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Responsible gambling

The guide to avoiding problem gambling

There are many people in the world who enjoy spending their free time gambling. This is also usually a matter for the individual to decide. Unfortunately, gambling can have a negative impact on a gambler’s life. This is called gambling addiction. With the help of responsible gambling tips, you can always keep the situation under control.

Interest in gambling is far more commonplace than people generally think. According to the 2022 Gambling Study conducted by the University of Bremen and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Drug and Addiction Research (ISD), 29.9% of the population has gambled for money at least once in the last 12 months. 13.1% of all respondents gambled at least once a week in the past year. Of course, this alone is not proof of a gambling addiction, but it does reveal a surprising trend. Even if many consider the image of the addicted, nervous gambler in front of the slot machine to be a cliché, gambling addiction should definitely be taken seriously.

What is responsible gambling?

Responsible gaming basically means taking advantage of what a casino has to offer without it interfering with the player’s daily life. This first starts with accepting the fact that gambling can be addictive. Many players know this, but do not take it one hundred percent seriously.

Furthermore, as a responsible gambler, one should regularly inquire about possible signs of gambling addiction. It is crucial that the enjoyment of the game is in the foreground and not the profit or even possible high losses. If you feel that you are gambling out of compulsion, you should first take a break.

Do you suffer from gambling addiction?

Looking in the mirror and asking yourself if you are addicted is not easy for anyone. On the other hand, it is the first step and the most important measure to recognize and prevent gambling addiction. We recommend every passionate gambler to read the following list thoroughly and maybe even print it out. This will make it easier to regularly check your own behavior. Pay attention to the following symptoms:

  • Do you feel guilty for the amounts of money you spend on gambling?
  • Do you have to increase your bets to experience the same feeling of excitement?
  • Do you find it difficult to stop gambling after losing?
  • Does your gambling cause financial difficulties for you or even for your entire household?
  • Does gambling interfere with your personal relationships, work or studies?
  • Do you suffer from health problems caused by gambling, such as stress or anxiety?
  • Do you feel uncomfortable when you are not gambling?
  • Do you feel that you have a problem with gambling?

How to help gambling addicts

It’s not just when it comes to ourselves that we need to be vigilant. People around us can also suffer from gambling addiction. If you suspect that someone around you has a problematic relationship with gambling, you can look at the following indicators. However, keep in mind that a single sign is not a direct indication of a gambling addiction. Rather, it is about recognizing and preventing an overall picture. Here now are the most important indicators:

Financial signs

  • Money inexplicably missing from wallet or bank account
  • Household items or valuables suddenly disappear
  • Financial shortage despite a regular salary
  • Multiple loans at the same time
  • Unpaid bills
  • The person borrows money regularly
  • Reserved when it comes to their own financial functioning
  • Lack of food in the shelter\

Mood and behavior

  • work performance is impaired
  • Changes in personality
  • Distance and coldness towards people close to the player
  • Manipulative behavior
  • Nervousness, anger, restlessness and anxiety for no apparent reason
  • Use of threats and lies to manipulate others
  • Feelings of despair, frustration and depression

Too much time spent gambling

  • Increasing time spent on games of chance
  • The person needs a lot of time to finish simple tasks
  • Secrecy and unexplained absences
  • Repeated lateness
  • The person takes many days off to gamble

Finally, remember that help begins with understanding. If you criticize or attack the person who is suffering, you decrease the chances of healing.

Minimum age for gambling and protection of minors

In EU and US, gambling on the Internet and participation in sports betting are only permitted from the age of 18. To protect minors from the dangers of gambling, the industry controls itself and does not actively approach young players. Moreover, there is a lot of information material and several hotlines where players, but also parents, for example, can get information. In addition, ID is required both to use an online casino and to visit a physical casino.

Tools for responsible gambling

Prevention of gambling addiction always starts with yourself. That’s why we’ve listed a whole range of useful tools that you should definitely test on yourself. After all, this is an excellent indicator of how susceptible you are to gambling addiction. After all, if you find it difficult to follow or apply the points mentioned below, you might want to contact one of the organizations that offer support for gambling addiction.

