Read this guide and find the signs of the problem so that you can start treatment as soon as possible
One of the biggest problems for those who suffer from the problem of gambling is their unconsciousness. The player does not know whether one is affected by the pathology linked to non-responsible gambling or whether, more simply, it is the passion that drives him towards gambling.
At first sight, the border between responsible gaming and gambling addiction is slight. It takes very little to get caught up in the game, and in a short time, one is in danger of getting dragged into gambling, losing more and more, and not being able to stop.
In the United Kingdom, there is a self-exclusion service called GamStop. It helps players prevent gambling problems by excluding them from all UK gambling sites. However, even with the GamStop restriction, punters find ways to play casino games. There are a lot of online operators not in the GamStop database, where players can play as much as they want. However, only responsible gamblers without symptoms of addiction are allowed to play at casinos like these. For all other punters, self-exclusion tools are necessary.
If you suspect that you have a problem with gambling or think that a loved one is affected by this disease, all you have to do is read this guide and find the signs of the problem so that you can start treatment as soon as possible.
Signs that you need to take a break from gambling
Pay close attention to a few key symptoms of gambling addiction in order to identify the issue and begin therapy as soon as possible.
Lying about your gambling habits
One of the alarm bells concerns telling lies about one’s gambling habits. It is not relevant to whom these lies are told: it can be friends, relatives, one’s partner, work colleagues, and so on. The important thing is not to tell lies when talking about one’s habits.
Many are either unaware of this or try to ignore it, but it is the first sign of the development of pathology. Responsible gamblers do not need to tell lies when trying to talk about their gambling habits.
You cannot stop without GamStop self-exclusion
Another sign that indicates a problem is the inability to stop without using an external tool. Players who sense the presence of the issue of gambling often attempt to exclude themselves. They also make promises to themselves: small agreements with themselves in which they attempt to assure themselves that the problem will not persist. Of course, they eventually fail because they do not have enough willpower to overcome the problem (although they attempt to self-assure themselves of the contrary) and return to gambling.
Overreaching your budget often
Every gambler sets limits for himself in terms of his budget. “My budget is only 500 ZAR! Then, if I lose it all, I promise not to increase it again!” These are phrases one often hears. The problem, again, is that once the budget is reached, one endeavors to exceed it and go further. Because gambling is an addiction, after losing the entire budget, a gambler will certainly not want to stop. He’ll want to increase it repeatedly, waiting for the moment when he can exact his revenge.
Gambling takes all of your time
In addition to these symptoms, there is another particularly important one: gambling consumes all of your time. One needs to work, but then gambling intervenes, and all concentration falls on a slot machine. One should study, but once again, the desire to play and win ruins all the plans.
It is not strictly necessary that gambling consumes precisely all the time available, but that it takes away at least a substantial part of it. For example, if the gambler prefers to gamble instead of working or going shopping, it could be deduced that he is a gambler since gambling now replaces his critical daily chores. Gambling should be considered a pastime, and responsible gaming should only be done during leisure time.
Your relationships deteriorate
From the previous problem, one could easily infer the next one as well: due to a lack of time and other issues, relationships with other people deteriorate rapidly. The player sees his friends less often, preferring to play instead. Relationships with one’s partner are also diminished, slowly replaced by gaming. Family relationships are also affected. Everything disappears to make way for gambling.
You experience gambling urges
Finally, another symptom to consider: when you want to gamble, you want to do it right away. Now. Immediately. The player must immediately start or schedule the game for a later date. At first glance, it might seem the opposite, but this is a grave problem. It indicates that the urge to play has progressed so far that the player wants to abandon other chores to devote himself solely to gaming. If he must gamble now, it is because he has lost the brakes.
Conclusion
You should be very careful when gambling to save your mental health and prevent gambling addiction. To these symptoms that indicate the presence of a gambling disorder, others can be added. In case you have any of these symptoms, you should use self-exclusion schemes like GamStop or use alternatives to stop gambling. If that doesn’t help you, contact a specialist for help. Those shown, however, are the most important and often occur almost simultaneously. Only one of the indicated signs does not mean the presence of gambling, just as a simple mood swing that leads the person to stay at home does not imply addiction. If, on the other hand, these symptoms manifest themselves in groups simultaneously, you must realise that you have a gambling problem.