How to Gamble Responsibly
To ensure responsible gambling, consider the following essential tips:
- View Gambling as Entertainment: Treat gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money.
- Stay Within Your Budget: Never gamble beyond your financial means or use money designated for essential expenses.
- Set Spending Limits: Establish a predetermined budget for each gaming session to avoid overspending.
- Don’t Chase Losses: Resist the urge to chase after losses. Accept that losses are part of gambling, and don’t try to recoup them.
- Take Breaks: Schedule regular breaks between gaming sessions to maintain a healthy balance.
- Avoid Alcohol: Refrain from gambling while under the influence of alcohol, as it can impair judgment.
- Emotional State Matters: Avoid gambling when feeling sad, angry, or upset, as emotions can cloud decision-making.
- Stay Informed: Gamble with knowledge and understanding of the games you’re playing.
- Prioritize Responsibilities: Ensure that gambling doesn’t interfere with daily responsibilities, such as work, family, or other obligations.
- Diversify Interests: Don’t let gambling become your sole interest or hobby. Engage in a variety of activities.
- Track Time and Money: Keep records of both the time and money spent on gambling to maintain awareness.
- Recognize Addiction: If you suspect a gambling addiction, take proactive steps, such as self-exclusion or seeking professional help.
- Time Management: Set a time limit for your gambling sessions and stick to it, even setting an alarm if necessary.
- No Financial Crutch: Avoid relying on gambling as an alternative income source or a way to repay debts.
- Seek Help: If you’re struggling with gambling issues, consider reaching out to organizations like BeGambleAware, Gamblers Anonymous, GamCare, or Gam-Anon for guidance and support.
Prioritizing responsible gambling helps maintain a healthy relationship with gaming while minimizing the risk of developing gambling-related problems.
What are the Signs of Problem Gambling?
Recognizing problem gambling can be crucial for seeking help and making positive changes. Here are some questions to consider when evaluating your gambling behavior:
- Skipping Responsibilities: Do you skip work or educational commitments to gamble?
- Escapism: Is gambling a way to escape from life’s problems, such as boredom or unhappiness?
- Chasing Losses: When you run out of money during gambling, do you feel desperate to find more money to continue playing and try to recover your losses?
- Urgency to Win Back Losses: After losing, do you feel a strong urge to quickly recoup your losses through more gambling?
- Deceptive Actions: Have you resorted to lying, stealing, or borrowing money to fund your gambling activities or cover gambling-related debts?
- Lying About Gambling: Have you ever lied to conceal the extent of your gambling activities or the amount of time and money spent on gambling?
- Loss of Essentials: Are you willing to gamble away even essential funds, like money needed for transportation or food?
- Accumulating Debt: Is your gambling behavior leading you into financial debt?
- Criticism from Others: Have friends or family members criticized your gambling habits?
- Prioritizing Gambling Money: Are you reluctant to spend money designated for gambling on anything else?
- Neglecting Interests: Have you lost interest in hobbies, activities, or relationships outside of gambling?
- Prioritizing Gambling Over Loved Ones: Do you place gambling above spending time with loved ones or fulfilling family responsibilities?
- Emotional Impact: Does frustration, disappointment, or arguments trigger a desire to gamble more?
- Depression or Suicidal Thoughts: Have you experienced depression or thoughts of self-harm because of your gambling?
If you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these questions, it’s essential to seek assistance and support from organizations like BeGambleAware, Gamblers Anonymous, GamCare, or Gam-Anon. These resources can provide guidance and help you address problem gambling.
Main Gambling Organizations
| Gambling Addiction Organizations | Website | Country |
|---|---|---|
| BeGambleAware | https://www.begambleaware.org/ | UK |
| GamCare | https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ | UK |
| Gamblers Anonymous | https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/ | UK |
| Gambling Therapy | https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/ | UK |
| Gam-Anon | http://gamanon.org.uk/ | UK |
| Gordon House Association | https://gordonmoody.org.uk/ | UK |
| CNWL National Problem Gambling | https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/addictions-and-substance-misuse-services/national-problem-gambling-clinic | UK |
| Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) | https://www.responsiblegambling.org/ | Canada |
| British Columbia Partnership for Responsible Gambling | https://www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca/ | Canada |
| Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline | https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/ | Canada |
| Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu | Canada |
| Problem Gambling Foundation | https://www.problemgambling.ca/gambling-help/HomePage.aspx | Canada |
| Canada Safety Council | https://canadasafetycouncil.org/about/ | Canada |
| The Ministry of Health | https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/mental-health-and-addiction/addiction/gambling | New Zealand |
| Gambling Helpline New Zealand | https://gamblinghelpline.co.nz/ | New Zealand |
| ChoiceNotChance | https://www.choicenotchance.org.nz/ | New Zealand |
| Problem Gambling Foundation | https://www.pgf.nz/ | New Zealand |
| The National Problem Gambling Helpline Network | https://www.ncpgambling.org/ | US |
| 1 800 Gambler | https://www.1800gambler.net/ | US |
| Australia Gambling Help | https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/ | Australia |
| GamblersHelp | https://gamblershelp.com.au/ | Australia |
| South African Responsible Gambling Foundation | https://responsiblegambling.org.za/ | South Africa |
| Gamblers Anonymous Ireland | https://www.gamblersanonymous.ie/ | Ireland |
| Danish Gambling Authority | https://www.spillemyndigheden.dk/ | Denmark |
| Adictel Prevention Addiction | https://www.adictel.com/en/ | France |
| Gluecksspielsucht | https://www.gluecksspielsucht.de/ | Germany |
| Careplay | https://www.careplay.ch/ | Switzerland |
| Responsible Gambling Foundation | https://www.rgf.org.mt/ | Malta |
| AGOG | https://www.agog.nl/ | Netherlands |
| Hjelpelinjen | https://hjelpelinjen.no/ | Norway |
| Stödlinjen | https://stodlinjen.se/ | Sweden |
| Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counseling Centre | https://www.gamblercaritas.org.hk/ | Hong Kong |
Ogranizations that test and certificate fairness
| Name | Website |
|---|---|
| eCOGRA | www.ecogra.org |
| iTech Labs | www.itechlabs.com |
| TST | www.tstglobal.com |
| GLI | www.gaminglabs.com |
| Gaming Associates | www.gamingassociates.com |
| NMi | nmi.nl |
| BMM Testlabs | bmm.com |
| SQS | www.sqs.com |