How to play gambling responsibly?

For many people, gambling is an interesting form of entertainment and a way to earn extra money. However, as it turns out, many people who start their adventure with gambling, whether in the desktop or online version, are afraid that a harmless hobby will turn into a serious addiction.

Gambling, of course, is not as addictive as hard drugs — in response to withdrawal, you are unlikely to experience physical pain. However, the problems arising from gambling addiction cannot be ignored. Even if we ignore the financial aspect at this point. Gambling addiction destroyed many families ,and many professional careers.

Therefore, before you decide to enter the casino, whether to go to its site, it is worth reading the responsible gambler's guide. So that the casino remains for you Entertainment, and not the first step to serious problems.

We begin to talk about gambling addiction when a player ceases to have control over his contact with the casino. When he begins to neglect work, family, duties and other hobbies. It is impossible to say whether playing poker once a week is too much or not. What counts is that the chosen gambling game slowly begins to become the only goal and pleasure in life. It ceases to be something that can be done, and begins to be something that needs to be done, no matter what the consequences of not quitting the game look like.

Who can become addicted to gambling?

Specialists dealing with the problem of gambling addiction distinguish three types of addicted players. It should be remembered that addiction is a disease, and a person suffering from it can not quit the casino at any time. Even if he clearly assures that he can at any time. This is a common theme among addicts — they always think they can stop. But they always find a reason not to.

Players in the early stages of addiction slowly begin to lose control of their game. Even if they fail again, they can't stop. They begin to believe that they are close to a big win — after all, after several defeats in a row, fate must finally turn around. Often at this stage, they begin to lie to their loved ones about the fact that they are playing, or how much they have lost. They have to do that because they're starting to play more and more. The biggest problem here is the need to realize that the game is getting out of control. However, here is the biggest problem — the player at this stage still seems to have control over everything and at any time can stop.

When a player completely loses control, we can call him compulsive or pathological. That's when all the brakes come off. What matters is the game itself, whether you win or lose. Even if they end up in debt. This is the moment when without professional support to get out of the habit is very difficult. Of course, it is not impossible, however, it is much easier to cure this disease when a psychologist or a support group helps us.

Between these states, we still have players who from time to time fall into a frenzy of the game. Compulsive behavior does not occur on a regular basis, but only at specific times. In general, such a person may not look like an addict and generally not even play at all. Such players can often be found among people coming out of addiction. Every day they control their addiction, but in times of crisis they can “forget themselves in the game” even for a few days. In such a situation, it is especially important to seek help in support groups — the people in them have often coped with the desire to play and can tell you what to do in such a situation.

How to recognize addiction?

No addicted gambler will have this written on his forehead. Sick people, as is the case with other mental addictions, often try to hide their problems from the world, family and partners. They are afraid of a certain stigmatization — many people treat addiction as the result of weakness or even stupidity. This makes it difficult both to diagnose and later recover from the disease.

Psychological causes

Psychologists advise that if you are worried that someone close to you has become a victim of addiction, check if they have suddenly changed their behavior. For example, if he did not give up his hobby, he does not miss family events, at which he was happy to appear until now. Isn't he more withdrawn and self-contained? At a more advanced stage of the disease, neglect of duties, work or even caring for children occurs. A sick person can sometimes disappear for a day or a few days, only to return later without saying a word.

Financial reasons

Another group of symptoms are financial problems. It starts with spending your savings on gambling-money from deposits or a savings account. Some start with extra work to get money to gamble. Later, when this money runs out, loans begin - from friends, family, and finally from loan companies. If you play — check if you are not playing for borrowed money. An important turning point is when you realize that you regularly exceed your gambling budget. Then it is worth calculating whether the expenditure on the casino has not become a serious part of the Home budget.

Long way down

Then, when no one wants to borrow money, the sale of things from home begins — jewelry or electronics often find their place in the pawnshop. Often at this point, the pledged things do not belong to the player, but to his family or friends. Sometimes it happens that the player " leaves” and then begins to play with money. This is to make up for earlier problems. Later, however, it turns out that the money in subsequent games returned to the casino account.

Especially since in the more advanced stages of addiction it turns out that playing small stakes does not give the same emotions that it gave a few-a dozen months earlier. This forces the need to increase the stakes, which makes losing more painful. It turns out that a gambler loses more often than he wins, despite the fact that he has exactly planned how to win, and what he will do when it happens.

Moreover, the panic associated with growing debts and the lack of a way out of them make many addicts decide to commit minor crimes in order to gain additional funds. Problems with the law are a sign that without the help of a specialist it will be very difficult to get out of addiction. Especially since if an addict goes to prison, it is unlikely that he will be able to count on the possibility of addiction therapy.

