Stories of players losing all their winnings after a lucky streak are way too common. You win big but keep playing in hopes of winning more, only to leave empty-handed. When caught up in this gripping cycle, where does one draw the line?
This guide is to help you understand the nature of gambling, know when it’s getting out of hand, and take the necessary measures to regain control.
Understanding Impulsive Gambling
Gambling is ideally meant to be a bit of harmless fun and an occasional hobby to pass time. It’s termed recreational gambling when there’s no stress or negative consequences for the player with regard to money and time spent.
It’s when your betting habits are now damaging to you or your family that it ceases to be recreational gambling. The moment, you indulge in repetitive betting despite it draining your finances and having a negative impact on your life, it’s time for a reality check.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling happens gradually after a series of irrational betting decisions. You rarely feel it developing until it’s too late. This can make it harder for you to spot early on.
However, know that problem gambling is creeping in if you have an uncontrollable urge to keep betting regardless of the harm it brings. You’ll notice an increased frequency and duration of gambling sessions. Where you used to gamble for 1 hour, you now bet for 5.
Along with excessive gambling time, you start betting more money too. You experience withdrawal symptoms when you’re unable to gamble resulting in changes in behavior and mood. One is highly irritable with bouts of unexplained anger. Other tell-tale signs include selling assets and borrowing money to feed the activity.
Symptoms of Problem Gambling
How can you spot if your gambling habits are now to your detriment? Usually, you find yourself preoccupied with gambling. You spend every waking moment trying to get to the activity, participating in it, or looking for cash to fund it. Some people can even start skipping work so that they can gamble.
When you start chasing losses and escalating bets to “minimize damage”, it’s another sign you’re venturing into dangerous territory. You’re willing to throw more money into your bets even though you keep losing.
Neglecting responsibilities and relationships is another way to identify problem gambling because you’re now prioritising the activity over everything else.
Risk Factors for Problem Gambling
Everyone can partake in the activity, but some people are more at risk of problem gambling. If you’re below 35 and unemployed or a senior and retired, chances are you’re idle, bored, and have a lot of free time on your hands.
Also, the phenomenon is prevalent in marginalized communities and low-income households. The economic hardships prevailing in Zimbabwe aren’t helping the situation either. With a lot of Zimbabweans jobless, most have resorted to gambling.
Problem gambling is also possible if there’s history of it in your family. Having easy access to gambling opportunities can also work to your detriment, and so will mental health and substance abuse.
Taking Control: Setting Limits and Boundaries
The good news is you’re not fighting a losing battle, and there are ways to work around problem gambling. You have several tools you can implement to make sure you don’t reach those extreme levels to begin with.
Setting realistic budgets and time limits is a good place to start. Always set aside a gambling budget of money you can afford to lose comfortably. By the way, setting budgets and limits is half the job—you must stick to them.
You can also implement self-exclusion measures like taking a break from gambling for a stated period, which can be 6 months or a year. In extreme situations, seeking support from friends and family can also help you deal with the fallout.
How SportsBettingSites Helps You Stay in the Right Lane
Online gambling is supposed to be fun and ideal for players who treat it as such and can play within their means. That said, most sportsbooks won’t hang you out to dry and have several ways and resources to help you stay on track.
Regular Reminders
The best Zimbabwean bookmakers provide you with regular reminders of the dangers associated with excessive gambling. They offer handy resources for players who see their gambling is now becoming a source of stress rather than fun and how to keep a lid on things.
Raise Awareness
Some betting sites raise awareness by giving punters dedicated links to the best safe gambling resources. Here, you’ll find information that shows how these betting sites disapprove of problem gaming and the respective measures to curb it.
Industry Stats
It’s easier to drive a message home on responsible gambling using stats and figures. That’s why most bookies take the time to compile the latest stats on problem gambling to keep players in the know.
Organizations
The best sportsbooks partner with responsible gambling organizations. These offer counselling services to players in need, and whatever else support and help is required to beat the challenge. Top sites partner with platforms like eCOGRA and GPWA that can help if you’re struggling with gambling addiction.
Don’t Get Blindsided
Gambling is meant to be fun, but it’s a risky business if not approached cautiously. If you’re not intentional about your gambling habits, this can result in a slippery slope to financial loss, mental breakdown, and loss of family.
We could tell you that excessive gambling doesn’t come with devastating consequences, but we’re not doing you any favours. Problem gambling is a real thing—where you can’t resist betting regardless of the mayhem it’s causing in your life.
The best we can do is encourage you to spot the signs and readjust, to avoid being a statistic. Why not get familiar with responsible gambling tools and resources to conquer any possible addiction?
