© Photo Healy Racing
Safer Gambling UK has launched its annual awareness week to promote responsible gambling.
This year, the initiative takes place from Monday November 18 - Sunday November 24 and a number of events will take place on how to gamble safely, including webinars and Q&A sessions.
Here you will find a useful guide on how to gamble safely. Explore practical and effective tips for engaging in safer gambling practices.
Don’t think of gambling as a way to make money
Gambling should be used as a form of entertainment rather than a way to make money. If it stops being enjoyable or fun you should seek help or find a way to stop.
Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
You should expect to lose when gambling as no one wins all the time. Only bet with money that you can afford to lose, not money that you require for everyday life. Never borrow money to gamble.
Never chase your losses
It can be tempting to keep placing bets in an attempt to win back the money you have lost. This can be very dangerous as you can continue to lose more and more money. You can set win or loss limits over a certain period of time to help with this.
Set a money limit in advance before you play
You can set a deposit limit with most major bookies. Simply set a limit on how much money can you deposit into your account over a certain period. This is a very effective way to practise safer gambling.
Take breaks
It can be very helpful to take breaks from gambling. Many leading bookmakers will allow you to use a ‘time out’ feature to help you stay safe or a reminder to show you how much time you have spent gambling.
Don’t gamble when you are upset or depressed
Your mood can affect your decision-making so it is a good idea to avoid gambling when you are experiencing negative emotions.
Don’t gamble when you drink or use drugs
This can be a dangerous combination. It can lead to excessive gambling.
Problem gambling can be devastating. Here we look at ways to recognise gambling addiction in yourself or others.
If gambling is affecting your every day life and you are betting more than you can afford to lose it is time to seek help.
You may also notice that it affects your mood and you no longer enjoy taking part in activities which you used to find enjoyable.
Personal relationships can become strained, including having arguments with family and/or friends about your gambling. You may always be thinking or talking about gambling and/or lying about your gambling or hiding it from your friends and family.
If you feel the need to chase your losses to get out of money problems or you gamble until all your money is gone, it is worth finding support.
Borrowing money, selling possessions, or not paying bills to fund your gambling are warning signs, along with needing to gamble with larger amounts of money or for a longer time to get the same 'buzz' or excitement.
Look out for neglecting work, study, family, friends, personal needs or household responsibilities because of your gambling. Be aware of feeling anxious, worried, guilty, depressed or irritable.
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of helplines and support resources available in your country of residence:
Gamblingcare.ie - a referral service in Ireland to help you find support if you or someone you know is experiencing problem gambling. The helpline is open 9am - 11pm 365 days a year.
GambleAware.org - most leading bookmakers are associated with this organisation that promotes safer gambling and offers advice 24/7 through its live chat service or helpline to those struggling with problem gambling in the UK.
Gamstop - known for its slogan ‘when the fun stops stop’ this organisation helps you to self-exclude on a permanent basis. They will send your details to operators and ensure you can no longer bet with those bookmakers.
