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Written by:
Ryan Mitchell
Last Modified:
2024/10/30
Gambling Addictions can happen to anyone. The disorder sees people betting and wagering at gambling sites continuously, creating a barrage of problems along the way. Whilst gamblers facing the disorder might conduct their gambling in secret, a good amount of outlets are ready to help. But before we can offer a viable solution to problem gambling, we would like to highlight the signs of gambling disorders. Problematic gaming fall under many categories. People might be spending too much more excessively at online casinos or even placing sports bets online. Whilst the person facing the issue might not admit to facing money issues, the signs are there, and so is the support unit to help gamblers overcome this disease.
Although problem gambling tends to be a covert addiction, there are multiple signs that could help detect the disorder. Pathological and compulsive gambling are mental disorders that take over the gambler's life, creating damage in all aspects of the gambler's life. Here are some points to look out for when detecting gambling problems.
Erratic spending affects the lives of many people. Wanting to stop spending money recklessly, and not having the tools to do so, makes gamblers feel less than worthy. Lying about a disorder is the foundation of this type of addiction, which continues to fester in the shadows of one's life.
A compulsive gambler has no regard for the amount of money they spend. While money will be limited, problem gamblers will seek ways to fund their play. Most players will use money that is available on their credit cards, placing the player in debt. The compelling feeling to gamble will thrive, even though the player will not have any money to spend. Maxing out credit cards is also a trait of a gambling problem.
Denial is a factor common in most people with gambling problems. When a person is confronted about excessive gambling, denial is the only way out. This is how gambling affects people, to the point of even lying to loved ones. This is when mental health professionals are needed to assist the person with the addictive disorder.
Admitting to having behavioral addictions is the first step to recovery. Same like alcohol addiction, a gambling problem needs to be treated. Below, we look at some of the options to overcoming the situation.
Once a person admits to having an addiction, the next step is getting or seeking the necessary help. If a person admits to having an addiction, most of the time, this is a cry for help. Recognizing that you have a problem is solving the problem by 50%.
When people are faced with mental health problems, one solution is finding healthy ways of entertainment. This includes signing up to a yoga class, spending quality time with family, and possibly learning a new craft or sport.
Gamblers can choose to sign up to a gamblers anonymous meeting to strengthen their support network. Such meetings will see the person meet and discuss the addiction with other addicts, with peer support available 24/7. Reaching out for help when needed is essential towards a full recovery.
Ask for help if you need guidance on how to manage your money better. If you are seeking treatment for a gambling disorder, having someone manage your finances could be a good option. This trusted person would need to have the power and skill to say no if you ask for funds to fund your gambling. This support unit is sometimes either a close family member or a sponsor allocated from your support group.
Seeking help from professionals is also an integral part of one's recovery. Most gambling disorders also result in isolation, anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. Treatment available includes both inpatient and outpatient, depending on the severity of the matter.
Both online gaming sites and sports betting outlets offer you a selection of responsible gambling tools for you to manage your spending. These tools are targeted to players who would like to limit their gaming and prevent a gaming session from turning into a financial issue.
Limiting the amount of your online session is a viable option at casinos. Players have the option to restrict the time they spend on sites. Once the time limit is reached, you will be automatically disconnected from the site and not allowed to play.
Setting the amount you deposit is a good way to manage your gaming finances. When visiting online sites, you have the option to set the amount of money you deposit per day, week, and month. Once your deposit limits are reached, you will not be allowed to deposit further money.
Players have the opportunity to switch on a cooling-off period at online websites. A cooling-off period will see the player taking a time out from gambling for a specific period of time agreed with the casino. This could be a day, one week, a month, or more, depending on the amount needed to evaluate one's overall online spending.
Players have the option to self-exclude themselves completely from accessing a specific online casino or sportsbook. Most of the time, the site's Customer Support team would need to place the exclusion. Once barred, players will not be able to access their gaming account online, hence prohibiting the player from placing bets. The self-exclusion process would need to be repeated with all the gaming sites the gambler is registered at.
Unfortunately, many times a compulsive gambler reaches a point of no return, with both responsible tools and self-help not being enough. When gambling becomes too much, entities can help with highlighting gambling's role in your life. Players seeking to take the leap and seeking a solution for their gambling behavior can seek confidential help via many charities. Typing 'help with gambling' in your google search will show you all of the charities and entities that are available to help you stop.
The RG council offers support both inside and outside Canada, with a variety of links available to read more about your online spending patterns. Most sites ask you to fill in a confidential online questionnaire that will evaluate your spending patterns in the last 12 months. Following the results, you will be directed to additional help, depending on the severity of the problem. Support is available via a variety of channels, depending on one's needs.
