Tag Archives: responsible gambling

How to play responsible gambling?

 

Whether it’s playing the lottery, playing poker, betting, or bingo, any activity that involves taking a risk for the thrill of the pay-off counts as gambling. It is possible to enjoy these activities without it becoming a problem; the key is moderation. When gambling begins to take over your life – using up a lot of your time or money, leading to a dependency – it is no longer being enjoyed in a healthy way.

To gamble responsibly, you must make an effort to maintain control over your expenditure, enjoying it as part of a balanced lifestyle, rather than letting it become the main activity you dedicate your time and money to. Of course, this is easier said than done, and many people struggle with gambling addictions, however there are some steps that you can take to keep your gambling under control:

1. Decide how much you will spend before you start playing
Set a limit on your spending, before you start gambling, based on how much you can afford to lose. When that money runs out, the activity is over.

2. Only gamble with your disposable income
Set money aside for gambling as you would for other entertainment activities. If you wanted to go to the cinema one week, you would set the money aside after paying your bills and anything else you are financially responsible for, do the same with gambling.

3. Do not try to win back what you’ve lost
Your limit is the limit. Trying to win it back defeats the point of setting it, and will almost always lead to a bigger loss.

4. Limit your time
You would not lose a whole day just to go and see a movie, you’d fit it into your schedule. Set a limit or alarm and when your time ends, cut your losses.

5. Do not view gambling as a way to make money
Very few people make money from gambling, and it absolutely cannot be relied upon. View it as something you pay for to have fun, not something you expect to gain from.

6. Do not take your bank card with you
This will stop you spending money spontaneously instead of sticking to your limit.

7. Do not gamble when you’re upset or depressed
Just as drinking alcohol for fun on a night out is very different to drinking to drown your sorrows, gambling for fun is very different to gambling to console yourself. It is indicative of an unhealthy relationship with gambling (using it as a vice), and will usually lead to poor decision-making.

8. Engage in other activities
Gambling should not be the only thing you enjoy, and if you get to that point you probably don’t really enjoy it anymore. Make sure you always have other pastimes to turn to.

9. Take regular breaks
It’s easy to get sucked into gambling and lose all sense of time. Take regular breaks to keep you thinking clearly.

10. Do not gamble under the influence of alcohol or drugs
These substances impair your judgement, making it much harder to maintain control.

Gambling: Enjoy Yourself Responsibly

Gambling: Enjoy Yourself Responsibly 

When Lady Luck smiles on you, it’s a great feeling. But if you are having a run of bad luck, the feeling isn’t so hot. And if you gamble beyond your means, it can cause problems. Gambling is a form of entertainment – just like going to the movies or having a meal out. It’s fun and the secret to keeping it fun is to gamble responsibly.Winning and losing
Winning is an adrenaline rush. It can put you on Cloud Nine. But it’s important to accept that sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose. So only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Never play with money needed for living expenses such as food or bills. A good tip is to decide on how much you want to wager and stick to that amount. If you are having a losing streak, accept that’s the nature of the beast and don’t play until your last pound is gone.Ups and down
If you stay in the driver’s seat and bet when you can afford it, you will enjoy yourself. But if gambling stops being fun that’s the time to stop. Take a break and do something else. If it gets to a point where you are left stressed and anxious, can’t sleep or are borrowing to finance your playing, that’s a wake up call. Seek some advice or if it is really bad, get help.Keeping a balance
Take care of yourself to make sure that the decisions you make are the right ones. Don’t gamble when you are tired, upset or depressed. This could impair your judgement. And if you lose money, don’t play for higher stakes to try and recoup your losses. Think of gambling as a hobby. If you played golf, liked to go hiking or skiing, you wouldn’t let those interests take over your life. It’s the same with gambling. If gambling is your only form of entertainment, have a break or take up other activities to bring some perspective and balance back into your life.

Played responsibly, gambling can be fun and exciting. However, for a small number of people, gambling can become a problem. Don’t be one of them. Play for entertainment. Don’t let gambling control your life. Stay behind the wheel and have a fun ride.

5 Signs You’re Addicted to Gambling

Gambling at the casino can be great fun. Most people see it as a form of entertainment and a means of socialising. Yet, for a small minority, gambling can become something negative. Here are five signs that often suggest gambling has become a problem.

You can’t stop

Are you spending more time gambling than you should? If you have a tendency to put gambling before important responsibilities such as work and family then this may indicate a problem.

You gamble with money you can’t afford to lose

Gambling with money you need to pay your bills and other important things is a sign of a gambling addiction.

You chase losses

Trying to recover gambling losses by gambling more is a bad idea. Set a limit for what you can afford to lose and stick to it. If you can’t manage this then it may be a sign of a problem.

You steal money to gamble

If you resort to stealing or other dubious methods of attaining money to gamble you need to seek help.

You feel terrible after gambling

Addicted gamblers often feel remorseful and angry after gambling. If this happens to you, you may need to assess your gambling habits.