Gambling is undoubtedly a fun and exciting way to release stress or kill boredom. However, it can also become an addiction. That’s why gamblers tend to have a higher percentage of addiction problems when left unchecked.
To tackle the problem of addiction, gaming sites employ different measures. The most effective, however, is Responsible Gambling. It involves education, prevention, treatment, research, and recovery services for all gamblers and addicts.
Responsible gambling has been proven to promote several positive psychological and financial effects on individuals. It was introduced by The National Council on Problem Gambling in 2012. By gambling responsibly, individuals are partaking in a regulated environment where they can make rational and informed choices at all times.
This article will provide you with details to help you understand what responsible gambling entails.
Being responsible about gambling means staying in control of your gaming habits. This applies to knowing when to play and how much to spend while playing. Here are some responsible gambling services that can help you stay accountable and safe while gambling:
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Responsible Gambling Council (RGC): This organization promotes responsible gambling. They also work with gambling operators, regulators, players, and their families to provide the support and resources they need to live a better life.
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Gam Aware: This organization provides information, advice, and other services to help players gain control or quit gambling altogether.
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GamCare: This is an online chat forum where you can ask questions concerning your addiction problem. And also receive all the help you need to combat it.
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Gamblers Anonymous: This service constitutes men and women coming together to share their gambling experiences and how they could fight it. They share real-life stories and the impact of addiction on their health, jobs, family, and finances.
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GamStop: GamStop is a safeguarding measure that prevents players from using gambling sites. It can also limit the amount of time spent betting over a while.
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BetBlocker: This free self-exclusion tool helps you regulate your betting habits. To use this service, you need to install the software on all of your devices. Then, specify how long you want to remain blocked from visiting online casinos and bookmarkers.
Using this tool, you’ll be unable to log in or sign up for any gambling service on your device.
Gambling Addiction Recovery Project
Recovering from gambling addiction can be tough on a person. However, you’ll need to understand that although recovery might be hard, it is very doable. Here are proven steps to take to have a successful recovery:
Acknowledge Your Betting Addiction Problem
To begin the gambling addiction recovery, you must admit you have an addiction problem. Only then will you accept the kind of treatment your physical and mental health requires. Once it’s been determined that the act inhibits your day-to-day function and causes strain in your relationships and finances, you can start making the needed changes.
Here are some addiction signs you need to watch out for to be sure:
- Centering all your plans on gambling
- Always visiting a gambling site with your phone or other devices
- Borrowing money to fund your habit
- Trying to hide the harms of this practice from your family and friends
- Stealing or risking your life to get money to fund your online gambling account
- Feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt and hopelessness
- Avoiding social interactions
- Feeling happiness only when you gamble
- Inability to stop gambling even when you want to
Seek Help From a Professional
Most people make the error of putting off getting treatment until they are at their utmost worst in internet gambling. But when you’re feeling low, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get treatment as soon as possible.
Many people also think going for therapy for problems like this is a sign of weakness. However, you don’t need to feel that way, as everyone doesn’t require the same treatment methods available.
Once you share your gambling problem with a professional, it’ll be mush easier to start your healing journey.
Seek Support From Loved Ones
Just as you need professional help, you’ll also need the love and support of your loved ones at every step of your recovery. Their encouragement, financial aid, or words of affirmation can strengthen you throughout the treatment process.
Try Out New Hobbies
Once you have started or finished your gambling addiction treatment, you need to create a replacement behavior for gambling. Look for healthy hobbies like cooking, drawing, crafting, or anything to help you recover. You’ll also need to cut off things that remind you of your old habits. This can include friends, TV shows, and social media posts.
Financial Planning
Responsible gambling teaches individuals financial discipline and money management. The practice encourages them to set spending limits and avoid excessive losses. Applying these habits to your gambling life will also affect your household expenses and day-to-day life.
To lay out a responsible financial plan that’ll keep your gambling life from being an addiction, here’s what to do:
Choose the Right Online Casino or Bookmarker
When selecting a betting site, it’s crucial to avoid those operating illegally. To ensure a site isn’t shady, review them before signing up. Also, seek out ones that offer generous bonuses, as this will help you win more while spending less.
Most reputable gambling sites promote responsible gaming and provide options to take a break.
Track Your Spending
Before you start gambling, set a budget you’ll be willing to work with. Then follow this up by recording every loss and win you make. This keeps you aware and in control of your finances.
Avoid High-Risk GamesHigh-risk gambling games require a more significant amount of money to be wagered. And once you lose in one of these games, you’ll lose way more than you plan to. Therefore, stick to lower-risk games and place smaller wagers.
Take a Break
When you start feeling restless, or you find yourself thinking about gambling all the time, then you need to take a break. By giving yourself the needed break, you can strengthen your mind and keep your life and finances in order.
Hand Over Your Finances to a Trusted Person
Without money, you’ll be unable to fund your gambling lifestyle. Therefore, let someone else be in charge of your credit cards and your cash. Also, delete your casino account from your mobile devices to avoid temptations.
