Keeping Play in Balance
Is gambling affecting your life?
Ask yourself these questions honestly.
- Does gambling distract you from work or school?
- Do you play alone for long periods or mainly to escape boredom?
- Have people close to you criticised your gambling?
- Have family, friends or hobbies become less important because you play?
- Have you hidden how much time or money you spend?
- Have you borrowed, stolen or lied to obtain gambling money or pay gambling debts?
- After a loss, do you feel driven to win the money back immediately?
If most of your answers are yes, you may have a gambling problem. Contact one of the support organisations below for advice and practical help.
What habits help you stay in control?
Treat gambling as leisure, not a source of income. Use only spare money that you can afford to lose, and keep track of both time and spending. A loss is not something you need to recover straight away. Chasing it can extend play and increase the amount at risk.
Take notice when gambling starts replacing other activities or when arguments, frustration or disappointment make you want to play. A pause can give you distance from the next decision.
Pay attention if you keep playing until all available money is gone, feel unable to use gambling money for anything else, or become desperate when funds run out. Hiding your play or losing interest in people and activities around you are also reasons to stop and reconsider the role gambling has taken.
How can you take a break or self-exclude?
Ask support for a break, or request self-exclusion by e-mailing [email protected]. We then close the account at the earliest practicable moment.
Tell us about any other accounts you hold and do not open new ones. We will make reasonable efforts to prevent new accounts from being created, but responsibility for not opening another account remains with you. We are not responsible for potential losses on other accounts.
Where can you find outside support?
GamCare offers consultation, advice and practical help with the social effects of gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship whose members work on their own gambling problems and help other compulsive gamblers.
Gambling Therapy provides support and counselling to people affected by gambling.
These organisations can help you discuss the effect gambling has on you or someone close to you. Reaching out is also appropriate when gambling leaves you feeling depressed or desperate.
How are minors kept away?
Registration by anyone under 18 is prohibited. Winnings obtained by an underage player are cancelled.
If children or other people who are not allowed to register share your device, parental-control and filtering software can restrict access to gambling content. Net Nanny is one example. Keep account details private and use the available family controls on shared devices.