1. How to Identify a Betting
Problem
If you feel you may have a betting problem, ask yourself
these questions:
- Do you stay away from work, college or school to
bet?
- Do you bet to escape from a boring or unhappy life?
- When betting and you run out of money, do you feel
lost and in despair, and need to gamble again as soon as possible?
- Do you bet until your last penny is gone, even the
bus fare home or the cost of a cup of tea?
- Have you ever lied to cover up the amount of money
or time you have spent betting?
- Have others ever criticised your levels of betting?
- Have you lied, stolen or borrowed just to get money
to bet or to pay betting debts?
- Are you reluctant to spend 'betting money' on
anything else?
- Have you lost interest in your family, friends or
interests?
- After losing, do you feel you must try and win back
your losses as soon as possible?
- Do arguments, frustrations or disappointments make
you want to bet?
- Do you feel depressed or even suicidal because of your betting?
The more you answer 'Yes' to the above questions, the
more likely you are to have a betting problem.
2. How to Get Help
If you feel you are in difficulty with your betting,
or know someone who is, call the GamCare UK Helpline on
0845 6000
133. GamCare is a charity committed to promoting responsible attitudes
towards gambling and working for the provision of proper care for those harmed
by gambling dependency.
A GamCare counsellor will listen to you carefully and
encourage you to talk about your concerns. Sometimes just telling someone can be
a relief, and is an important first step towards dealing with the problem.
The counsellor will be able to suggest ways of
helping yourself to stop betting, or if you are someone who is affected by a
betting problem, ways to support the person in their process of stopping, and
ways to deal with the effects on your own life.
If you want to address the underlying issues that
drive you to bet more than you want, the counsellor may be able to help you do
that too.
The helpline is open from 10.00am to 10.00pm Monday
to Friday, 10.00am to 6.00pm on Saturdays and 6.00pm to 10.00pm on Sundays.