Gaming online is designed as an entertainment product, but often, people get carried away. This way it’s Casino Bee’s mission to inform you of the upsides as well as potential risks of playing beyond one’s limit.
Some people find it difficult to stop once they start and this continuity of the experience while entertaining up to a point, can have a negative social, financial and personal impact. Players who spend too much time do so without realising and before they know it, they begin showing symptoms of problem gaming behaviour.
This could happen to anyone, but the good news is that if you follow through with the established responsible gambling practices, you can address any potential issue and deal with it in a quick, reliable and painless way. The first step to dealing with a problem is to acknowledge that you have a problem.
Do I Have a Gambling Problem?
Establishing if you have excessive gambling behaviour is not at all that difficult. All you need to do is to answer a simple questionnaire which, when answered honestly, will give you a reliable answer that you can use to address any potential issue you might have with gaming.
- Do you gamble at the expense of social, personal or professional commitments?
- Do you feel a need to continue betting after every loss?
- Do you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts about gambling?
- Do you crave gambling at odd hours?
- Have you ignored another aspect of your life to gamble?
- Have you caught yourself inclined to steal or lie to continue gambling?
- Do you gamble above your means and what you realistically afford on any other hobby?
- Have you ever borrowed money or sold possessions to charge your gambling account and continue playing?
- Have you ever lied to others about your gambling hobby?
- Have you ever had an urge to win back your losses and continued to try over prolonged periods of time?
All of the above are pointers which can help you identify a problem and catch it early on. Some people feel that the questionnaire may feel or is specifically designed to instil shame in the person who takes it. However, it’s purely a helpful material to help you address an issue early on. There should be no feeling of shame, anxiety or stigma attached to it, and there isn’t.
How Can I Avoid Falling Victim to Problem Gambling?
Avoiding a problem means developing healthy habits, just like brushing your teeth would reduce the risk of cavities. Teaching yourself these habits, and in fact, starting your gaming sessions with a few simple rules in mind will allow you to play at a moderate and well-measured pace with no risk or harm to your well-being. Here are what is generally considered ways to address gaming in a healthy and sustainable way.
- Set deposit limit
A deposit limit can help you control how much you spend. Just make sure you place a limit on your monthly depositing sum. This way, you can always be in charge of how much you spend.
- Play on a budget
Just like a deposit limit, a budget can help you think about how you spend your money. Having a fixed budget means that you will want to squeeze out more entertainment value from your sessions.
- Self-exclude
If you have an addictive personality, you can self-exclude to guarantee yourself that you won’t have to deal with a potentially harmful hobby.
- Take a break
Have had a bit too much game time? There is no reason why you shouldn’t take a break. Whether it’s a few hours, a day or a week, you are in control of how much time you spend playing.
- Don’t AFK play
Some people make use of the autoplay feature too much and often end up going AFK(away from keyboard). The best way to enjoy the game is to stick around and get the most out of your time spent. This way, you won’t crave for more gaming action and potentially go over your set limits.
- Don’t overspend
Once again, knowing how much you can spend on gaming is important. Just ask yourself, how much would you spend on going out, new clothes, board games or video games. Does the amount you spend on gambling exceed that? If so, you might want to scale back a little.
What Should I Do If I Have a Gambling Addiction Problem?
When you realise you have a problem, there is no need to panic. There are proven and tested methods that will help you find help and assistance. Many problem gamblers think that their condition will attract backlash and stigma, but the truth is, sustainable gambling practices are endorsed and promoted and help to those who need it is extended. How can you address the problem?
- Find a help-line
There are many phone help-lines available. They will provide you with understanding, support, and more importantly, the opportunity to consult yourself anonymously. Many people value this over anything else, and they need to keep their details confidential before they decide how to best come out about their problems.
- Sign yourself up for a support group
Support groups do help as you can find emotional support as well as proof that you are not alone. Working towards achieving milestones such as “staying clean” is efficient and proven methods. However, most people do remain prone to addiction, which, so long as a person controls and is aware of, shouldn’t be a problem.
- Set a goal to become a sponsor
Many people find it easier to deal with addiction if they are helping others. The added responsibility of taking care of others has a proven evolutionary basis of success – such as motherhood and fatherhood. Sponsors are statistically less likely to gamble as they find it far more rewarding to be helping others.
- Don’t hesitate to get in touch
Whether it’s BeGambleAware or GamCare, you shouldn’t hesitate to make the first step. Get in touch and seek assistance today if you believe you are experiencing gambling-related harm.
Tony Hawke 