On the other hand, if you don’t have any difficulties dealing with these points, you can be quite reassured. By the way, these are all limits that you can set yourself in your account with the respective provider.

Deposit limit

The first possible step is to limit your own deposits to the casino account. This can be something like a weekly or monthly limit. It is important that you do not circumvent your own limit, but strictly follow it. Determine beforehand what amount you can handle each month without your quality of life suffering. If you lose the entire amount, you will have to wait until the next deadline to recharge your account.

Loss limit

In case of losses, you can proceed in a similar way. If you have lost a certain amount, be sure to quit the game. This way you will avoid further losses. By the way, this is a tactic that many professional gamblers use. So, it is not always a gambling addiction, but a solid strategy if you want to avoid losses and make profits with gambling.

The same applies to winnings, by the way. You should set yourself a desired win and stop gambling as soon as it is reached. Otherwise, you increase the risk of losing your hard-earned money quickly.

Time limit

It is definitely important to set yourself a time limit. There are several reasons for this. This way you avoid devoting all your time to gambling. There is still enough time for other activities. Also, a wisely calculated time limit will help you avoid exhaustion. Again, it helps if you can avoid time slots that are particularly dangerous. For example, if you start playing at 8 p.m., there’s a good chance the game will continue into the night.

Take a break from the game

If you feel like you are losing control of your behavior, take an extended break. Go on vacation or occupy yourself in some other way. After a week or two, you can make a cautious attempt to see how your behavior has changed.

Additionally, gambling on the Internet can be a very isolating experience. That’s when it’s often helpful to leave your own four walls and get a little inspiration from your surroundings. That way, you can regain your perspective.

Stake limit

If you want to avoid high losses, it makes sense to set a maximum limit for bets. You can orientate yourself on the minimum stakes of the casinos. If you feel the need to significantly increase the stakes, your alarm bells should ring. Especially if you feel that low stakes no longer give you the same exciting gaming experience, it’s time to think about support on the subject of gambling addiction.

Turnover history

Periodically check the movements on your account. If a large portion of it is related to gambling, it’s definitely a red flag. It’s also a good opportunity to identify patterns that will help you learn more about yourself. When exactly do you do most of your transactions? What is the total amount you spend on gambling?

Do you lose more than you win? To what extent does the budget spent on gambling overlap with your daily expenses? This step will help you get a better overview of your finances and behavior. By the way, you can find a list of all your transactions in the casino in your customer account in the gaming room.

Self-exclusion

If you feel you are in imminent danger of being or becoming addicted to gambling, you can also exclude yourself from gambling. To do this, you can contact the casino in question. Casinos are legally obliged to take a self-exclusion seriously and take the necessary measures. After that, your account will be deleted and you will not be able to open a new account as long as the self-exclusion is in place.

Self-examination

To avoid gambling addiction, it is primarily important to be honest with yourself. This is where self-observation comes first. This process is usually very unpleasant, but if you look in the mirror openly and honestly, you will quickly get a clear picture of the situation. Online gambling halls usually offer quizzes and questionnaires for this purpose.

It is important not to neglect any aspect. Observe your own behavior and pause if you have any doubts. If that doesn’t help you, turn to friends or acquaintances or to one of the many organizations that offer advice and help with gambling addiction.

Alarm

If you are having a hard time sticking to a time limit, it is helpful to set yourself an alarm. You can do this quite easily with your smartphone. In addition to the clock on the device, there are now numerous apps for this purpose that you can program exactly according to your own requirements. An alarm clock helps enormously in not losing track of time.

This is especially important in online casinos, where the appealing presentation and practical application can quickly lose you in the game. Serious arcades also allow you to set alarms in the user interface.

Organizations that offer help and support

Help with gambling addiction

The free facility for responsible gambling offers information and prevention, but also treatment for gambling addiction. The service is anonymous on request and includes counseling and therapy. The facility can be reached by telephone on 0800-1 37 27 00 and is available throughout EU.

Gamblers Anonymous

Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, this organization offers support for people who want to free themselves from their gambling addiction. Among other things, psychotherapeutic counseling or guided groups are offered. Referral to inpatient therapy can also be made here.