Tips for Safe Gambling

Contrary to what some people may believe, gambling is not evil. It is an easy way to expand your social circles, get an adrenaline kick and perhaps make some money. However, too much of anything can be poisonous. The adrenaline kicks, and the prospects of making money can take centerstage and leave you feeling out of control. Why? Gambling is addictive, and if you do not proceed with caution, you can soon become a cautionary tale.

Here is another fact- anyone can be a gambling addict. It does not matter if you or someone in your family has a gambling past. Even if you can handle your liquor and stick to one cup of coffee a day, you can still become an addict. There is no telling who is at more risk than the other. That is why it is essential to practice some safety tips when gambling.

Limit Yourself

Gambling requires two crucial resources: your time and money. Given its thrill, you may find yourself playing for long hours a day. Plus, with online sites, gambling has become even more accessible. With a few taps on your phone, you can have access to a realm of games. You can find yourself moving from one game to another and not being productive. That is the first thing you have to note. You can either use a site or app with time limit settings or use an independent timer. Decide how much time you can spend gambling a day, e.g., half an hour. Stick to it and no matter how enticing the game is, always leave when your time is up.

The next aspect is money, which is where people go wrong. Walking into a game with money and not knowing how much you are willing to lose is a big mistake. That is how you find yourself walking out, having sold your watch to stay in the game. Like with time, decide what you want to wager. Suppose you have $40 to wager, and you have lost it all in ten minutes. Even if you have twenty minutes left, you should leave the game. You have reached your limit for the day, and going any further will only hurt your finances.

Enjoy Yourself

Do you know another mistake people make in gambling? They do it solely for the money. You hear that your friend won $1,000, and you want to win such an amount too. So, you reach into your pocket, wager your money and cross your fingers. If you are looking for a win, you are more likely to get sucked into the game. Instead, how about playing for fun?

Find a game you enjoy and play it for a limited time using the limited funds. As time goes by, you will learn a lot about the game and increase your chances of winning. At some point, you may even start breaking even and recovering your earlier losses. However, even as the wins come streaming in, do not forget that the game is fun and not for money. Otherwise, your emotions will get the better of you, and you will find it hard to stick to your limits.

Does this mean you should never play for money? Not quite. You can still enjoy the monetary aspect. However, it should not be your sole aim. Do your research when wagering but most importantly, enjoy the process.

Don’t Chase Losses

Most people find themselves in a rut because they have invested too much money and time in gambling. Here is an example. Suppose you place $5 on a game and lose; you have two options. You can either walk away and cut your losses and decide that you have another chance at winning tomorrow. Or you can choose to win your money back. Let us assume you decide to win the $5 back and place another $5 on the game. You lose again, and now, you have to walk away from a $10 loss. You are still not in so deep. But let us assume that you refuse to walk away and decide that the return to player percentage is on your side. Three tries later, you are now down $25. At this point, walking away would be tricky because you would keep thinking you are closer to the win. After all, how can you walk away from $25?

Do not chase losses. Once you lose and reach your limit, walk away. Sure, you can always win your money back. But what are the chances? So instead of piling on the losses, walk away now.

Don’t Self-Medicate With Gambling

Some people run to the bar to drown their sorrows. Others turn to food, and others turn to gambling. Think of why you are gambling. Are you doing it to escape the pressures at home or work? Are you trying to numb yourself from what’s around you? Playing to escape reality is never a good idea. It makes it harder to adhere to the limits. Soon enough, you can find yourself spending hours online placing one wager after the other and losing money. But because you would rather be gaming than dealing head-on with reality, you keep playing. Ending up in debt does not happen overnight. It starts with one bad wager, which is compounded by another.

Gambling mixed with stimulants, depressants, or other substances is never a good idea. It alters your way of thinking and can have you breaking any limits you had earlier set. Also, do not place wagers when you are feeling low, stressed, or depressed. People in recovery should also stay away from gambling as it can trigger them to spiral into more gambling.

If you know that you are going through a lot, you are better off seeking professional help. While it may seem costly at first, it is much cheaper than losing everything you have to gambling.

Are you in Trouble?

Gambling addiction is not always easy to spot. However, you may notice signs such as betting more money than you can afford. Some people steal from their loved ones or borrow huge amounts of money they cannot repay. Moreover, they use these funds to chase losses because they want to recoup some or all of the losses. Their work and family life also suffer, and they start gambling even more to deal with these changes.

If you think you are in trouble, please seek help. Many organizations offer counseling for free and will help you healthily deal with your addiction.