Finding Help for Gambling Addiction: Resources, Tools, and Support
Gambling has a lot of potential as a fun activity, but some people might allow their compulsive tendencies to overtake them when betting. When this happens, even the best online casinos can rapidly transition from entertainment to an addiction. If you’re worrying that you or someone you know might have developed an instance of problem gambling, there’s no need to fret. The problem is serious, but help is always around the corner. Come with us as we take a look at all the ways you can find help for gambling addiction!
The Role of Online Casinos in Providing Help for Gambling Addiction and Problems
As enterprises that provide access to gambling opportunities at just the click of a button, online casinos have an inherent responsibility to promote responsible gambling. Any legitimate and licensed online casino will have multiple policies in place that ensure that the standards of responsible and legal gambling are upheld.
Age Verification and Legal Compliance
One of the most prominent examples of this is casinos not allowing players under the age of 18 to sign up. Whenever a bettor registers for an account on an online casino, they’re asked to provide personal information such as name, date of birth, and identification number. All of this is used to ensure that the player is not underage. Anyone who is caught registering an account under false pretenses is not allowed to withdraw their winnings, and they might even face criminal charges of some sort, depending on the casino’s location of operation.
Some casinos take this a step further by setting the minimum gambling age at 21. The age limit also depends on the area that the casino operates in, because they do have to comply with local rules and regulations as well. Certain casinos will even prevent bettors from checking out the game’s free-play version without proving their age. This is done so that underage gamblers have no way of getting exposed to the thrill of gambling.
Tools to Help Gamblers Manage Their Habits
Apart from preventing underage players from accessing the games, online casinos also have a myriad of other tools in place for betters who do fall above the age limit. These tools are there for gamblers to have a better check and balance on their betting habits. For example, many online casinos allow gamblers to set daily, weekly, or monthly betting limits. Once your limit is reached, the casino essentially prohibits you from making any more bets until the defined period is over.
This allows bettors to set a gambling budget and follow along with it till the end, minimizing overspending in the process. Another tool provided by online casinos is detailed data on how much gamblers have spent on their bets so far. This allows you to see an overall picture of your gambling habits, allowing you to determine whether you need to adjust your budget in any way.
Tools like these are helpful because people are often unable to determine the extent of their gambling, which is why they don’t catch their compulsive habits until it's too late. However, if you consistently make use of such tools to keep your gambling spending in check, it will be much easier for you to track your betting over a long period of time.
This is why when you’re about to pick an online casino, it’s essential to look into what responsible gambling tools they offer. Any casino worth its salt will not leave players scratching their heads when it comes to understanding their casino spending.
Self-Exclusion
Apart from these basic tools, online casinos also have other stricter measures in place for people who have developed a severe gambling problem. These mechanisms are put in place for people who feel like they’re now unable to manage their gambling habits on their own and need a proper procedure in place.
One example of this is self-exclusion, which is a voluntary process that allows people with gambling issues to exclude themselves from casino websites. Most online casinos will have a dedicated self-exclusion page, where bettors can place temporary limits on their accounts. This is known as a self-exclusion period, and during this time, bettors can neither open their accounts nor play any games at the casino.
Permanent Account Closure
Some casinos will also allow you to go a step further and close your account entirely, which is recommended for people with very severe gambling addiction. Once your account has been closed, the casino will not reopen it under any circumstances. However, it might take some time for the closure to go through if you have pending withdrawals or deposits.
Regardless of what responsible gambling method you choose, it’s important to exercise it at all casinos you play at. This way, you can prevent yourself from falling back into old habits, even when your compulsive gambling gets triggered for any reason.
Apps for Limiting Online Gambling
Other than the tools at online casinos, there are individual apps as well that people can use to stop their compulsive gambling habits. These allow them to place a limit on their gambling habits in one way or another, preventing them from placing more bets. Here are some of the most prevalent problem gambling apps out there:
BetBlocker BetBlocker allows users to block online gambling websites on as many devices as they want for a particular period of time. Once you activate the app, there is no way to deactivate it before your limit expires. The app is available on Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. Net Nanny Net Nanny is a general tool for blocking unsafe content on the internet, including gambling websites. The app also offers other features, such as a screen time management tool. Using this, bettors can limit and schedule when they can access the internet.
The app is mainly marketed towards parents who want to prevent their children from accessing dangerous content, but it is also highly beneficial for adults who want to keep themselves away from gambling activities.
Gamblock Gamblock also works similarly to BetBlocker, allowing people to block themselves from online gambling content on multiple devices. Bettors can also use the other features on this app, such as self-exclusion and managed exclusion. Betfilter This is an online blocking software that problem gamblers can use to block themselves from online gambling websites. The easy-to-use software is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. Addiction Avert This is a unique app for iOS and Android, which was created specifically for people with an addiction. The app features multiple tools that allow people to curb their addictive tendencies. Multiple relapse prevention tools are available that provide recovery information and encouragement, discouraging bettors from gambling again.
Official Resources for Gambling Prevention and Information
If you want to learn more about problem gambling and seek help from experts, here are a few resources from different countries to look into. Resources such as these can help you connect with an expert via chat or call, but they can also offer other useful features such as:
- Articles containing helpful information regarding problem gambling.
- Stories from other people who have struggled with gambling addiction.