Live chat is available mostly Monday to Friday, with many charities extending their services to the weekend. You have the option to start a chat with someone who has walked the gaming disorder path before, offering you a variety of solutions to consider.
The option to visit a counselling center is also on the table. Problem gamblers are offered the free service at a variety of locations across the country. The service will connect the gambler with a counselor who will assist the punter in the road to recovery. Whilst the service is anonymous, counselling centers have a legal obligation to report about matters of self-harm.
Whilst a small portion of people with impulsive control disorders will be comfortable with visiting a counselling center, others will not. Shame engulfs people facing money problems, with many not finding the courage to walk in and admitting to the problem. In such cases, patients can consider using the telephone helpline that is available through many anti-addictive disorder establishments.
The shame of losing money to addictive behaviors sometimes even halts the individual from calling for help. People have the option to overcome the feeling of guilt by texting with a professional. The notion of being caught gambling is at the back of the mind of every gambler, with this factor contributing to possibly not asking for help. The option to text with professionals is also available, protecting one's anonymity throughout the process.
The family members of compulsive spenders also need the support to come to terms with a loved one's obsessive-compulsive disorder. Whilst anger might be the most common reaction to one's not managing money properly, gambling should be treated and supported as an addiction. Mental health professionals and intensive treatment programs include immediate contacts in family therapy sessions, and also provide support for future family life and managing money.
If you are a family member of a problem gambler, contacting Gamblers Anonymous could offer you the guidance you need to support the patient. Try not to overreact and try to contain your anger and frustration. Instead, scheduling a meeting with a professional entity could help you develop tools to help your family members facing the addictive behavior.
Canadian casino players seeking to tackle their online addictive behaviours have a vast selection of entities to contact for help. Below we list some of the entities available to assist in offering free treatment to problem gamblers.
Players that are located in New Zealand can also contact a long list of entities that are ready to assist with a loved one's gambling disorder. Below is a list of contacts per region in New Zealand.
A portion of people with money problems will find it hard to lift up the phone and dial any of the above numbers. In such instances, gamblers have the option to use live chat, video streaming, or even sending an email. The above entities have a variety of contact channels which punters can choose from.
Unrestricted gaming is an issue that many anti-gambling organizations want to tackle. The accessibility of online staking websites is vast, with punters having many outlets to gamble and spend money online.
Players that seek to take back some control over their lives also have dedicated apps that can bar the accessibility of gambling sites. Websites such as GamBan and GamBlock are apps that one can download on both home and mobile devices. Once downloaded, the app would block all access to online gambling (including sports). The software is equipped to detect and block new gambling sites from being available to the punter seeking assistance in managing money and spending.
Downloading anti-gaming apps is normally not free. Each app would set you back CAD 2.99 monthly, yet it is worth it compared with the amount of money that players could eventually save by not having access to gaming online.
Gambling can be fun when done in a structured fashion. Before going all in with your gambling and betting, we suggest that you set aside a small gaming budget. Online casino sites offer you deposit limits that go hand in hand with the goal of managing money better.
Setting your deposit, loss, and session limits is a healthy approach to online fun, with many gaming sites offering RG tools. When online gaming does not offer you the same fun, you need to ask yourself why. Am I spending more than my monthly play limit? Am I spending more money following losses? If the answer to these questions is 'Yes', then it is time to take action.
Reach out to local charities that assist with mental health problems. If dialing the support number is a hard task to master, do not give up, as other options are available. Pluck the courage to send an email, start a live chat, or speak to a loved one who can assist in your recovery journey.
If punters want to stop playing, help is always available. Online, over the phone, or via email, choose the best option for you to take control of your social staking.
A gambling addiction is a disorder that is experienced by people who continuously gamble. The addictive behaviour can be done at online and land based casinos, sports betting sites, and betting shops.
When you gamble more than you need to, this is classified as a problem. Punters will go over their daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits, losing money to playing online.
Online Casino sites have a legal obligation to provide players with responsible gaming tools to manage their gaming. Players can opt to set deposit limits, loss limits, session limits, and other features. These account perks will help you manage your overall gaming cycle and better your online deposits.
A gambling disorder is classified as a mental health issue that requires assistance from professionals. If you feel you need extra help with gaming, reach out to one of your local anti-gambling charities that will be happy to assist.
The gambler is not the only one affected by a gambling disorder. Family members are also impacted in the gambling journey, with support and counselling available to help people come to terms with reality.
Author information
Ryan Mitchell
Casino Expert
Ryan Mitchell is a 30-year-old casino expert with over 10 years of experience in writing reviews and articles for the online gambling industry. As former roulette dealer, Ryan brings first-hand knowledge and insights. He provides our readers with detailed and trustworthy content.
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