How to Control Your Gambling Activities

Are you feeling like gambling is dominating your life? You are not alone. Statistics show that between 1.2 and 6.0% of individuals worldwide find it challenging to control their gambling behaviours. The good news is that there are actions you can implement to take control. This article is your guide to responsible gambling, packed with various methods to assist you in controlling your gambling impulses.

Signs of Poor Gambling Habits

Recognising the possibility of a problem is the initial step in managing gambling behaviours. These are indications that you might be experiencing issues with gambling:

More frequent and intense gambling: You discover that you are betting more frequently, for longer durations, and with larger amounts of money.
Chasing losses: Feeling the need to continue gambling to recover money lost. This usually results in more losses.
Concealing or withholding gambling behaviours: You have the urge to hide the full scope of your gambling activities from family and friends.
Damaged relationships: Gambling can strain your connections with loved ones and friends.
Financial challenges: Gambling can result in financial issues such as debt accumulation, overlooking bills, and seeking loans.
Utilising gambling as a way to manage emotions: You resort to gambling as a means of avoiding negative feelings such as stress, anxiety, or boredom.
Lack of enthusiasm for other activities: Hobbies and pastimes that used to bring you joy become less appealing as you focus more on gambling.

Responsible Gambling Features By Casinos

Most casinos provide different types of gambling controls that can help to reduce the risk of players developing an addiction. These tools include:

Deposit limit: sets a limit on your deposits per day, week, or month
Loss limit: halts gameplay when losses reach a predetermined amount
Bet limit: sets a limit on the number of wagers per day, week, or month
Session limit: limits the time spent gambling by automatically logging you out once the time you had set to play in a session has elapsed
Budget calculator: helps you figure out how much you are spending on gambling relative to your income
Reality checks: pop-up messages remind you how long you have been gambling, encouraging you to take breaks and play mindfully
Self-assessment: these are short quizzes that can help you determine the extent to which gambling is affecting your life and seek help if necessary
Self-exclusion limit: allows you to request a casino to ban you from gambling for a minimum of 6 months, with the option of extending it permanently.

Tips to Control Gambling Habits

Here are some tips you should keep in mind when controlling your gambling habits:

Manage Your Finances

Establish a specific and clear budget for gambling before immersing yourself in the world of games. This should be a manageable sum that you are able to let go of, completely unrelated to your necessary costs. Adhering to this boundary protects your financial health and ensures that gambling remains a source of enjoyment rather than a financial strain.

Take Breaks

Getting lost in the immersive world of gambling can lead to losing all sense of time. Make sure to take scheduled breaks from playing the game. This enables you to empty your mind, re-evaluate your finances, and come back with a new point of view. Making sure to take breaks will prevent you from making rash decisions influenced by strong emotions, such as excitement or frustration.

Find Healthy Distractions

Shift your attention and substitute the desire to gamble with positive diversions. Reconnect with past interests you once loved, such as painting, making music, or reading. If you have a long-standing interest in trying something different, this is the ideal moment to give it a go! Try out pottery, coding, or gardening as new hobbies.

Participating in activities that are creative or physical can offer a beneficial way to channel your energy and keep your mind busy. Engaging with others is also a valuable resource. Socialise with friends and family, grab a coffee or organise a games night. Engaging in meaningful discussions, bonding through shared activities, and receiving support from family and friends can greatly reduce the temptation to gamble and lead to feelings of contentment and joy.

Reduce Accessibility

Reduce the ease of access to gambling and create barriers that discourage impulsive decisions. Self-exclusion programs offered by casinos and online platforms can be a powerful tool. By enrolling, you restrict your access for a chosen period, making it physically impossible to gamble.

Financial controls are another effective strategy. Remove credit cards and extra cash from gambling environments. Consider using cash only for your designated gambling session and setting a specific amount beforehand. This way, you're limited to what you bring and can't get swept away in the moment.

Finally, for online gambling, utilise website blocking software on your devices. This adds an extra step and creates a conscious pause before accessing gambling platforms, allowing you to reconsider your actions.

Seek Help

If you are having difficulty maintaining a healthy balance in gambling, seeking assistance is a smart and brave decision. Various options exist, such as Gamblers Anonymous support groups, counselling services, and self-help techniques.

These resources provide a safe environment to talk about difficulties without fear of criticism and to gain insight from individuals who have encountered similar obstacles. Recognizing the need for assistance shows strength, not weakness, and making changes can result in a more harmonious and satisfying life.

Practising responsible gambling includes managing your finances, having control of your time, and reaching out for assistance when needed. By putting these tactics into place, you can take back control of your betting behaviours and have fun with gambling as a source of amusement without negative impacts.

How to Control Gambling Habits