Do you often fancy your chances in the weekly lottery? Are you known to make an impulse scratch card purchase at the newsagents when you get a feeling that luck is on your side? Or maybe a a regular trip to the bingo with the girls is more your thing. Perhaps you can’t resist playing free slots on your smartphone on the way to work?
Whatever you’re into, you probably aren’t alone. The Gambling Commission estimates that there are between 236,000 and 378,000 problem gamblers in Britain, but Gamblers Anonymous thinks it is nearer 600,000 and women make a significant percentage of those figures.
If you’re left feeling ashamed, here are some tips to make sure you gamble sensibly:
The savvy gambler is always acutely aware of responsible gambling. There are several ways to promote good practice which we’ll explore here.
Be strict about your spending
You should give yourself strict limits on how much you gamble each week or month. You can do this either by keeping track of your bets online, imposing limits using an application that the site has to offer, or by keeping a physical diary of everything you have won or lost along with notes of the bet.
Don’t let your emotions take over
We all love to win something and that’s exactly what can get many people hooked in gambling.
But sometimes, desperation can set in and even though your sensible head tells you to stop spending, you continue buying that scratch card or lottery ticket.
This is a very dangerous place to get into and if you find yourself here you should speak to a professional about it before you develop too strong an addiction to gambling.
Know when to stop
Like setting a budget, knowing when to stop spending on the next poker game or scratch card is key to nipping any emotional or addictive purchases in the bud.
If you know you have agreed a £10 spend a month you should stick to it.
When we lose a bet, there’s always a tendency to want to chase your loss immediately. You should beware doing this as it can lead into a frivolous spiral of losses.
Gambling should be treated as any other form of entertainment – with a keen eye on exactly how much you can afford. Above all you should be having fun in what has become a highly innovative industry.
When to get help
If you gamble your food money away, or miss household bill payments because you spent tooth money gambling then you need to seek help.
There are many charities available like Gamblers Anonymous that will help you to curve your addiction, and your GP can help you, too.
