Betting on any sporting event can be a bit of fun between friends, but keep the following in mind if you feel like your gambling has the potential to get out of hand and stop being enjoyable.
Be intelligent
It is essential to set yourself a budget and stick to it – this way you know that you’re gambling within your means and that there’s no danger of you gambling yourself into debt.
...gambling can be ok when done in moderation. Set yourself a budget and stay within your means
Gambling should never be seen as a way to make money for a living. While some people win big and can even forge a career out of it, many people lose big too, often more than they can afford.
When gambling becomes an addiction, it can ruin lives – the gambler’s family and friends can all be affected by finance problems, mood swings and deceit. It is
all too easy to bet more and more money, trying to win back what you have lost, all the while telling yourself that you’ll win next time.
Losing control
As with many other things, gambling only becomes an addiction when you lose control over how often you do it and how much you spend on it.
...remember, “you’re buying fun, not investing your money” – advice from Gamcare, a charity offering free gambling counselling
There are loads of different types of gambling which combine fun, luck and an element of skill in different measures – from bingo and the pools to lottery, sports events and casino-based games. Ensure that when you gamble, it is occasional, in moderation, and just for fun rather than to earn money. Do not fall into the trap of using gambling as a hobby to escape from boredom or relieve stress.
Gambling under the influence of alcohol – no matter how little – can impair your judgement and decision-making, and make you behave more complacently, all of which can only lead to losing more than you winning.
Regain control of a gambling habit
There are specific measures you can put in place if you think your gambling habits have become a problem:
- Self exclusion – you can sign up to services which block you from online gaming for a set period of time (usually between six months and five years). More information can be found on www.gamblingaware.co.uk
- Support – there are many organisations offering dedicated counselling and support to those people who are addicted or think they may becoming addicted to gambling. As well as offering practical tips on regaining control over your gambling, or stopping altogether, they can offer a friendly and professional ear whenever you feel the urge to gamble. Gamcare, the charity offering free gambling counselling, advises to remember that "you are buying fun, not investing your money."
- Manage your free time – if gambling has become a way of filling time, it’s important to look at ways of managing your free time better and filling it with more productive activities and hobbies.