Combat Illegal Gambling
Legal gambling operators are licensed and comply with strict regulations. This means their actions are scrutinized and monitored. They are compelled by the law to provide safe and responsible gaming measures.
However, this isn’t the case with Illegal gambling operators. Illegal operators work outside the law. They cannot be held accountable for their actions. So, players have no legal recourse to this form of gambling.
These operators lure customers with amazing bonuses and credit betting without much consideration for safe gambling. Illegal gambling operators provide betting services without restrictions, resulting in excessive gambling, which is no doubt a big problem.
Mobile technology and the Internet have not helped either in curbing illegal gambling. Thanks to the internet and mobile devices, illegal gambling services can be accessed online.
This form of gambling does not just result in money losses; it can also affect one’s self-esteem. Other negative impacts include affecting the addict’s physical and mental health, relationships, and work performance. This means illegal gambling involves family, friends, and the workplace.
Illegal gambling comes in many forms. In the case of online gambling, it can be divided into the following categories:
- Sports betting with bookmakers
- Horse betting with bookmakers
- Unlicensed gambling casinos
- Unauthorized online gambling game centers
So, to combat illegal gambling, strict policies and steps must be adopted to police these operators. This could include preventing internet access to these sites.
This movement does not exclude players. As a player, you must ensure that the gambling operator you visit is legitimately registered, licensed, and regulated. Doing this prevents being cheated out of your money and unnecessary losses.
Gamble Responsibly Policy
Responsible gambling policies are programs designed to reduce the negative impact of gambling. This program is also put in place to protect the young and vulnerable from the adverse consequences of gambling.
Safe or responsible gambling policies incorporate a different range of initiatives designed to protect both customers and gambling operators. However, the main goal of gambling responsibility policies is to promote consumer protection.
As a result, safer gambling information is provided to players on legal gambling sites. This information is provided to guide players in making the right gambling decisions.
The safe gambling information is presented in a way that is clearly understood and consists of the following features:
- Age and identify verification
- Self-exclusion and time-out controls
- A rundown of the house edge, odds, and payout ratios
- Guidelines on how to use the site’s responsible gambling tools
- Financial and time limits
- Features of the risks associated with gambling
- Signs of a potential gambling problem
- Information or links to organizations dedicated to helping players with gambling problems.
In addition to the responsible gambling policy set by gambling operators, players must be mindful of responsible gambling practices. These practices help reduce the potential harm associated with gambling.
Responsible gambling practices include the following:
- Setting and sticking to betting limits. You must control how much money and time you spend on gambling
- Gamble with money set aside for entertainment. This means gambling with money you can afford to lose, not significant figures that will be impactful when lost
- Seeing gambling as a form of entertainment, not a means of making money
- Know your games before betting on them
- Knowing when to walk away instead of chasing losses by betting more
- Staying away from gambling when under stress or emotional
Conclusion
Like all forms of entertainment, gambling should be enjoyed in moderation. Therefore, to prevent monetary losses and protect your finances, it is important to be mindful of the responsible gambling practices discussed above.
Aside from preventing money losses, responsible gambling prevents the development of unhealthy associations with excessive betting. So keep in mind that gambling is an interesting pastime so it should be treated as such at all times.FAQ About Malaysia Online Casino
Why is responsible gambling important?
Practicing responsible gambling is important because it protects your finances and prevents significant monetary losses that can be impactful. Responsible gambling also contains an unhealthy attachment to excessive gambling.
Finally, it helps create a positive image for the gambling industry.
Is it possible to gamble responsibly?
Yes, it is possible to gamble responsibly. First, avoid gambling when stressed, upset, depressed, or angry. Then, try not to place bigger bets in an attempt to win back your lost money.
What are responsible gambling practices?
Responsible gambling practice means setting gambling limits for yourself, both financially and time-wise. This also involves knowing when to walk away instead of chasing losses and taking breaks from betting.
Gambling isn’t a source of income but a form of entertainment. So don’t try making a fortune from gambling. Instead, enjoy the gambling experience without risking your finances. Therefore, gamble only the amount you can afford to lose. This is a responsible gambling practice that will keep you right on track.
Can you gamble responsibly?
Yes, you can. Gambling responsibly is possible with the right steps, like those listed above. Gambling is a form of entertainment; therefore, it should be performed in moderation.
Why is gambling regulated?
Gambling is regulated to protect society from being exploited. These regulations promote fairness and prevent underage gambling and gambling problems like fraud and money laundering. Gambling regulations are created to make the gambling market safe for players and operators.
What is the minimum age to gamble?
Each state sets its own gambling rules. Therefore, the legal gambling age differs from country to country. In some countries, 18 is considered the minimum gambling age. In other countries, punters have to be 21 years old to gamble.
So, it is important to know the gambling age of your country of residence. Doing this promotes safe and responsible gambling and also prevents illegal gambling.
