to take control of your finances for a short period to ensure you are not risking a large sum of money on gambling.
Some people may want to reward themselves for not gambling by treating themselves to something nice at the shop. Remember, you are saving money by not gambling, which means you can actually afford something nice.
Help is at Hand
If you have a gambling addiction, then it is going to be a long and arduous process. Just like any other addiction, there is a chance that you could relapse no matter how hard you are trying. This is fine. We promise you, if you seek help and keep at it, you will be able to overcome your addiction and get your life back on track again.
Remember, you are never going to be cured of your addiction. Never once think that you can go back and gamble at a site again if you feel ‘cured’. For further reading, please visit Be Gamble Aware. You will find plenty of advice on gambling (offline and online) and get access to free, confidential help by phone or online. You can learn about how gambling works, check if you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, and find tips on how to stay in control.