Responsible Gambling

Guide to Responsible Gambling

The purpose of this guide is to provide useful advice to help people gamble responsibly. This helpful guide is not only for people who may have problems with gambling, it is for everyone that participates in gambling.

Tips to Keep your Gambling Under Control

Follow these tips to help keep you make sure that your gambling is kept under control. Remember that you are gambling to have fun, not as a means to win big. Stop gambling while you are ahead. Only gamble with funds that you can afford to lose. Do not spend more money on gambling hoping that you will win back money what you have already lost. Don't gamble to relieve sadness, stress, or boredom. Make sure to include plenty of time to participate in enjoyable activities outside of gambling.

How to tell if you might have a gambling problem

Here are some helpful signs to tell if your gambling is a problem.

Do you staying away from work or home in order to gamble?
Do you staying away from work or home in order to gamble?
Do you gamble as a way to escape from feeling bored or unhappy?
When you run out of money while gambling, do you feel desolation and despair?
Do you feel a need to gamble when you wake up first thing in the morning?
Have others told you that they are worried about the amount of time or money that you have spent gambling?
Do you gambling until you have lost all of your money? If so, this is a sign that you might have a problem with gambling.
Have you ever lied to others in order to hide the amount of time or money that you have spent gambling?
Have you ever borrowed, conned, or stolen from others to gamble?
Have you experienced a significant loss of interest in things that you used to enjoy, such as friends, family, or important hobbies?
After losing, do you feel a need to immediately win back your losses as soon as possible?
Have you ever felt depressed about your gambling?
All of the above are signs that your gambling might be out of control. If you answered yes to more than a few of these questions, then you might have a problem with gambling. Keep reading to learn about some things that you can do to help with your gambling.

Set Responsible Limits

Set a limit on the amount of money that you deposit into your account over a certain period of time. You can set the limit of money that you deposit into your account either daily weekly, or monthly depending upon your needs.

Pay Attention to Time

Keeping track of the amount of time that is spent gambling isimportant for anyone. Record the time you begin gambling and pay attention to the clock on your phone or computer to ensure that you are not spending large amounts of time gambling.

Another way to track the amount of time spent gambling is to set a timer on your phone or watch for a certain amount of time before you began gambling. After the time period is up, then stop gambling.

Take a Time Out

A time out can help you take a short break to determine whether to not you are gambling too much. Most online programs allow you to block your account for a period of 24 or 48 hours. Some even allow a block of 7-30 days. During this time, you will be prevented from gambling.

Times When People Should Not Gamble

There are times when gambling should never be done. Do not gamble under the legal gambling age. Never gamble when it prevents you from fulfilling your responsibilities to your family or work. Never gamble if you are in recovery for addictive disorders. Do not gamble when it is illegal. Avoid gambling to try to make up for previous gambling losses.

Under Age Gambling

It is illegal for anybody under the age of 18 to gamble in the United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada. Online gambling is only legal for people ages 18 and over. By law, you must be 18 or older to gamble online. It is important to keep shared computers from being used by children when gambling online. Gaming operators suggest that parents use software that limits children's access to age-inappropriate sites. Net Nanny offers parental control software and internet security services and offers families tips to help them have a safe internet experience. You should also be very careful not to leave a computer logged into a gambling or betting site.

Family and Friends

If you are a family member or friend of someone who you suspect might have a gambling problem, you may need some support yourself. If you need support to help you learn how to best provide support to your loved one or friend, you can contact GAM-ANON for additional help.

Are you gambling more than usual or more than you want? If you have tried the above steps and need more help to stop gambling, or have additional concerns, contact Gamblers Anonymous for help.