Understanding Gambling

To ensure you maintain control of your gambling so that it remains enjoyable, please consider the following.

Maintaining Control

  • Gambling should be done in moderation and undertaken as a form of leisure not as a way of making money or to escape problems
  • Avoid chasing losses
  • Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
  • Keep track of the time and monitor the amount of money you spend. We provide detailed account statements and P&L history in the ‘My Account’ section
  • Balance your gambling with other leisure activities
  • Try to understand the odds/probabilities of winning and losing, and the rules of the games you are playing

Self Assessment

Where difficulties arise it is important that you find this out as early as possible so that you can put preventative measures in place and get further help if needed. Below are common signs that indicate you may be experiencing issues with your gambling:

  1. Have others ever criticised your gambling?
  2. Do you gamble to escape from a boring or unhappy life?
  3. Do arguments, frustrations or disappointments make you want to gamble?
  4. Do you gamble alone for long periods?
  5. Do you stay away from work, college or school to gamble?
  6. Have you ever lied to cover up the amount of money or time you spend gambling?
  7. Have you lied, stolen or borrowed in order to maintain order habits?
  8. Are you reluctant to spend ‘gambling money’ on anything else?
  9. Have you lost interest in your family, friends or pastimes due to gambling?
  10. After losing, do you feel that you have to try and win back your losses as soon as possible?
  11. If you run out of money when gambling, do you feel lost and in despair and feel the need to gamble again as soon as possible?
  12. Do you gamble until your last penny is gone, even the bus fare home or the cost of a cup of tea?
  13. Do you feel depressed or even suicidal because of your gambling?

The more questions that you answer ‘yes’ to, the more likely it is that you are having difficulties with your gambling. To speak with someone who can give you advice and support.