Gambling should be a source of fun and entertainment. However, for some gamblers, this can become a serious problem, as gambling causes excessive emotions and leads to addiction. In several countries, up to 5% of players experience this kind of addiction.
The main task of casinos, betting shops and other related establishments is to take measures for liability in gambling. This helps to protect the welfare of their customers and maintain user loyalty. The conclusion is clear: caring always leads to positive results.
Why does the dependence arise?
Addiction can arise for many reasons: the monotony of everyday life, the hope of winning a million for one’s family, gambling and the desire for pleasant emotions. However, the mechanism that leads to addiction is usually the same: the reward system built into our psychology. When we receive a reward, the brain releases happiness hormones into the bloodstream, we feel pleasure and want to do it again.
Here is the trap that some players fall into: they get into the habit of not receiving the reward, but wanting it. As we all know, expectation often provides more satisfaction than the event itself. Gambling offers almost unlimited amounts of such anticipation, as it is structured in such a way as to constantly create the illusion that victory is just around the corner!
People who love racing, are prone to intense acts or get bored quickly may be in a high-risk group for developing an addiction.
How can you tell if you have fallen into dependence?
Addiction often manifests itself as an overwhelming desire to regain what you have lost, when you keep playing despite the losses. This desire to win can lead players to take out loans, ready for anything in order to get money to play. Quitting becomes extremely difficult, as stopping from gambling seems impossible due to the strong pull towards it.
You may also start to lie and hide your gambling allegiance from your loved ones, who usually see what is going on and try to stop you. Because of this, gamblers often hide their activity from family and continue to gamble.
Casinos that abide by responsible gambling rules offer special tests to help identify addiction. It is recommended that you carry out these tests regularly to monitor your behaviour and ensure that gambling remains a safe and enjoyable activity.
How can I avoid addiction?
You can use effective measures to prevent addiction. If you’re struggling to manage your gambling spending, here are some tools that can help:
- Set limits: limit the time you spend on games, spending amounts and deposits. To enable such options, you usually need to contact support, although some modern casinos allow you to set limits directly in your user profile.
- Removal from marketing lists: casinos often attract attention with their promotions, new games and bonuses. By unsubscribing from such notifications, you will be able to avoid the temptation.
- Self-limitation: you can temporarily avoid games for a day, a week, a month or more.
- Self-blocking: give yourself the option to block access to the games for at least one year.
Protection of minors
Responsible gaming necessarily requires restricting access to gaming platforms for minors. The minds of children and adolescents are not fully developed, and they are often unable to properly control their actions. Thus, participating in gambling can cause serious damage to their developing bodies.
For this reason, the laws of all countries strictly prohibit people under the age of 18 from participating in gambling. Casinos support this policy and actively use methods of checking personal documents to verify that players are of legal age.
What organisations exist to help players?
In Greece, there are several organizations that provide help and support to casino players who have problems with gambling. These include:
- KETHEA ALFA – a therapeutic community for people with addictions, including gambling. They offer rehabilitation and support programs, as well as educational programs for families and friends of addicts.
- Panhellenic Association for the Treatment of Gambling Addiction – an organisation dedicated to providing information, support and treatment services for people with gambling addiction.
- Counselling centres – many cities in Greece have counselling centres that offer help and support to people dealing with various forms of addiction, including gambling.
- National Agency for Social Policy and Welfare – a state institution that also provides resources and support to tackle gambling addiction.
These organisations offer various forms of help, including helplines, personal counselling, therapy programmes and education for families. Support is available for both the person who is addicted and their loved ones.