Understanding the term responsible gambling starts by knowing the meaning of the word responsible. It means to have control over something or to be accountable, most of all it means you have the power to manage the situation. Responsible gambling involves a range of social initiatives set by the gaming control boards and governments. The goal is not only to promote awareness of problem gambling but to ensure fairness and integrity.
Your budget should only include the money you can afford to lose.
Gambling is one of the most fun forms of entertainment when you enjoy it responsibly. The characteristics of a responsible gambler are to set limits on the amount he/she spends on gambling. Your budget should only include the money you can afford to lose. Drinking or using drugs could cloud your decision-making during gambling, which means it should be avoided at all costs.
It is a form of entertainment, which means you should stay away from it if you are upset or depressed. If you start gambling more than you can afford, you know it is time to take a break. Only when you can exercise control over your activity and not allow it to have any negative impact on your life. You can claim that you gamble responsibly.
Problem Gambling & Reasons Why People Gamble
Before you can set off on a road to recovering from problem gambling, you need to understand why you gamble. The most common reason is to win money, many see gambling as an opportunity to overcome debt. Often it is seen as entertainment that also offers you the option of making a profit. The biggest motivation is the dream of hitting a big win. Often the biggest encouragement is financial difficulties, which makes people gamble with the hope of winning.
There are also thousands of gamblers that want to escape from their real-life problems. Problem gamblers see gambling as an opportunity to get away from negative feelings or depression. In many cases, people actually gamble due to loneliness or boredom.
Gambling, whether it is land-based or online offers players excitement and stimulation. The spinning or gaming action is often a great form of escapism. It gives players a high that is equal to alcohol or drug use, it is called feeling lucky.
Responsible Behaviour = Responsible Gambling
The words responsible behaviour means considering the consequences of our actions. It means doing the right thing even when it is not easy. When you think of anyone you would call responsible, it will be the person you know you can count on. It is the person you can trust to always be there and to always do the right thing. We all want to be that person to others, and we can be if we follow the recipe.
If you want to be responsible you need to blend five ingredients, these include fairness, accountability, honesty, courage, compassion or respect. Even when you do get away with a white lie, in the end, honesty remains the best policy. We all want others to appreciate us, understand us and accept us and most of all respect us. If your honest and respect others, you will enjoy their respect. If you are accountable for your share of work and never make excuses, you can expect fairness. Should you fail on any of the above, you’ll need the courage to do the right thing, which is asking for help.
Responsible behaviour not only means that your actions are appropriate, but you also finish your tasks on time and always tell the truth. But also, that you happily follow all rules and are not afraid to admit your mistakes.
Reality Check
One thing is for certain and that is than none of us do the right or correct thing always. It is often really challenging to do what is right and therefore we often make mistakes. You know before anyone else when something is just not right or spinning out of control. When this happens, it is time for a reality check, and you need to sit down and answer a few questions. There are actually a few options, you can either cut down on gambling, completely stop or find help.
Can you afford to gamble and spend the amount of money you do? If your answer is no, it is time to take control.
One of the first questions is can you afford to gamble and spend the amount of money you do. If your answer is no, it is time to take control and to make changes.
If you have already tried to stop or cut down on your gambling before, you know what is involved in cutting down. It might take a few tries to stop, but it is always easier when you have support. Find another activity to take the place of gambling, which might help you to resist the urges.
One of the most important questions to answer truthfully is the impact gambling have on your life. This includes the impact on your family, work, emotional wellbeing and relationships. There are two routes you can follow to change your situation depending on the severity of the problem. You can either cut down on gambling or quit. Regardless of the option you choose, there are quite a few ways to achieve success.
Self Help Options
The options to cut down on your gambling habit includes setting a timeframe. Give yourself a month and then check on your progress. If you did cut down, you’re on the right track. If not, you might consider quitting or calling in the help of a friend.
To limit your gambling, you could set a time on how long your session should last. You also need to set a limit on how much you gamble and never go over your budget. It is good to share your decision with others and to slowly replace gambling with another interest or activity. But, when all these fails, you will know that there is only one way out and that is to quit gambling completely.
Set a time on how long your session should last, never go over your budget, seek help.
Deciding to stop any habit, whether it is smoking, or gambling requires great willpower. It is challenging and even when it feels impossible, it is much easier to quit when you have others helping you. Alone it is easier to fall back into your habit. If you have the help of others, you can get through the urges. You need to stay away from anything that triggers your gambling urges. If possible, avoid any situation that reminds you of gambling.
There are a few ways to prevent yourself from gambling, stay calm and refocus. Watch television, read a book, bake something or go for a long walk. Call a friend or go out for coffee on your own. Remember, the urges do get less.
To stay focused on quitting, you can set a goal and use the money you would’ve gambled towards a dream holiday. Think how proud your friends and family will be and how easily you’ll be able to settle any bills.
Helplines
Quitting is challenging and you should feel proud of yourself for identifying the need to seek help. There are many helplines available worldwide to offer you the assistance you need 24 hours a day:
- National Council on Problem Gambling offers a list of international help contacts. Founded in 1972, the NCPG offers assistance to gamblers and their families to overcome the effects of problem gambling. These include websites and telephone numbers for Australia, Canada, Austria, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland, to list only a few.
- The National Gambling Helpline is always available, whether its day or night you have access to help via GamCare. Support is available 24/7 to anyone suffering from gambling addiction. Assistance is also available to anyone suffering because of the effects on gambling problems.
- BeGambleAware offers free assistance to anyone who is concerned about a family member or friend with gambling problems. You can access help via live chat or telephone at any time of the day or night.
- SARGF Counsellors are on standby 24 hours a day all seven days of the week to provide counselling via phone or live chat. This free service is also available via face-to-face treatments.