The emotional and financial rollercoaster causes mood swings and sudden outbursts of anger. The addict has trouble focusing on anything other than a favorite gambling game. There are health symptoms — headaches and stomach, problems with falling asleep or eating. There is either overeating, or long periods in which the addict simply does not eat anything.

At the most advanced stage of the disease, The Gambler realizes that there is no way out of the situation. Suicidal thoughts occur, and many people fall into other addictions at this time. The patient is looking for a way out in alcohol, drugs or drugs. However, this only increases the problems, and getting out of the habit becomes much, much more difficult.

Of course, you need to remember that even if you see in yourself or in someone a whole list of such symptoms, this does not mean that you have been affected by addiction. Diagnosis is made by psychiatrists. If you have any doubts-make an appointment or suggest such a close person. This will make it easier to get professional help. Even the best online guide or forum should not replace such a diagnosis. Especially since if drug therapy is required, only a doctor will be able to select the appropriate means and write a prescription. Never, but get on your own!

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What causes gambling addiction?

There is no one specific answer to the above question. Addiction is the sum of at least a few factors that can result in illness. This means that not everyone will fall into addiction, however, on the other hand, you can never be sure that you are safe and you can certainly play without fear.

Imagine that every time you play, your brain produces a large dose of serotonin-a popular hormone of happiness. As a result, every game causes joy, you do not need to go to bed, and even (if you wanted to check it out) you have a greater resistance to pain. So, according to British scientists, the brain of a gambler works.

Of course, the production of serotonin with various actions is not strange. Many people derive joy and satisfaction from playing computer games or watching movies — this is a normal brain function. The Problem begins at the moment when the dose of serotonin produced by the brain makes it easy to decide on the next coin thrown into the “one-armed bandit”. Especially since the level of happiness hormones is similar to that produced at the time of taking the next dose of the drug.

Genetically determined gamblers

Moreover, some researchers say that the propensity for gambling and other addictions is to some extent genetically determined. Although we have not isolated a specific combination of genes responsible for addiction, according to the researchers, if a parent or grandfather was addicted to gambling, it is much more likely that a son or grandson will get sick. Therefore, it is worth to be careful when we observe any addictions in our family.

Other researchers as the cause of gambling addiction point to psychological factors associated with the way of thinking of a person. It turns out that if someone is convinced that he has an influence on the results of random events — for example, by inventing a special combination of numbers, which in the end Must Fall.

This triggers the “one more game” syndrome in them, which makes them not notice how quickly their time is running out and their money is melting. Especially since for such people, each loss is simply “the next step that brings you closer to a big win.” You probably know or have heard of someone who has been betting Lotto coupons for several years to win the amount of dreams. Or they are counting on the fact that the probability of thousands of failures in a row is zero — in the end they must win, no matter what costs they incur in the meantime.

How society “educates ' gamblers

However, the most common cause of addiction, according to experts, are social factors. Many people are brought up with the belief that gambling is not only a big risk, but also a big win. This is due to the fact that this type of entertainment is often considered a way to escape from the problems of everyday life.

Playing at a time when we are experiencing problems or severe stress only makes that after leaving the casino problems still occur, and even sometimes they are greater than before crossing its doors. This makes you want to return to a place where you can forget about what is biting you for a while. However, this makes the game more and more often, because gambling begins to be associated with something pleasant, and certainly something that allows you to forget about the pain for a while.

Dependent not only on gambling

People who suffer from gambling addiction often develop additional illnesses and problems. The lack of a way out of the financial situation, combined with the need to play for ever higher stakes, makes addicted people more likely to experience depression.Psychiatrists note that addiction treatment often also involves drug therapy in order to cure additional mental disorders in the first place. It is worth emphasizing that the selection of drugs to improve the patient's condition can take several months, during which psychotherapy will be necessary so that the sick person understands what is the cause of addiction and how to cope with the desire to take another game.

In addition, addicts often develop additional addictions. For example, people who are addicted to gambling often have more frequent use of alcohol or drugs. This is a way for them to cope with the growing stress resulting from more frequent losses and financial problems, or even debt. Regular consumption of such means makes life impossible without them. This is what we define as addiction. Therefore, it is not worth trying drugs on your own — this can lead to addiction.

How does gambling addiction affect your life?

Gambling itself does not have to have a negative impact on the life of the player. It can be a pastime, a hobby, a way of spending time. However, when we begin to talk about addiction, we begin to enter into its negative consequences.

