For some people, gambling is a fun recreational activity. Yet for others, gambling is no longer just harmless fun, but a severe problem. The problem is that, for a long time, television has been marketing gambling heavily, and making it difficult for gamblers to resist the temptation.
Anyone can have a gambling problem; it doesn’t matter if you wager on sports, roulettes, slots, or horse racing. It is a gradual addiction which can lead to a lot of negative physical, financial, and mental consequences. It can cause you to do things you’d have never thought of doing before, like accumulating debts and embezzling money.
Referred to as an impulse-control disorder, problem gambling gives you an urge to gamble regularly and leads you to ignore the negative impacts it may have on you and everyone you love. If you fail to control it, you might wager on impossible odds, you might bet on slots even when you’re broke, and in the end, you might hit rock bottom.
Signs of gambling addiction
- A constant urge to fulfil your gambling rush by spending more and more cash.
- Anxiety and restlessness when you’ve not gambled for some time. And in other cases, irritability when you make attempts at reducing the amount of money you spend.
- You’ve tried to quit gambling, but you’ve been unsuccessful in all your attempts.
- You are always thinking about gambling, including when you’ll bet next, your previous excursions, and how to get money to wager with.
- You feel the urge to make more wagers when you’re in a poor mental state.
- Even after you’ve lost your bet today, you’re thinking of how you’ll recoup the amount lost tomorrow.
- Continually lying about where you’re going, you make excuses for why you have lost money betting, or you downplay your gambling habits
- Relationships with loved ones have been compromised and reduced productivity at work or school.
- You’re always asking for money to pay bills that you’ve been ignoring in your attempts to make more money through gambling.
At NewCasinoSites.me.uk, we take gambling addiction seriously.
Although it’s a severe problem, the team at NewCasinoSites.me.uk believe that you can overcome the addiction, and regain your peaceful state of mind. The most crucial step for prevailing over the addiction is to first own up to the fact that you have a severe problem. It’s not easy, as it requires a lot of courage to admit this, especially if you’ve cut off your family and friends, or if you’ve lost a large amount of money to betting.
That said, a lot of people have conquered the temptation in the past, and you can, too.
Self-help for gambling addiction
Learn to deal with unpleasant feelings the right way
At times, you may get the urge to gamble when you have some unpleasing feelings. Maybe you haven’t had the best day at work, or you’re just bored. Or perhaps you don’t enjoy socializing, and you’re feeling a bit uncomfortable. Gambling can act as an escape to such feelings.
You need to understand there are far better and healthier ways of dealing with such emotions. Gambling is only a temporary solution. In the end, you may be worse off if you keep escaping your ‘bad’ feelings with some wagers. Other better alternative ways would be to exercise, spend some time with loved ones who aren’t into gambling, practicing a new hobby, or even meditation.
Grow your support network
Battling any addiction is already complicated by itself and doing it without any support makes it even harder. If you don’t have a support network, try to talk to a few relatives and friends and explain your problem. Most of them would be happy to help you on your journey to recovery.
You can also make new friends without visiting casinos and betting stations. You can reach to your work colleagues, enroll in a book club, or even join a volunteering team.
Get checked for possible mood disorders
Anxiety, depression or drug abuse can be a major cause for your compulsive gambling. These disorders may worsen when you’re continually betting to avoid them. And even when you get over your gambling problem, these problems may persist, so the earlier you address them, the better.
Agencies that help with problem gambling
Gamble aware is an agency dedicated to tackling gambling addiction among gamblers. It does so through:
- Exhaustive research
- Public awareness campaigns
- Providing players access to health and psychological services.
BeGambleAware aims to educate the masses on gambling addiction. Through its extensive library of educational resources, it helps you to determine whether you or anyone you know has a gambling problem. You can contact them at any time through 0808 8020 133, or their chat helpline.
Jennifer Wright is an online casino and slots writer since 2010. She has an eye for detail and take pride in her in-depth analysis of new casino sites that enter the UK market. A regular at iGaming conferences and events, she is also a keen follower of industry news. In her downtime, she is an avid gamer and regularly takes part in esports tournaments. Jennifer currently resides in the north of England.
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