Play Responsibly
It is advisable to factor in the money you spend on gambling to your monthly budget for leisure activities like going to the cinema and eating out, only betting with cash you can afford to lose. If you have a set limit, for either the amount of money you are willing to spend in one session or the length of time you wish to dedicate to gambling, it can help to stop it taking over other areas of your life.
If gambling ever stops being fun and you find yourself chasing your losses, spending more than you can afford, ignoring your family or neglecting your work, there are numerous steps you can take to access the help you need.
The Addiction section of Gamble.net offers advice to help you assess whether you have a problem as well as to give you an understanding of what a gambling addiction actually is. You can also read about the support available to you, such as counselling, debt management and self-exclusion from gambling venues.
If you are worried about your relationship with gambling, or you think someone you know may have an issue, there are a number of places you can turn to for advice:
- National Gambling Helpline – 0808 8020 133
- National Problem Gambling Clinic – 020 7534 6699 or 020 7534 6599
- Samaritans – 116 123
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Money Advice Service – 0300 500 5000
- StepChange (debt advice charity) - 0800 138 1111
- Online, you can find chat facilities and forums at the websites of GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous and gambling therapy.