We at Fruity King want to ensure that our players can gamble in a safe and secure environment. This also means that we have a stringent policy in place when it comes to responsible gambling. As a result, while playing at an online casino is a fun and harmless experience for the vast majority of our players, there might be a time when you feel that you are no longer in control of your gambling.
If you feel that you might be developing signs of compulsive gambling, or you have a friend or family that you are concerned about, please spend some time reviewing the following information.
How to Recognise Problem Gambling
Whether you are here reading this article in the fear that you yourself might have a problem with gambling, or you are concerned about a loved one, it is important that you take some steps to identify whether a problem exists.
First and foremost, if you find yourself constantly chasing losses with the view of winning your money back, then this should be an early warning sign. This also links into issues with the amount of time you spend gambling. If you find yourself constantly thinking about gambling, or you find yourself gambling when you shouldn’t be (for example while at work), then your gambling might have become problematic.
Furthermore, if you are dedicating too much time to online gambling, you might find that this is having a direct impact on your relationships with family and friends.
This can then lead to issues with your daily expenses. Problem gamblers often find that they are short at the end of the month, and thus, have issues with paying bills. If your gambling losses have resulted in you being unable to afford your monthly rent, then it is important that you take some steps to recognize the severity of the problem.
At the more extreme end of problem gambling, borrowing money to fund your gambling endeavours also illustrates that you might have a problem with compulsive gambling. This can lead to ongoing issues with guilt and anxiety, and leave you with the feeling that you have lost control.
Many of the aforementioned red flags are precursors of one another. This is why you should constantly reassess your relationship with gambling to ensure that you always remain in control.
What can I do if I Feel I Have a Problem With Gambling
There is a range of steps that you can take to ensure that your gambling does not get out of control. This will ultimately depend on your specific circumstances and the severity of your concerns.
First and foremost, we would suggest that you install some gambling limits on your account. At any point in time, you can browse through your casino account and implement certain restrictions. For example, you can choose to install a maximum deposit limit on your account, which can be implemented on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
If you attempt to increase these limits, you will need to wait 24 hours before the increase comes into effect. This provides you with a cooling off period in the event that you attempt to increase the limits irrationally.
You also have the option of taking a temporary break from gambling. This gives you the opportunity to reassess your relationship with online casinos. You can stipulate the time you would like to restrict access from your account. This might range from a few days to a few weeks.
If you feel you need more robust safeguards in place, then you might want to consider self-excluding yourself from the platform. This prevents you from accessing your gambling account until the predefined self exclusion period has concluded. If you have multiple accounts with multiple operators, you might be best to self exclude yourself with GamStop. Upon registering your details, they will contact each and every UK casino on your behalf to ensure you are self-excluded from all of them.
Where can I go to get Help if I am a Problem Gambler?
If you are a problem gambler and you have utilized the self-exclusion safeguards through GamStop, it might be necessary for you to still obtain further help. This is because although you might be excluded from online casinos, you might be tempted to use offline gambling operators such as betting shops or casinos. As a result, it is fundamental that you address your relationship with gambling.
One of the best resources in this respect is the BeGambleAware platform. The not-for-profit organization is a UK-based charity committed to reducing gambling harm and preventing gambling addiction.
After an initial, confidential conversion with the BeGambleAware team, either via their free helpline or live cat facility, they can point you in the direction of suitable counselling programs in your local area. They also have a really useful online forum that allows you to discuss your concerns with other problem gamblers – many of whom offer great advice.
GamCare is another UK based charity that offers support with gambling addiction. On top of offering a range of self-help tools, you can also speak with a trained specialist one-on-one. GamCare also offers a dedicated chatroom where you can speak with other problem gamblers, and they can put you in contact with local treatment centres.
If you feel that online gambling is your biggest threat, then it is also suggested that you install a software program that blocks access to gambling-related content. It might be worth checking out the software offered by GamBlock. Although you have the pay a small fee to use it, GamBlock is highly effective in restricting your ability to access online casinos.