Responsible Gambling

For Australians, online casinos should be viewed as a form of leisure, offering a break from daily stressors and enjoyment without significant expense. If not approached this way, it risks becoming addictive and impacting one's social, work, and financial spheres.

Responsible gambling is a fundamental concept that needs to be adhered to whenever engaging in real money games. If you identify signs of gambling addiction, struggle to manage your gambling habits, or wish to assist someone else, numerous organizations can provide support, details of which will be given later.

How to Start Playing Responsibly?

Our mission is to help Australian players avoid becoming overly attached to online pokies. To that end, our professionals have compiled a list of strategies to promote a responsible gambling attitude:

• Don't perceive gambling as a primary source of income; it's intended to be a form of entertainment, like playing pokies or roulette.
• Refrain from playing pokies under the influence of alcohol or drugs to prevent irrational betting behaviors.
• If supported, turn on the reality check option in online casinos, which prompts a 5-minute break after every hour of play.
• Establish deposit limits to ensure that you only wager an amount you're comfortable losing.
• Regulate the time spent on slots by scheduling gaming sessions and incorporating breaks to maintain focus.
• Opt for licensed and trustworthy online casinos to safeguard your funds from fraudulent activities.

Identifying an addiction to pokies can be challenging. Therefore, our experts advise regular self-assessments through simple, honest questions:

Do you find yourself borrowing money from family or friends to fund your gaming sessions?

• Are there conflicts in your family due to gambling and the money spent on it?
• Do you feel unable to go a day without engaging in slot machines or similar games?
• Are you incapable of stopping a gaming session or responsibly exiting an online casino?
• Is gambling taking priority over work, affecting your professional relationships?
• Is your gaming focus on maximizing profit rather than enjoying pokies leisurely?
• These questions are a starting point for self-assessing potential gambling addiction concerns.

Experts in the gambling field identify several escalation stages typical before becoming addicted to online pokies. Understanding your stage can aid quicker recovery and reintegration into daily life. Let's examine these phases.

Phases of Compulsive Games

The 'confidence phase' emerges when a player wins big, attributing success to their luck and strategy, leading to increased casino visits and gambling experimentation despite considerable losses.

Phase — «I’m winning»

Not all players experience this initial phase, as many manage to halt gambling timely. However, some continue seeking greater profits through pokies.

In contrast, another phase arises for those who've lost significantly and aim to recover their losses, frequently neglecting how they're losing more and resorting to borrowing for their continued gameplay.

Phase — «I am losing»

Such behavior can strain relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and friends, while deepening the disconnect from actual life, resulting in overall loss recognition, both financially and personally.

This is the critical final stage of addiction, where the player loses control. While some may despair, persisting in play futilely, others might hit a jackpot, clearing debts and resuming everyday life.

Phase — «I’m desperate»

Alternatively, players might abruptly leave gambling but adopt other detrimental habits like alcohol or drugs, unable to handle the accrued debts alone, mandating expert intervention.

Speaking from experience, when overwhelmed by gambling addiction, I deceived myself, believing I mastered gambling with a system in place, disregarding that chance governs online pokies. I eventually realized the adverse impact on my financial status and family dynamics.

Advice from a Problem Gambler

My interest was particularly in playing online blackjack, leading to large bets and accumulating losses secretly, with approximately half a million dollars squandered.

Effective countermeasures might include setting deposit limits, applying self-exclusion, or timing slots usage. However, my misplaced confidence in control led me to eschew these safeguards, without knowing supportive consultations were accessible then.

Often those grappling with gaming problems remain in denial, refusing to acknowledge addiction, a dangerous mindset deterring issue resolution. It's critical to objectively assess the financial disparity between wins and losses and engage in honest conversations with loved ones who desire your wellbeing.

Currently, I relish a gamble-free life. A year and a half post-recovery, brimming with energy and health, minus any psychological strife. Despite a bipolar disorder diagnosis requiring medication, my successful rehabilitation minimized my reliance on former prescriptions.

I was originally scheduled for three-month treatment but progresses enabled an early discharge at six weeks. This underscores the commitment of professional support organizations in facilitating recovery and revitalizing ordinary life.

If you find yourself in need of expert help, here are some organizations available for assistance:

— Victoria-based agencies offer phone and online counseling for gambling issues at 1 800 858 858.

1. Gamblers Help Victoria This non-governmental entity supports gambling addiction recovery, providing immediate assistance via 1 800 858 858.
2. Amity Community Services ACT Gambling Counselling and Support Service (AGCSS) delivers free advice, enabling self-exclusion from casinos, both virtual and physical, reachable at 1 800 858 858.
3. A service offering problem gambling advice with educational programs and awareness initiatives, accessible through 1 800 858 858.
4. Gamblers Help Queensland The Gambling Rehabilitation Fund, a cooperative effort by the South Australian Government, Clubs SA, and the Australian Hotel Association, also connects through 1 800 858 858.
5. Problem Gambling Help SA Funded by the Responsible Gambling Fund of New South Wales' regulatory body, reachable at 1 800 858 858.
6. Gambling Help NSW Aiding Tasmanian gamblers and their families with a 24-hour support hotline, 1 800 671 738.
7. Gamblers Help A Catholic nonprofit providing extensive training and advisory services, employing over 300 staff, contactable at (08) 9325 6644.
8. Gambling Help WA Leveraging seven years of industry experience contributes to this insightful article. I enjoy reviewing various casino platforms and organizing them effectively to guide users in sanely navigating online gambling.