Responsible Gambling: How to seek help?

Casinos are entertainment centers where people can enjoy all sorts of exciting games with the chances of winning big jackpots. They are often built near hotels, shopping districts, or other tourist attractions. Some casinos also put up great live entertainment shows. Canadian singer Celine Dion embraced the casino scene fully when she performed 600 shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas between 2003 and 2007.

The biggest growing casinos these days aren’t the traditional land-based ones, though. There is a never-ending increase of online internet casinos on all sorts of platforms, letting players gamble online on mobile phones, notepads, or other devices. 

The first Internet casino is said to have been opened in Liechtenstein in 1994. The business has almost exploded ever since, and the market is now worth well over €40 billion globally each year. Most online casinos offer advanced video slots, taking the one-armed bandit many steps further than in the old times. Players can usually also find a live casino section, where real-time hosts take them through games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat – just like in a physical casino.

Responsible Gambling 

For most people, online gambling is a great leisure activity to pass some time. However, some people might not be able to stop once they have started, risking developing a gambling problem. It’s, therefore, important that you’re aware of your actions to gamble responsibly. The concept of responsible gambling is to follow some rules to prevent ever ending up with an addiction.

What does it mean to gamble responsibly?

The most important step of responsible gambling is to only play for money you can afford to lose. You might feel a huge win is around the corner, and it might very well be. There’s no way to know what day is going to be your lucky one, though, and remember that the casino statistically wins in the long run. Responsible gambling means never putting yourself in debt, taking breaks, not using gambling as a source of income, and setting time and money limits. And, of course, follow the online casinos’ rules and regulations.  

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Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can occur if you don’t follow the preventive guidelines of responsible gambling. It’s never guaranteed that a person playing in online casinos will stay out of problems by following the rules. Still, the chances that the casino visit will stay enjoyable are far higher for responsible gamblers. 

What is problem gambling?

Problem gambling is also called gambling addiction, or the more clinical ludomania. A person addicted to gambling has problems controlling the amount of money they are playing for, which can lead to severe negative effects on social and family relationships. Psychiatrists thought for a long time that problem gambling was a disorder of impulse control, but they agree these days that it’s an addiction. Gambling addicts can be diagnosed with mental illness and are at higher risk of ending up in alcohol or drug addictions than other people.

What are the signs that someone may have a gambling problem?

There are many different signs of gambling problems. Some are vaguer than others, but they should all be taken seriously. Also, the more signs someone shows, the bigger the risk of an underlying problem. Here are some behaviour types to look out for.

• The Excitement Seekers – Risk-willing gamblers who constantly need to increase the stake to keep the excitement.
• The Restless and Irritable – Becoming restless or irritable when cutting down on or stopping gambling is a warning sign of an addiction.
• The Obsessed – Players constantly thinking about gambling and how to finance it are also in danger.
• The Reality Escapers – People use gambling to get rid of guilt, anxiety, or depression.
• The Liar – Someone lying to cover up lost money shows clear signs of gambling problems.
• The Needy – Players who need other people to help resolve financial problems caused by gambling.

What are the risks of problem gambling?

There are several risks with gambling going from fun entertainment to an addiction. At first, it can result in social problems when an addict neglects friends and family for an Internet casino. The risks increase the longer an addicted person keeps playing without seeking help or changing his gambling routines. Because of ludomania, some people have lost all they have in the form of jobs, relationships, or career opportunities.  

What is the difference between Responsible gambling and problem gambling? 

Responsible gambling means visiting your favourite online casino for fun and entertainment – and follow some important rules. The whole idea is to prevent players from developing an addiction in the first place. 

Problem gambling, on the other hand, is when a player hasn’t followed the responsible gambling program and therefore experiences problems. The player may not be aware of his condition, at least not at the start. 

It is also important to mention that some people can become problem gamblers even if they play responsibly. Gambling addiction is very complicated, and some people have higher risks of addiction because of genetic, biological, psychological, or other factors.

Gambling addiction? Seek help! 

There’s a wide range of programs helping gambling-addicted people. A common treatment is a 12-step program, similar to what Alcoholics Anonymous uses. Gamblers Anonymous is present in many parts of the world, and you should be able to contact your local branch by searching the internet.

Most countries also have both state-run and non-governmental help organisations. Gamcare and BeGambleAware are two examples of British organisations, and you can also find the German Check Dein Spiel, the American National Council of Problem Gaming, and the Swedish Spelberoendes Riksförbund, among many others. You can contact them anonymously by phone, chat, or e-mail.

Self exclusion!

