All good online casinos warn their users about the possibility of developing a gambling addiction. Casinoz also considers its duty to share this information with readers because concealing the problem is immoral.
Compulsive gambling is a passionate desire to continue the game at any cost, ignoring the associated problems and possible consequences.
This type of addiction negatively affects a person's physical and mental state. It inevitably negatively impacts personal life, financial condition, reputation, etc.
Getting rid of gambling addiction is possible only when people acknowledge its existence. The article How to recognize gambling addiction offers a self-test consisting of several questions. Answer them to find out whether you have problems.
Below, you will read about disturbing symptoms of gambling disorder that you should pay attention to.
Signs of Gambling Addiction
How do problem gamblers usually act?
- They spend a lot of time in the casino.
- They spend a long time remembering their games.
- They plan how they can spend money if they win.
- They feel an irresistible urge to raise bets constantly.
- They go to the casino to forget about their problems.
- They feel uncomfortable outside the casino.
- They lie to their relatives and friends about how much time they spend in the casino and how much they lose.
- They steal the money for the game or break the law to get it.
- They visit a casino even if it damages their careers.
Needless to say, it is much easier to prevent ludomania than to cure it. So listen to our advice, and it will not let gambling ruin your life.
Tips on How to Avoid Problem Gambling
Here are some helpful recommendations on how not to become a pathological gambler.
- Plan your time for the game, and never stay in the casino longer.
- Set financial limits for yourself. You should know how much you can lose in a day, a week, or a month. After reaching this limit, stop the game.
- Never come back to win.
- If you do not belong to the category of professionals, do not think about the game as entertainment. Please do not plan how to spend winnings until it is in your pocket.
- Never borrow money for gambling, even if the casino offers it.
- Do not steal money for the game or break the law, even in the little things, to get them.
- Leave the casino after winning. Do not run after a round win because winning nine hundred ninety-nine dollars is as pleasant as a thousand. When it is time to stop the game, immediately do it.
Remember that gambling should be taken seriously, realizing that it can not only delight but also upset you.
How Do Online Casinos Help to Fight Gambling Addiction?
Any decent gambling operator, acting in accordance with the requirements of gambling legislation, offers its customers the so-called Responsible Gaming program. This is a list of tools and additional features that help prevent the development of gambling addiction and overcome the resulting addiction. Let us list the main methods:
- Financial Limits: Different types of monetary limits may be involved. As a rule, you can set a maximum amount you can lose in a certain period. Once the limit is reached, the customer cannot deposit and bet.
- Time limits: The user specifies how long they can play at the casino. It can be about different intervals: a day, a week, a month, etc. Subsequently, he will not be able to stay longer than he should.
- Account Suspension: If the client notices signs of ludomania, he can independently block his profile for some time. During this period, he will be denied access to gambling and other site services.
- Perpetual blocking of the account: This is the most radical measure. The player can request to permanently close his account, and the administration is obliged to fulfill his request. However, some establishments reserve the right to ask to restore the account after some time.
- Tests to detect signs of problem gambling: Many casinos publish special tests to determine the degree of development of gambling addiction. As a rule, they consist of fundamental questions that must be answered honestly to get a reliable result. We recommend taking them for prevention, even if you do not experience problems with addiction. You may simply not be noticing them.
- Tips and advice: Usually, gambling sites publish general advice on how to avoid developing a gambling addiction, how to deal with an existing ailment, who to turn to for help, and so on.
- Reminders: A message may appear on the screen if you play for too long. It informs you about the session's length and shows your current achievements. Usually, the client is prompted to pause and rest.
- Cooperation with specialized organizations: Several large independent companies are currently known. Their specialists provide qualified assistance to people experiencing difficulties with gambling addiction. The best online casinos publish contact details of these organizations on the Responsible Gaming page.
The most reputable casinos offer all of the above features. Some are limited to only certain aspects. It is essential to understand the following:
You should not play for money in a casino without a responsible gambling tools.
If the site does not help to overcome gambling addiction, it means that it does not care about its customers. Stay away from such casinos. It is also vital to ensure the casino adheres to its commitments to the end. If the client blocked the account permanently, the club should not bother him with offers to restore access or newsletters.
In some jurisdictions, such actions are considered a violation of the law. The administration should also be strict with users who want to exceed financial or time limits. Problem gamblers should not be compromised - otherwise, the Responsible Gaming program is meaningless. Here are the casinos with Responsible Gaming programs.
Here are casinos with great responsible gaming programs.
Gambling Addiction and Children
Experts say that most teenage children have gambled at least once. For many schoolchildren, gambling entertainment has become a routine phenomenon.
This problem has become especially urgent with the development of the Internet. This is a vast topic we considered in more detail in thematic publications on Casinoz. We will not dwell on this issue in detail within this article, but only remind parents:
Do not assume that problem gambling a priori has nothing to do with your child.
Watch your children's behavior. Pay attention to changes in their hobbies. Monitor their progress in school. Know where their pocket money comes from. It is recommended that you read articles about child gambling addiction carefully so that this trouble does not come to your house.
Conclusion
Remember:
Gambling addiction is a disease that no one is immune to.
You should not think that you are not susceptible to addiction just because you are well-versed in gambling or have a rich gambling experience. Casinoz experts have seen croupiers, pit bosses, and even casino owners suffering from gambling addiction. Be careful!