The gambling industry is one of the biggest and most profitable industries in the world, with companies making billions every year. The reason it’s so successful is because it attracts so many people, who keep coming back for more, even though they know the odds are against them. While most people know they’ll lose and manage to limit their playing to fun, there are plenty of people who become addicted and turn into problem gamblers.
How Does Gambling Addiction Happen?
The term ‘gambling addiction’ has been around for longer than the scientific community has agreed that it really is an addiction. It used to be a buzzword until gambling was acknowledged to be an activity that is highly addictive. Just like drugs release dopamine, a chemical that rewards natural behaviours, so does gambling. This makes us feel great which makes addicts continue, and even increase, the behaviour, until they are constantly trying to achieve that high that they get from gambling.
Recognizing Gambling Addiction
The good news is that plenty of people can enjoy gambling regularly without becoming addicted. But for those who do become addicted, it can be difficult to recognise their addiction until it is too late. If gaming is impacting your relationship with friends or loved ones, if you are lying to your friends or family to gamble, or if you are regularly losing more money than you planned to, you may have a gambling addiction. The good news is that you can stop and there are ways to help you control your gambling before it gets out of hand, as well as to give help when it is needed.
Responsible Gambling
Of course, a casino hopes to make money off people who gamble, so their interests are not really the same as the gambler’s interests; however, some casinos take steps to help their players avoid becoming addicted. Responsible gambling tools have become essential parts of some of the top casinos to ensure that their players have a wholesome and enjoyable gaming experience without becoming addicted to the activities.
Mr Green’s revolutionary responsible gaming tool presents players with a survey about healthy and unhealthy gaming habits and then compares their answers to their actual activity, notifying players when their playing moves from healthy to unhealthy actions.
Furthermore, in Canada for example, credible gambling websites often publish their responsible gaming guidelines, helping their visitors to control gambling behaviours and to ensure they maintain control whenever playing.
Tips for Staying in Control
Besides reading extensively about how to maintain control and avoid problem gambling behaviours, it is important to take concrete steps to ensure that your gambling never gets out of control. One way is to set aside a specific bankroll and to limit your gambling to that money. Never use money that has not been set aside specifically for gambling. Set yourself stop limits so that you will stop gambling when you lose a set amount, or once you have won a set amount. And most importantly, make sure to seek help the moment you are concerned about your gambling.
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Guest Author Bio
Felicity
Felicity loves all things technical and VR related. She can often be found rocking her Occulus Rift while chasing her cats and dog around, or writing. She loves to write.
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