the rapid growth of technology, entertainment and business activities have been made much easier, and gambling is not an exclusion. People gamble using varied means and for various reasons. However, only a small percentage of active gamblers have an in-depth knowledge about gambling. In this article, we will crystallise on everything about gambling through GambleAware®.
GambleAware® is an organisation that the Responsible Gambling Trust administers and funds. The foundation aims to promote responsible gambling. They provide resourceful information to help people in making informed decisions in every aspect of their gambling. Through GambleAware®, we will learn about gambling and responsible gambling as well as understand and realize gambling problems among several other gambling-related topics.
What is Gambling?
Most of the gamblers gamble without any actual information and understanding of how gambling works. Gambling is basically participating in a game whereby you risk money, or any stake of monetary value, for you to get a reward if you win. The outcome of the game, in most instances, is based on chance. Thus, when gambling, one can leave with less capital, or at worst, nothing at all.
Engaging in gambling is not bad, but it can turn out to be very risky. Hence, you need to keep yourself informed and make choices, which you will not regret later.
Responsible Gambling
Gambling responsibly entails staying in control of how much time and money we spend on gambling. Whether you are placing a bet, playing on a casino game or gambling machine, playing poker or bingo, buying a scratch card or a lottery ticket, responsible gambling translates to treating the activity as just one of the many forms of entertainment in your balanced lifestyle.
Just like the other kinds of entertainment, gambling is a means of expenditure, and gambling responsibly means not spending more time or money than we can relatively afford. This is keeping a consideration of our other responsibilities. A massive number of people across the world gamble in one way or another. In Britain, about 73% of adults engage in gambling at least once a year, and most of them gamble responsibly.
It is crucially significant that if you are going to gamble, you understand clearly the price of the entertainment, which you are going to buy. However, due to the nature of gambling, that value may not always be clear. As a consumer, you must make your decisions based on the reliable information behind the type of gambling you are engaging into. It is imperative to comprehend the odds before accepting them while still keeping your winning chances in perspective
Both businesses and consumers that have a gambling license share responsibility in gambling. Importantly, you should remember that the licensed providers of gambling opportunities are in business to make profits. Nevertheless, gambling companies should do this through the legal right means and in a fair manner. Inherently, they should provide information that you, as a consumer, can rely on to make informed gambling decisions.
As a gambler, you have the responsibility to budget for your gambling activities just as you do for other means of entertainment like going to a sporting venue, the cinema or a restaurant. You should only use what you can afford to lose to gamble.
Realising a Gambling Problem
Problem gambling is a conduct associated with gambling, which leads to the harming of the gambler as well as those around them. This is inclusive of family, friends, and others who care for them or know them. People who are fighting to curb their gambling behaviour may suffer from anxiety, depression, stress, worry about money or still fall behind at work. If your gambling activities result to any of the above effects, then you might have a problem gambling.
Problem gambling can affect anyone, whether male or female, at any age and from any ethnic background. Those who start to gamble at an early age or have a problem gambling in their family history, are at a greater risk of exhibiting the problem. The physical effects of problem gambling are not easy to see unlike other addictions such as drug or alcohol addiction. Hence, problem gambling is called ‘hidden addiction,’ as you cannot identify a problem gambler unless they tell you.
The causes of problem gambling are not that clear. However, factors like the age of starting gambling, a big early win, and family history, may imply a gambling problem, though it may be difficult to determine the cause and effect.
How to Quit Gambling
A majority of the gamblers gamble for fun and enjoyment. However, there is still a substantial number of them that take gambling a means of making money, spend beyond what they can afford to lose, or think of gambling as a distraction from everyday problems. By following the tips below, you will ensure you curb your gambling to avoid it from becoming a problem.
Do not gamble to make money – If you have a mentality that gambling will bring you money, you may find yourself giving away more money than you are receiving over time. Change your mind-set about gambling to think of it as an entertainment expense.
Only stake what you can afford to lose – Your budget should include gambling as an entertainment budget. Only use your gambling budget to gamble and not your rent budget or phone bill.
Have a money limit – Before you bet, decide how much you can withstand to lose. When all is gone, stop there. If you get a win, you are lucky, and should not get disappointed if you do not win again.
Set a time limit – When gambling, one can easily lose track of time. Set an alarm or time limit, and when you reach the limit, it is time to stop. Inherently, the more time you use to gamble, the more money you may end up losing.
If you have concerns about how to keep your gambling under control
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