How To Stop Gambling?

Gambling can be fun. It is an interesting way to have fun and earn some extra cash, but only if you are in luck. Otherwise, it can be potentially threatening to your mental and financial health as you get addicted to it.

Although gambling is legal in the UK, being a responsible citizen of the UK, it is your responsibility to play safe and keep it for fun, not as an income source. If you feel like you are spending way too much time and money on gambling, then maybe it is time to stop or take a break.

How to stop gambling? Keep reading to find out!

Gambling in the UK

Gambling is one of the most demanding leisure and entertainment activities in the UK. It is legally allowed but with few restrictions. It is government by strict rules and regulations to prevent criminal activities, fair gaming environment, and protect vulnerable personnel.

According to the Gambling Act of 2005, to make sure gambling operators follow the law, it established the UK Gambling Commission, which supervises and grants licenses to them.

Online gambling is preferred and is more enticing for gamblers these days. Online gambling is also legal and strictly regulated in the UK.  To provide services in the UK, operators need a UKGC (UK Gambling Commission) license, which guarantees player protection and responsible gambling.

Concerns about gambling addiction have grown in the UK, and there have been calls for improved resources for prevention, education, and treatment.

Problem gambling is addressed by charities such as GamCare and GambleAware as well as treatment facilities (such as NHS gambling addiction clinics).

To prevent exposure to minors, recent legal measures have limited gambling advertisements during sporting events.

The UK government regularly evaluates its gambling regulations.

According to recent suggestions, it has been decided to strengthen regulations about betting machine limits, affordability checks, and online gambling.

How To Know You Need to Stop?

It could be hard to acknowledge that you are getting addicted to gambling, but some clear signs show you are getting addicted and you need to self-assess.

It is also important to play responsibly to avoid addiction, but once you feel that things are getting out of your hands, you need to stop. Here’s how to self-assess:

Struggling financially

It means you are spending more than you should on gambling. You may be spending savings and essential money as well. Or you are relying on loans, and credit cards to keep up with gambling, and being unable to meet regular expenses due to gambling losses.

Behavioral changes

It stresses you out when you are struggling financially, or continuously losing, and you take it out on your family and friends. You keep thinking about gambling, try to chase losses, and ignore your other responsibilities.

Social withdrawal

You start avoiding your friends and family to avoid them noticing your behavior as you feel guilt and shame about your gambling problem. You keep lying to your loved ones and keep experiencing negative feelings like guilt, shame, anger, and frustration.

Signs of addiction

You have tried to stop but are unable to. Or you are feeling restless, or depressed when you try to stop gambling.

If you still find it hard to figure out if your gambling is problematic or not, then you can seek help from tools like a self-assessment quiz on GamCare, which will help you find out.

You will also find it hard to seek professional help if you are troubled with gambling.

How To Stop Gambling?

Gambling can be addicting. If you are spending too much time or money on betting, it means you are addicted or going to be addicted soon, which means you need to stop.

There are several programs in the UK for problem gambling, one of them is GamStop. Self-exclusion offered by programs like GamStop is the answer to your problem.

If you are trying to stop gambling but are unable to, then there are several support groups and treatment options you could seek out. Here’s what to do:

Seeking help from support groups

There are several support groups you can reach out to:

• GamCare: GamCare delivers free information, awareness, and support for anyone facing issues with gambling. They also provide you with a self-assessment tool and help you reach out to trained professionals through a free helpline or live chat. Helpline number: 0808 8020 133.
• GAMSTOP: This is a self-exclusion tool made for UK residents. With this tool, you can self-exclude yourself from gambling websites and apps registered in the UK. It is up to you to choose the exclusion period (5 to 6 months, or 1 year), once it’s activated, it can’t be undone.

Start counseling

Seeking help from therapists and counseling is the second step toward your progress.

The NHS offers free treatments for UK residents through specialised clinics. They also offer cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy which can be highly effective.

Togetherall is a mental health online resource for UK citizens that provides peer and professional support around the clock for gambling problems.

Try blocking software

A couple of blocking software could help you block gambling websites so you cannot access them.

• BetBlocker: Betblocker is a free app that helps block gambling websites and apps. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
• GamBan: GamBan is a paid tool but it is known as a highly effective tool for blocking gambling websites and apps.

Take control of your finances

It’s time to take control of your finances. Many banks in the UK now allow their clients to stop making transactions with gambling companies. It can be activated and de-activated according to your needs.

It is also recommended to appoint a trusted person to look over your activities and finances temporarily.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and mindfulness practices

The underlying habits and triggers that lead to gambling can be effectively addressed using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. These are easily available through private providers or the NHS.

The process of quitting gambling calls for patience, time, and frequently outside assistance.

All of these trustworthy resources have assisted several individuals in the UK in taking charge of their gambling behaviors.

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is the most effective technique to stop gambling. It is a technique that allows people to willingly refrain from engaging in gambling activities, permanently or temporarily, to stop gambling. This choice is available for both online and land-based gambling in the UK.
It means that these locations and websites will not provide you with any service.

If you believe self-exclusion could work for you, make sure you exclude yourself away from all the places where you might be tempted to bet.

If you are gambling on regulated UK websites, Self-exclusion helps restrict your access to any gambling websites that are registered with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

If you live in the UK, signing up for GAMSTOP will prevent you from accessing or creating gambling accounts with companies that hold a Great Britain license. You can sign up for this service for free for six months, a year, or five years.

Final Words

To conclude, gambling can be an interesting activity to be relieved from your daily hectic routine. Every UK resident must gamble responsibly.

However, if the signs of addiction show, then it is recommended to quickly take measures to stop gambling as mentioned above. Self-assessment is a first step toward recovery.