According to data from the Gambling Commission in the year up to September 2022, 44% UK adults gambled in the last 4 weeks. Gambling has a presence in many people’s lives, but how far is too far? When does gambling become a problem?
Social Gamblers
- Gamble occasionally, such as buying lottery tickets or going to the casino every now and then
- Hope to win, but expect to lose
- When they lose, they accept this fact. They don’t continue playing to chase losses
- Gambling is done as sporadic entertainment
- Stick to limits of time and money. They are in control of their gambling
Problem gamblers, on the other hand, are the inversion of this…
Do I Have a Gambling Problem?
- Do you spend lots of time thinking about gambling?
- Have you tried to stop gambling but haven’t been able to?
- Do you keep on playing when you lose money to try to win it back?
- Do you use gambling as a coping mechanism to help you deal with, or avoid, any negative emotions you’re experiencing? Do you use it as an escape from reality? Do you use it to change your mood?
- Have you ever lied to someone about the amount of time or money you have spent gambling?
- Have you ever stolen money to gamble? If not, have you ever considered doing so?
- Have you ever taken our credit to gamble? (E.g, a personal loan or credit card)
- Would you choose to gamble rather than spending time with your friends or family? Would you cancel plans to gamble instead?
- Is gambling affecting your social life? Is it affecting your work life?
- Has gambling caused you any financial problems?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing a gambling problem. GamCare is a free service you can use for information and support if you are suffering from a gambling problem. Gamblers Anonymous runs local support groups to help you recover from a gambling addiction. You are not alone.
Is Gambling becoming Normalised?
In our blog discussing how gambling can ruin your finances, we briefly looked at how widely advertised gambling is, with 1 in 6 adverts shown during ITV’S programming for the 2018 Fifa World Cup promoting gambling.
Gambling is indeed heavily advertised, and it is not confined to in-person bookies. There has been a continuous growth of online betting services, with online gambling participation rate in the UK rising to 27% in the year up to September 2022.
This ability to bet online is fuelling the problem. It allows problem gamblers to get even more lost in the game, encouraging them to become more withdrawn and unsociable, able to bet in the comfort of their own home.