Today, there are many different activities that people can gamble on including the lottery, online slot games, card games, and bingo. One of the most popular types of betting is also sports betting as there are a variety of sports that adults can bet on. However, despite the safe and fair gambling platforms recommended by online casino reviews sites, there are various factors that may significantly contribute to your losses, such as the house edge.
In a bid to recover losses or bag more money, players may often unknowingly overindulge in placing bets. This habit can eventually mature into a gambling addiction that becomes a much bigger problem to deal with. Gambling addiction is heavily problematic, and in extreme cases it negatively affects everyday life. So, when is it time to stop gambling? Here are some signs that it is time to stop gambling.
- When you start chasing your losses
One of the best times to stop gambling is when you start to chase the money you have lost. When you incur losses during your gambling, it is sometimes instinctive to carry on playing to gain your money back. However, it’s important to remember never to chase losses as it can get out of hand very easily. It can be beneficial to always remember that the house comes out on top and that it’s highly unlikely to win back your losses.
The POGG recently published a useful article with top ten tips for beginners playing at an online casino. Their article highlights important information on how to always play with reputable operators as not all are reputable or have a license. Their article also includes a crucial tip to remember which is to never gamble more than you can afford to lose. If you’re spending too much trying to recover what you have lost and spending money you cannot afford to lose, then it’s time to stop.
- Lying about your betting behaviour to others
Many adults enjoy gambling from time to time or on a more regular basis. But when someone starts to lie about how often they gamble, or how much they are spending, then it becomes a much bigger problem. People who are addicted to gambling might lie to friends, family, partners, or their colleagues, about their gambling activities. It is time to take a step back and re-evaluate your betting if this starts to happen. When you are obsessed with gambling, you tend to lie about your addiction and instead give excuses to justify your behaviour. This is a common trait in different forms of addictions and lying may also severely affect your relationship with people close to you.
Gambling can be a form of entertainment for many adults, but it’s also important to ensure that it does not start to take over your daily routine. Bingeing Netflix shows might be harmless, but spending too much time at an online casino can be very harmful. Many adults might also start convincing themselves that they do not have an addiction problem. If gambling is starting to become a significant and constant activity in your routine, and you are lying about it, then it’s best to seek gambling advice and support.
- When you borrow money to place bets
One of the biggest harms of online gambling is financial, as players can easily become addicted to gambling and spend money they do not have to spare. The Money Advice Service highlights some useful information and support with people that need to tackle debt associated with problem gambling. If the situation is getting worse and you’re not able to make debt repayments, it’s crucial to seek help and advice.
A gambling addict will sometimes do anything to continue betting and this can include borrowing money in the hope of winning it back in profits. An uncontrollable urge to keep betting can influence gamblers to risk bigger stakes when they do not have the funds. This is when you turn to borrowing, and before you even realise it, you are even deeper in debt. Unprecedented debts can lead to bankruptcy and have a big impact on mental health, family life, and work.
- Constantly thinking about gambling and your next bet
If you are continually thinking about your next bet, then you may be developing a gambling addiction. Players that find themselves logging on to their online accounts, visiting a betting shop, or looking up bets, more regularly then it’s important to start addressing the issue before it gets out of hand. With online gambling, the good news is that it is possible for players to restrict their gambling activities. Players can set themselves time-outs and also self-exclude. There are free self-exclusion tools available, such as BetBlocker and GamStop that players can utilise when they want to restrict themselves from accessing gambling websites.
When gambling has significantly impacted your life in a negative way, then it’s time to restrict the time you spend gambling and seek some help and support. Highlighted in this article by GamCare, gambling can affect many areas of your life especially your finances and mental health. Some signs that signal a gambling problem include difficulty sleeping, using gambling as a way to deal with other life problems, extreme mood swings, and feeling depressed or anxious. If gambling is the only enjoyable activity and other day to day activities are being neglected, then gambling could be becoming a problem in your life.