The gambling industry is a fun world for most people, but for many others, it can also lead to difficulties. Being gamblers ourselves, we know that it’s all too easy to become so enamoured with a game that you just want to keep playing it. That’s quite fine if you’re not playing with real money, but you’re only able to win properly at online casinos if you utilise real money on the games.
It is because of this that gambling addiction can become a real problem. And this isn’t just something that affects one or two people who don’t really know what they’re getting themselves into. Even those gamblers who have been enjoying games for many years can find themselves falling victim to gambling addiction.
So, it’s important to know about the risks and take steps towards not experiencing problem gambling yourself. So, we’re going to take you through some of the processes and steps that we recommend if you believe you’re suffering from gambling addiction. As part of our responsible gambling policy, we will outline what we aim to do with this section of our website. There is help available for you if you believe you’re becoming a victim, so we have plenty of information to provide.
Our responsible gambling policy has been set up so as to protect both those people who believe they’re susceptible or already experiencing problem gambling as well as those who are considered to be minors. It is illegal for those under the age of 18 (21 in some locations) to participate in gambling. This is why the sites that we review and recommend here are not meant to appeal to children or others below that minimum age limit.
Of course, we realise that the internet is a place that is so frequently in use at many homes, so minors may stumble across an online casino that is providing games. This is why it is recommended for all adults with children to utilise parental controls on their computer web browsers, so as to block minors from accessing such. Furthermore, if you are a parent who participates in gambling, don’t leave your accounts logged in, don’t access such in front of your children and ensure that if your children are aware of your gambling habits, that they’re aware of the illegality of it to them.
We also understand that the potential monetary gains of online casinos and their games hold quite the compulsion for some people to gamble. Therefore, we will only recommend online casinos that have their own responsible gambling policies in place, allowing you to set certain restrictions on your accounts, self-exclude from playing games online and more to keep you safe. Additionally, these sites will provide links to software that automatically block online gambling sites, ensuring that you don’t stumble across them and be compelled to join if you’re at risk.
You can’t really outrightly say that every gambling addict will display the same signs. Like many other things, symptoms are specific to each player. However, if you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms (or you have witnessed someone else showing signs of such), you may need to seek out assistance:
Should any of these signs stand out to you as being personally experienced, then we always recommend looking for help. This can be through a friend or family member, or there are options available for you to seek out professional help instead.
If you’re not confident enough about speaking with someone you know, then it would be good to seek out assistance from an official organisation dealing with gambling addiction. You’ll need to make the first step yourself, which is when you realise and admit that you have an actual problem. These organisations will help you to stabilise your life and quit gambling, and they include:
Information on these organisations and others should be provided by the online casino(s) that you’re a member of as part of their own responsible gambling policies.