The most visible on the outside are financial problems. Playing for higher and higher stakes and waiting for the moment when it will finally be possible to play makes it necessary to get more and more cash. Few people decide to take up another job for this purpose, especially since the day is not made of rubber, and one day, however, you need to play. Then there is the need to use savings, loans, and eventually the desire to sell things from your own home.

Addiction also causes problems at work or school. Time spent gambling and having trouble focusing on anything else affect productivity at work and its effects. Many people even decide to quit their jobs, which certainly does not help in a debt situation.

Gambling addiction also affects family relationships. It's not just about the lack of time spent on gambling. With the development of addiction, The Gambler increasingly suffers from sudden outbursts of anger or panic. According to statistics, addicts are more likely to use violence against a partner or child. An addict may also want to break off most non-gambling relationships, which also affects the level of their relationships with other people.

Long-term gambling addiction affects the occurrence of suicidal thoughts or depressive episodes. All of the above problems accumulate, which affects the well-being of the dependent person. This is accompanied by somatic symptoms - such as headache or stomach pain. The latter is not well affected, quite common among addicts, problems with eating — either overeating, or on the contrary — periods of fasting.

How common is gambling addiction?

It is difficult to say exactly how many people are addicted to gambling. Some addicts do not go to the doctors to try treatment. Many of them are able to cope with the problem, either independently or with the help of family and loved ones. However, many will suffer for years without even knowing how to seek help. For this reason, all we have is estimates and approximations.

Data for the United States show that two to three percent of the country's population may have a problem with gambling. The percentage of people actually addicted is estimated to be around. one percent. They are not evenly distributed across the country. In states where gambling is not restricted (for example, in Nevada), there are of course more of them.

Statistics for Canada also say about three percent of people are addicted. In practice, this translates into about a million people who may require treatment in the near future. We are talking about adults here. The rate of people under the age of eighteen who are addicted to gambling is alarming — in this group, about two percent of people experience symptoms of addiction.

In general, men are more prone to gambling addiction than women. According to some researchers, this is due to the fact that men are less likely to seek help in stressful situations. More often they decide to divert their attention through gambling or alcohol.

How to deal with gambling addiction?

In general, it is best to seek the help of a specialist-a psychiatrist or psychologist. Especially if you see several symptoms that indicate problems with gambling or hear from your loved ones that such a problem may be your part. Yes, you probably think that you can stop at any time, but a visit to the doctor will definitely not hurt you, and can help.

The beginning of the struggle with a problem is to realize that it is your part. The sooner this happens, the better — the less harm the addiction will cause in your life. It is not worth trying to get out of the habit on your own — this is not only much more difficult, but for many people even impossible. If possible-find a support group-among people coming out of addiction, family or loved ones.

It is worth paying attention when gambling becomes more necessary — is it associated with some stressful situation? If so, perhaps instead of another game at the casino, meditation or talking to someone about the problem itself will help. Maybe it's a good time to start that hobby you've been pursuing for a few months, but playing poker was more important.

It is also worth taking advantage of solutions that allow you to cut off access to online gambling. Some online casinos allow you to set a lock on the user's account at his explicit request. It lasts from 12 hours to several months, and access to the game is not unlocked, even if the user changed his mind and contacted user support.

Similarly, there are locks on the maximum account balance, above which the casino will not accept additional funds. This means that even if we lose the established limit, we will not be able to supplement the money, which will protect us from losses. In such a situation, it is also impossible to remove this limit, even at the request of the person who put it on. It is difficult to say at this point how many people regularly use such opportunities.

How to help an addict?

If the addict is your partner, family member, or close friend, you may have mixed feelings. On the one hand, you want to help him or her. On the other hand, you can get angry if your efforts do not seem to have an effect. In addition, finances can be a problem — an unpaid loan or a few things that you only knew in a pawnshop make you worry about your income and financial security.

Therefore, the conversation about gambling should not start at a time when you are stressed or feel irritable. You will need to explain to your partner that you are not fighting with him, and that his addiction affects the lives of you and your family. Be prepared that the process of getting out of the habit will be difficult and certainly will not end in a few days.

If you have children-it is also worth telling them about the problem. This is not only about possible loans, but also about not being afraid of the unknown. The message will have to be adjusted to the age of the child - you want him to understand that there is a problem in the family, but not to worry about it as if he was responsible for it.

You need to realize one thing — you are not able to force someone to give up the habit. The decision to seek treatment and help must always come from the person who is ill. Otherwise, there's no way she can get out of this.

