How to Stop Playing Sweepstake Casinos?

If you live in the United Kingdom, you might already know about sweepstake casinos. If you don’t, they are different to regular casino games in that they involve winning prizes, they’re also played online and they’re extremely popular. As well as playing online, there are some establishments that have “live” sweepstake play. They’re different to lotteries too – but they’re becoming more and more popular. Some people find that they’ve become addicted to this type of gambling so how can you stop if that sounds familiar to you?

How Sweepstake Casinos Work

Sweepstake casinos involve players purchasing “sweeps” coins using real money. Some websites allow players to play for “gold” coins – which isn't real money so there’s less risk (they have no monetary value). If you win, you redeem your winnings for real money (or gold coins if you’re not playing for money). While you might think there’s no harm in playing sweepstake casinos for gold coins, the temptation is to move on to playing for money, especially if the player is successful.

In the UK, sweepstake casinos are online, but different countries have different rules. For example, these casinos are legal in the USA and Canada. To play sweepstake online casinos in United Kingdom, check that the casino of choice has a suitable licence in place.

Sweepstake Casino Games

There are numerous different types of games that players can try, and something to cater for everyone’s tastes. Sweepstake games include slot machines, table games, and traditional casino games such as poker, Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack. Some sweepstake casinos even encourage more play by offering bonuses. While all of the above sounds like tremendous entertainment, as with any type of gambling, there are downsides, and the biggest risk is addiction.

How to Stop Playing Sweepstake Casinos

If you’re finding that you can’t get enough of sweepstake casinos, you’re not playing for “fun”, using gold coins but instead, you’re playing for money and you’re fast losing money then you might be at risk of gambling addiction. Gambling should be an enjoyable pastime that isn’t obsessive or compulsive. You shouldn’t be playing every day but reserving it for occasional moments. Once it starts to encroach on your everyday life, impact relationships and severely deplete your income, don’t wait, seek help.

Tips to Stop Sweepstake Gambling

• Confide in a trusted friend or family member. It will feel like a weight off of your shoulders and they can help you quit gambling.

• Disable all of your online casino accounts and if you can, get a trusted friend or family member to block using online casinos/betting platforms. That way, if you’re tempted and the sites are password protected, you won’t be able to access them.

• Make a pact to call your trusted friend or family member if you feel you need to gamble. Often a few minutes on the phone is all you need to distract you.

• While on the topic of distraction, find something else to do with your spare time. Take up a sport, do some exercise, and find a sociable hobby that doesn’t involve gambling.

• Contact your local NHS gambling clinic. There are various clinics set up around the country with drop-in sessions and specific sessions for different types of addiction. These groups are excellent because you don’t feel “alone”, you can hear other people’s experiences and get extra support when you need it. Access the NHS here for more information on gambling clinics.

• Gamcare is the UK’s gambling helpline and their website has plenty of useful resources for addicts or problem gamblers. There’s a live chat where you can talk to someone 24 hours a day. There’s a forum too where you can talk to others about their own experiences and there’s an area with lots of downloadable literature. Alternatively, contact them 24 hours a day on their hotline here: 0808 8020 133.

• Check our Responsible Gambling Tips & Advice page, where you can find more about gambling addiction help and other tips for safe gambling.

Final Words

You are not alone, although a gambling addiction can feel all-encompassing and isolating, it is estimated that there are over 240,000 problem gamblers in the UK and 2.2 million at risk of gambling addiction. So don’t ignore a potential issue, it’s better to deal with it in its infancy than when it becomes too big to handle.