Responsible Gambling

Gambling should be something that brings you excitement and fun in your spare time. You can try your luck and win prizes with a full understanding of the risks and rewards involved. However, excessive gambling can lead to problems. Those who gamble too much and let it affect other areas of their lives often suffer from compulsive gambling disorders. If you think you may have been gambling too much lately and would like to learn more about the risks of problem gambling, read the complete guide to problem gambling disorders.

The problem of Gambling Disorders

There are many causes of gambling addiction. They are also diverse. However, what we do know is that each person is affected differently and that many factors can influence how a person is affected by gambling. There may be cases where compulsive gambling behavior is caused by greed and loss seeking, but most cases are caused by :

Financial difficulties

People with financial difficulties are most at risk of developing compulsive gambling behavior. When you are going through difficult financial times, the desire to make a lot of money quickly can be detrimental. As we unfortunately know, winning never happens regularly and cannot solve financial problems, except in extremely lucky cases. A player who is not doing well financially may keep coming back to try to win more and more without ever reaching the amount he or she needs. This creates a vicious cycle that can trap you in an endless struggle.

Escape from reality

Those who have a lot going on in their lives (stress at work, business, relationships or school) often turn to entertainment as an escape. Everyone likes to relax and de-stress after a long day. However, please keep in mind that this should only have positive effects. Negative effects on your life would be the indicator that you may have a problem. Compulsive gamblers prioritize gambling and other forms of escape from reality over more important issues in their lives. Most of the time, eating, working and sleeping take a back seat to the reality of A compulsive gambler often loses track of time while gambling and may spend hours playing the same game over and over again. This form of escape from reality is definitely unhealthy and can cause serious problems in your life if left unchecked.

Thrill-seeking

Casino games and gambling are a great way to get a regular thrill. Nothing is more exciting than betting a large sum of money and crossing your fingers and hoping that luck is on your side. Many people enjoy the adrenaline rush, but like any other cause, when it starts to have a negative effect on your life, it becomes a problem.

Like any other adrenaline-seeking behavior, gambling has its risks and it is important to limit it so that you don’t take too many chances. It can be tempting to gamble large sums of money every night for an adrenaline rush, but after a while, you’ll be chasing your losses.

Symptoms of problem gambling

Millions of people enjoy gambling, but for some of us, it can lead to problems and addiction if we’re not careful. If you think you or someone you know might have a gambling disorder or problem gambling behavior, check for these symptoms:

  • New or unpaid credit cards – Credit cards are a great way to manage your finances and have many benefits if used properly. They can also be incredibly damaging to your finances if left unchecked. You should always make sure that you are able to pay your balance each month to avoid incurring additional fees and interest. Never accept credit cards with limits that are higher than you can pay off in a month.
  • Don’t share your gambling activities for fear of being judged – If you have trouble explaining your love for gambling to friends or family, you may have a gambling problem. Gambling is supposed to be  fun and enjoyed by millions of people especially when they are surrounded by their loved ones, but if you gamble too much, you may feel uncomfortable telling anyone.
  • You argue with your family about money – Financial problems are something that affects almost all of us at some point in our lives. It’s normal to have a problem, but gambling is not the answer to trying to solve it. If you regularly argue with your family about gambling and finances, it may be time to seek help.
  • Difficulty  – If you are addicted to a  gambling, you may find yourself thinking regularly about your next gambling session. This can even be  incredibly distracting for your everyday life. If this affects  your ability to work or study, you may have a gambling problem.
  • You can’t imagine going a day without gambling – For many people, gambling every day is pretty normal. However, if you can’t imagine not gambling at least once a day, you may have a problem. You need to be able to stop playing and take breaks when you need to.
  • Consider breaking the law to get money to gamble – . This kind of action will only add to the problems in your life.
  • Hobbies – Hobbies are a great source of pleasure in our lives. It is important to have healthy hobbies, especially those that promote socialization and exercise. If you find that your gambling habits are causing you to spend less time on your hobby, you may need help for a compulsive gambling disorder.
  • The belief that your next game will be better – so that’s a dangerous thought! It’s almost a mirage. It can be tempting to always look forward to your next gaming session and think about all the ways this could alleviate your money problems. This kind of behavior can lead to excessive gambling and compulsive disorder.

What to do to protect yourself from problems with gambling addiction?

It is quite obvious that not everyone is at risk of developing a gambling addiction, but it is impossible to know for sure until this happens. You can, however, take steps to avoid developing a gaming stress disorder. If you think that you are at risk of developing problematic behaviors with the game, it is better to stay away and not take the risk. Those who suffer from financial problems or who have problems escaping their reality and thrill-seeking behaviors are most at risk.
Here are some steps that you can take to make sure that you are protected from the development of a gambling addiction:

  1. Set a gaming limit on your account. – It’s like with sweets, you have to set a limit to avoid diabetes, Indeed, online casinos will allow you to set some kind of limit on your account. This means that the amounts that you can deposit and bet each month will be strictly limited to the amount that you have set. This is a great way to control the impact of your bets on your budget. Everyone who likes the game should set an account limit because it’s just common sense.
  2. Enable the reality check option. – Many online casinos will offer you the option to set a reality check that appears after a while. This feature allows you to set how long you want to play. It will appear once the time you have set has expired, letting you know how long you have been playing for and giving you the option to stop. Reality checks are a great feature if you’re losing track of time while playing.
  3. Self-exclusion. – People who have developed signs of problem gambling and need to take a break can set up self-exclusion. This allows you to prevent yourself from accessing your account at a casino for a while. Most casinos will have options to block your account between a week and a year.
  4. Visit responsible gambling sites. – If you need more resources to solve your gambling problem or just want to learn more about the disease and how to prevent it, there are many resources available online.

Several charities and agencies offer help to people in such situations. Here are some of them :

Richmond Addiction 

This agency employs experienced and licensed counsellors to provide both individual and group treatment. They try to provide assistance not only for gambling addiction, but for other types of addiction as well, within their community.

It receiveed public funding from Vancouver Coast Health and Richmond City Council. 

Here is their contact information:

Allen Carr

Allen Carr is the founder of the “easy-way” method, which was originally developed as a programme to help people stop smoking. Due to its success, it has been applied to other addictions, such as gambling. 

Canada Safety

This one is an independent, knowledge-based charity that provides information, education and assistance to people facing both physical and mental challenges, including problem gambling. 

Connex Ontario

Connex Ontario helps Ontario residents who are affected by mental health problems and provides help around the clock. They provide counselling for problems, one of the most difficult of which is gambling addiction. 

If you feel that this facility can make a positive impact on you, call 1-866-531-2600 to initiate a conversation or visit their website to send an email using their contact form. The organization also has a free mobile phone application, ConnexGo, available through the App Store or Google Play. You can also use the live chat function.

HealthLinkBC is an institution in the British Columbia region that offers a program specifically designed for those who are feeling addicted to gambling. Assistance is provided in several languages, 24/7, and all conversations are confidential.

Phone numbers:

  • Gambling addiction helpline: 1-888-795-6111
  • Mental health support: 310-6789
  • Free child helpline: 1-800-668-6868