- Gambling advice from various authentic internet pages.
- FAQs regarding gambling-related problems.
- Gambling addiction tests to get an overall assessment of your gambling habits.
Please note that none of this information will be an absolute replacement for a professional. These are all things that should be studied in addition to connecting with an expert because only they can offer you the personalized help you need for your particular condition.
This resource guide has been compiled for people who have come to the realization that they or someone they know has a gambling problem. Once you accept that, you will already have taken the first step to recovery. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some resources from various countries around the world that can help you move further in your recovery process.
International
The following two websites can be used as a resource guide by people all around the globe. Gamblers Anonymous even holds support group meetings in various cities, so you can use the website to see whether there is a local chapter in your vicinity or if there’s a possibility to start one:
- Gamblers Anonymous: http://gamblersanonymous.org/
- Gambling Therapy: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en
United States
Americans can call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. The Helpline has 28 call centers, which are available 24/7, 365 days a year. People can also reach the helpline online through chat services instead of calling the number.
This website also allows you to find help by state. It has a map, and you can search for institutions in your state that can help you.
- NCP Gambling: www.ncpgambling.org
Australia
The Australian Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-858-858. In addition to providing a person to talk to, it also offers information regarding self-help tools.
You can also use the following website to get self-help, assess your gambling, use the SMS support facility as well as live chat with online counseling. There are also some great recovery stories and a gambling calculator.
- Gambling Help Online: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
United Kingdom
People can reach the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133. It is available seven days a week from eight in the morning to midnight. People can also reach out to GamCare, an online chat support service for gambling addicts, which is accessible via smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop PCs.
Austria
Austria has a massive list of help centers across the country. Depending on the region you reside in, there are different websites that can offer problem gambling assistance both online and locally.
Wien:
- Spielsuchthilfe: www.spielsuchthilfe.at
- Anonyme-spieler: www.anonyme-spieler.at
- API: www.api.or.at
Niederösterreich:
- API: www.api.or.at
- Anonyme-spieler: www.anonyme-spieler.at
Oberösterreich:
- Spielsuchtberatung: www.spielsuchtberatung.at
- Spielsuchtambulanz: www.spielsuchtambulanz.at
- Wels: www.wels.gv.at
Kärnten:
- Klagenfurt: www.klagenfurt.at (Spielsuchtberatung Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt)
- Diakonie-delatour: www.diakonie-delatour.at (Krankenhaus de La Tour)
- Diakonie-delatour: www.diakonie-delatour.at (Spielsuchtambulanz de La Tour Villach)
- Diakonie-delatour: www.diakonie-delatour.at (Spielsuchtberatung de La Tour Spittal)
Salzburg:
- Salk: www.salk.at
Steiermark:
- Bin-suchthilfe: www.bin-suchthilfe.tirol
- Fachstelle-gluecksspielsucht: www.fachstelle-gluecksspielsucht.at
- Suchtfragen: www.suchtfragen.at
- Suchtberatung-obersteiermark: www.suchtberatung-obersteiermark.at
Vorarlberg:
- Mariaebene: www.mariaebene.at
Belarus
- Saikov: saikov.by
Belgium
- Gokhulp: gokhulp.be
Bulgaria
- Drugsinfo-bg: www.drugsinfo-bg.org
Croatia
- PBSVI: www.pbsvi.hr
Czechia
- Stopzavislosti: stopzavislosti.cz
Denmark
- Spillemyndigheden: www.spillemyndigheden.dk
Estonia
- Hasartmängusõltuvus: www.15410.ee
Finland
- Peluuri: peluuri.fi
France
- Adictel: www.adictel.com
Germany
- Anonyme-Spieler: www.anonyme-spieler.org
Greece
- Oasis: oasis.org.gr
Ireland
- Gamble Aware: www.gambleaware.ie
Italy
- Gruppo Abele: centrostudi.gruppoabele.org
Malta
- Responsible Gambling Foundation: rgf.org.mt
Latvia
- Speles Briviba: www.spelesbriviba.lv
Lithuania
- Respublikinis Priklausomybės Ligų Centras: www.rplc.lt
The Netherlands
AGOG: www.agog.nl
Poland
- Uzaleznienia Behawioralne: www.uzaleznieniabehawioralne.pl
Slovakia
- Nehraj: www.nehraj.sk
Slovenia
- Zdravstveni Dom Osnovno Varstvo Nove Gorica: www.zd-go.si
Spain
- Fejar: fejar.org
Sweden
- Stodlinjen: www.stodlinjen.se
Switzerland
- Careplay: www.careplay.ch
Canada
- Problem Gambling Canada: www.problemgambling.ca
New Zealand
Text in for a callback, talk to representatives online, visit the forum for gamblers, and make use of services that can find local gambling addiction centers.
- Gambling Help Line: www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz
Hong Kong
- Amblercaritas: www.gamblercaritas.org.hk
Singapore
- NCPG: www.ncpg.org.sg
South Korea
- KCGP: www.kcgp.or.kr
South Africa
- Responsible Gambling: www.responsiblegambling.co.za
In a Nutshell
Problem Gambling is a severe problem to struggle with, but there are ways to find help. If you think you might have developed a gambling disorder, you should seek help instead of falling into despair, because recovery is possible! With the right dedication and consistency, many individuals are able to correct their gambling habits.