Of course, if he wants you to be a support, you can guide him in the right direction, however, it is impossible to pull him or her out of gambling. Moreover, if the treatment will not be effective — it is also not your fault. When helping a gambling addict, it is worth remembering the following four points.

• Take care of your safety . This is the most important principle of assistance. Take care of your and your children's needs first. You can't help anyone without it. Don't blame yourself if you can't help an addict.
• Find support . Helping other people can be exhausting. Therefore, it is worth looking for a support group so as not to burn out. Perhaps in your area there is a support group for loved ones of addicts — contact with them will make it clear that you are not the only one struggling with this problem.
• Set financial boundaries . Remember that for an addict, the most important expense is gambling. It will be up to you to determine how to manage the budget so that it is enough for basic needs. If you need a separate account, create one. If the spouse is dependent-check how to protect yourself from having to pay off his debt.
• Be prepared to ask for money. . This is the most difficult advice — an addict can try to get money out of you in many ways. You must be prepared for manipulation, requests or even threats or blackmail. This is not only about helping the addict, but also taking care of your own financial security.

How to prevent suicide among gambling addicts?

A person addicted to gambling, especially in the later stages of addiction, has very low self-esteem. Financial problems, health problems do not help to raise it. Many people see no alternative to suicide. It is also often a cry for help.

If you suspect that one of your loved ones may want to commit suicide, it is worth contacting the organization Befrienders Worldwide, which provides assistance in such situations. On their website, you can find information on how to find help in such situations and who you can call in your country.

What about instead of gambling?

Gambling causes emotions — this is a fairly obvious statement. However, the process of searching for substitutes for them, you need to remember that without these emotions it will be more difficult for you to stay with the chosen occupation.Therefore, it is worth considering in the first place why you decide to use gambling.

Let's start with a dose of adrenaline — watching the symbols of the one-armed bandit move causes an adrenaline rush to the brain. Many people in this situation decide to take up activities that provide similar emotions — mountain climbing or driving on a car track gives a similar set of emotions, and costs much less.

Others see gambling as an opportunity to get out of the house and meet people. For them, a substitute can be any other activities that require interaction with other people. Maybe there's some kind of volunteering in the area that allows you to meet new people? Many people also engage in discussion clubs and even in... politics. As a result, they meet new people, and their actions begin to have a purpose.

For many people, gambling is just a way to get bored. In such cases, for many people, the salvation is to find a new hobby-even playing computer games allows you to find an exciting occupation. Many people coming out of gambling go back to the books they were supposed to read or the unreleased movies. This allows them to take their time and not go back to gambling. Of course, a hobby is worth choosing for your temperament — if you feel bad at home, do not start the evening with Netflix and tea.

Gambling is also used as a way to relax, especially after a stressful day. For people who use it in this way, meditation or regular physical exercise that allows you to reduce stress is a good substitute. Maybe you should go for a massage combined with aromatherapy? Such methods allow you to calm down without having to spend money on further gambling.

Another reason why people enjoy gambling is the desire to get big wins. This becomes a problem, especially in a situation where winning is supposed to help with debts. In such a situation, it is better to use the help of a financial adviser who will prepare a plan for us to get out of debt than to count on fate and a win that may not come. A well-planned way out of debt or collecting savings may not give us millions, but it will allow us not to lose life savings.

The most common myths about addiction

Where can I find help for addicts?

For English-speaking people, there are several sources that allow you to find information for addicts or people looking for information about gambling addiction.

BeGambleAware

One of the most popular sites is BeGambleAware — a free service that offers help to people who suspect that they or their loved ones have a gambling problem. They run a 24-hour chat and helpline to help you find information about addiction or direct help. The site also provides a simple test to see if you have an addiction problem.

The California Department of Public Health is providing a free book to help addicts quit gambling. This can be a help for people who have very strongly cut themselves off from contacts with the outside world and are trying to get out of the habit on their own. The book is less than 40 pages long and can be a good start to dealing with addiction.

Problem Gambilng

You can also contact problem Gambilng. There they will find basic information about addiction and information on how to start the process of getting out of addiction. There are also a lot of methods for dealing with addiction on your own, although you need to remember that the support of others is very important in dealing with the problem.

GamCare

In the UK, the most popular option is GamCare. They also run a 24-hour hotline for which people are suspected of addiction. The institution provides discretion and professional assistance. In addition, it provides an opportunity to contact other addicts. This makes it possible to talk to people in a similar situation and find answers to their questions.

Below are the websites and phone numbers of Africanch sites to help you in case of gambling problems:

• Warsaw: https://www.akmedcentrum.eu/
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