Safer Gambling Week
The first week in November 2021 is Safer Gambling week. A week dedicated to making you aware of the dangers of excessive gambling. This time the warning signs are being brought to you by the Online Gambling industry.
The recent Covid pandemic forced an increase in the number of people stuck at home. This created a perfect storm for online sites that offer you entertainment. Gambling sites amongst them. Over the past 18 months, the Gambling industry has been active in preventing additional gambling issues for those stuck indoors. This week’s campaign for Safer Gambling takes another look at what measures can and are being used in the prevention of gambling addiction.
Gambling Awareness is taken very seriously all year round, but it can’t harm to spend a dedicated week looking at safer gambling and making players aware of gambling safety and the tools that websites offer to help.
Age Restricted
Gambling is age restricted to 18+ (21 in the States). This rule is set in stone and cannot be amended or circumvented. You need to be of 18 years or older to gamble. All gambling operators will demand proof of ID before you can open an account with them. Further age checks will be carried out when you try to withdraw funds/winnings.
Gambling Safer
Safer Gambling is about measured gambling and knowing your limits. Your financial limitations should be foremost on your mind when placing a bet or stake at any online casino. Gambling always comes at a cost. Even the “free” games come with restrictions and conditions.
Set deposit limits, better yet set lose limits. This stops your game once you have reached your target. Walk away and take a break. Play some demo games to break up your time gambling real cash games.
All gambling websites offer Safer Gambling measures, use them. They are there to help you control what you spend, and how you gamble. These are free and easy to access. All you need to do is click on the Responsible Gambling link that every site offers, and the information and help are available.
Safer Gambling week 2021 (1st Nov – 7th Nov 21) is not an intervention to get you to stop gambling. It’s all about moderation. Gambling should be something that you do as a means of entertainment. Control is always better than cure, so control your playing time, your spending (losses and deposits) and enjoy your wins.
Gambling Addiction
The darker side to gambling is gambling addiction. A beast that turns enjoyable betting into compulsive addiction that destroys lives. Addiction is impossible to control or stop without help. Help is available and it’s FREE. Getting to that first step is the hardest because you need to admit that there is a problem.
The only way to do that is to recognise the signs of addiction or the early onset of addictive behaviour. If you’re chasing a win that just isn’t there, you have a problem.
Know the signs of Gambling Addiction
- Spending more money and time on gambling than you can afford
- Finding it hard to manage or stop your gambling
- Lying about your gambling or hiding it from other people
- Chasing your losses or gambling to get out of financial trouble
- Gambling until all your money is gone
If you need to get help, here are a few of the dedicated Free to help anti-gambling sites. Gamble Responsibly.