If you lose control over your gambling and start developing an addiction, you can choose to exclude yourself from your internet casino. All serious operators should have a self-exclusion button or link on the website. They should also have responsible gambling settings that can help you to follow the preventive rules. In the settings, players can limit how much time and money they can spend during a day, week, or month. It’s a great tool to help yourself gamble responsibly. 

Conclusion: Seek help if you or someone you know is having gambling problems! 

Responsible gambling is a great tool to keep out of gambling problems. Following the guidelines will severely decrease the risks of turning your fun and entertaining casino sessions into a problematic condition which, in the worst case, can affect your most loved ones heavily.

It might seem like it’s easy to follow, but new people end up with gambling problems every day. It’s, therefore, smart to use responsible gambling as the prevention tool it’s set up to be. Even if you feel like you have everything under control, it could be a smart move to set spending and time limits on your online casino profile. You might discover that you’re spinning your favourite video slots or betting on that roulette table far more – or less – than you thought.

Being able to monitor your time and money is a handy thing with online casinos, which is trickier when visiting a physical branch. The downside is that no one is watching you when you’re playing on your computer, mobile phone, or whatever you use. Many casinos use AI and other methods to discover problem gambling, but they are far from perfect.

Another considerate move is to look for signs of gambling problems among your friends. Do you know someone you can barely talk to anymore because he constantly thinks of something else? Or have you lent a family member money without being told a proper reason why they needs it? You don’t have to be nosy, just pay attention to their habits and moods. You can also discuss your gambling habits with your friends and share experiences.

If you realize that you’re having a problem, don’t be afraid to seek help. We are all different, and there are many ways to be helped these days. Some might lean on a friend or family member to help them, while others instead contact helping-organisations where they can be anonymous. Pretty much all organisations have fully anonymous ways of communication. However, we strongly advise anyone having a gambling addiction to at least tell their closest ones.

If you want more casino-related information, you’ll find plenty here. Aboutslots writes unbiased reviews of online casinos and casino games like video slots. We give you our honest opinion of a platform or game which will help you make the best decisions in gambling. We also publish news covering the iGaming industry and write informative blog articles like the one you have just read.

FAQs

1. What is meant by responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling is a preventional method used to not end up in gambling addiction. 

2. What is a responsible gambling policy?

All online casinos should have a responsible gambling policy, advising the player of the important rules of responsible gambling. Serious casinos let players set time and money limits on their personal accounts. 

3. How to stop gambling?

The most direct way to stop yourself from gambling is to use the online casinos self-exclusion service. 

4. How to seek help for gambling problems online?

Fortunately, there are tons of organisations helping gambling addicts online. Just search for them in the jurisdiction you reside. Pretty much all are reachable by phone, e-mail, and chat. 

5. How can I gamble responsibly? 

You can gamble responsibly by following the rules of only playing with money you can afford to lose, taking breaks, and setting time and money limits before entering the casino.

6. What is meant by responsible gambling?

Responsible gambling is a set of rules to prevent people from developing gambling addictions. 

7. Are there tools for responsible gambling?

Yes, serious casinos offer their players tools like time and money limits. You can also exclude yourself for a certain time or forever. 

8. Is there a council for responsible gambling?

Yes, there are several responsible gambling councils in the world.

9. How can I be a responsible gambler?

By following the golden rules of not wagering money you can’t afford to lose, making sure to take breaks, and setting spending limits.

10. What are the signs of gambling problems?

Some of the signs of gambling problems are players who use gambling to get rid of guilt, anxiety, and depression. Other signs to look out for are excitement seekers who constantly raise the stake, people who become restless and irritable when they don’t gamble, and players who can’t stop playing despite several attempts.

11. How can we say that someone has gambling issues?

All people are different, and it’s hard to tell exactly when a gambling addiction starts. The more signs of a habit a person has, the bigger the risk of problem gambling. 

12. What can I do if I spend too much money on gambling?

Before you get an overview of your gambling, the best thing to do is self-exclusion from your internet casino. Don’t be afraid to seek help, either. It’s often problematic for people to accept a gambling problem, while it can be obvious for someone on the outside.

13. What can I do if I spend too much time gambling?

Follow the responsible gamble rule of setting a daily and weekly time limit. Your online casino should have a responsible gambling policy with personal settings like time and money limits. 

14. I am unable to stop gambling, what should I do? 

Please, seek help. As with all addictions, the sooner, the better. 

15. How can I protect my children from gambling sites?

No one under the age of 18 is allowed to gamble. Serious casinos should make sure that no underage people can play on their sites. Apart from talking to your children, you could also install programs that block casinos.

16. What is self-exclusion?

You should use self-exclusion if you feel like you can’t control your gambling. You can exclude yourself from a site for a specific time or forever.

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