How We Ensure Safety & Fairness in Online Casinos
Our team sets out to find worthy online casino brands and evaluates them. The experts pay great attention to the study of various parameters to obtain an objective assessment of the safety of the club and then offer useful information. Here are the three main steps we take to provide safe gambling to our users:
We only list brands with a licence from an international or/and local regulator.
The club must openly provide information regarding its licence number and registration address. It is also important to check that the document is valid.
Listing brands with self-limiting and self-exclusion tools.
Such features allow you to increase user control over your gambling process and ensure you can stop at the right moment.
Offering a help page for players.
There are certain sections on our site where readers will definitely find answers to important questions regarding rational gambling. We also offer contact details for communication with specialists.
And let’s not forget about this page, which contains basic information regarding addiction and the fight against it.
Gambling Addiction: What Is It?
Gambling addiction is a form of psychological condition that manifests itself in excessive reliance on games. The first cases of such a disease occurred in patients who were too attached to computer games. Now the problem has also spread to fans of slots, table games, and card entertainment, which have become incredibly popular on the Internet.
The most dangerous thing is that some gamblers don’t realize how serious the consequences of their addiction are and don’t recognize them. Over time, a person may begin to abandon basic necessities (such as food, rest, communication with family and friends, etc.) in order to spend it on games. The situation can become critical and require the help of specialists.
How Does Gambling Addiction Appear?
The process of developing an addiction is gradual and can be caused by various reasons — biological, psychological, and social/environmental. It’s worth looking into this in more detail:
Biological reasons
The gambling process is enjoyable and often thrilling (due to the release of certain compounds: dopamine, serotonin, and other transmitters responsible for well-being). The player wants to experience these sensations as often as possible, but the sensitivity of receptors to mediators weakens. This means that every subsequent time the user will require more emotions, more exposure, and more risk.
Psychological reasons
The lack of contentment in real life (constant stress, fatigue, quarrels with loved ones) can be a reason for trying to escape into the virtual world of slots. Gambling becomes a tool for escaping from the negative.
Social and environmental reasons
This category of factors includes the habits of those in the user’s immediate environment. If friends, family members or just close people are inclined to gamble, then this may motivate a person also to try this type of entertainment.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Online Gambling Addiction?
So, you understand what addiction is and how it can occur. The next important stage is to study the signs that are very important to pay attention to. Here are the main symptoms of addiction:
uncontrollable obsession with online gambling
irritation, aggression, and negative emotions when it is not possible to play due to a poor internet connection, employment, or other factors
constant thoughts about gambling or betting
planning your usual day based on the mandatory time spent on games
pushing study or work to the background and focussing on online entertainment
gaming significantly cheers you up and makes you feel better in real life
unwillingness to tell people about your gambling and the funds spent on it
the presence of financial difficulties caused by gambling
problems in communicating with friends and family due to excessive gambling
There may be many symptoms, but they can all be grouped broadly into four categories: critical changes in behaviour, financial problems, deterioration in mental health, and difficulties with family, friends, and partners caused by online gambling.
How to Fight Gambling Addiction
Even if the problem already exists and the user has an addiction, they should not despair — it can be treated. First of all, one must make an objective assessment of the gamblers’ condition. If the situation is critical, then the best option is to contact help centres immediately.
ConnexOntario
Canada, Ontario, Aurora, 14785 Yonge Street
Phone: 905-841-7007
Toll-free: 1-800-263-2288
CAMN
Canada, Toronto, 1051 Queen Street West
Phone: 416 535-8501
Toll-free: 1-800-463-2338
Kirby Estate Mental Health & Addiction Treatment | Centres for Health & Healing
Canada, Ontario, 4360 Kirby Rd, Vaughan, ON L4H 4G2
Phone: 833-956-8772
Toll-free: 1-888-235-5528
Areas They Work With
Mental health, various additions, including gambling
Available Treatment Methods
Consulting
Areas They Work With
Mental health, various additions, including gambling
Available Treatment Methods
Consulting, outpatient/inpatient programmes
Areas They Work With
Mental health, concurrent disorders, behavioural addiction, substance addiction
Available Treatment Methods
Consulting, mindfulness therapy, group therapy, outpatient/inpatient programmes
Tips to Help Fight Addiction
If the situation so far allows you to try independent work in the fight against addiction, take note of a few tips from experienced gamblers:
Plan your daily routine.
Anyone who has enjoyed adrenaline rides in the past may feel bored and want to return to gambling. To avoid this, plan your day so that there is no wasted time.
Live life to the fullest.
Try to let go of all stressful situations associated with past losses. Even if it was just yesterday and you lost a large amount, don’t think that today you should try to win your money back. Forget about what happened in the past; live for today, not the old desires to take revenge on the casino/bookmaker.
Find a new hobby or return to an old one.
Gambling may have become your friend for a certain period, but it’s not necessary to spend all your free time with it — there are a lot of entertainment options that are much safer. Finding or resurrecting an old hobby will allow you to distract yourself and fill your day with useful activities.
Be careful before special events.
Some studies remind us that sports fans, seeing the hype in the media around their favourite teams or long-awaited matches, simply cannot give up the desire to place at least one bet. Increase your level of control in anticipation of such events.
Useful Books, Music, and Films against Gambling Addiction
You can also study additional books about addiction, listen to certain music and watch movies.
Best Literature About Gambling Addiction
Bet on Yourself
Susana Abdella
The Girl Gambler
Stacey Goodwin
The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook
Jody Bechtold, Alyssa Wilson
Gambling Addiction
Joshua Elans
Best Movies for People Who Are Fighting Gambling Addiction
Uncut Gems
Benny Safdie, Joshua Safdie
Mississippi Grind
Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Ocean’s Eleven
Steven Soderbergh
Casino Royale
Martin Campbell
Relaxing Music for People Who Are Fighting Gambling Addiction
Gamble Online Responsibly!
Understanding the principles of responsible gambling is already a major contribution to preventing addiction in the future. Therefore, try to choose casinos that support their customers and offer various control tools. Additionally, remember that addiction is normal, and no one is immune from it. The main thing is to ask for help in time!
