Slots Online Canada Home PageResponsible Gaming

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Author Liz Karter

Responsible Gambling

Published Date Updated

Author Staff Writer

What you fill find on this page

What you will find on this page

It’s important to ensure that your gaming is for entertainment. Responsible gaming means that you set aside a monthly budget which you stick to and don’t spend unaffordable amounts of money and time gambling.

To practice responsible gambling, you need to be informed about how gambling products work so you can make decisions that are right for you. It’s also helpful to develop strategies for making sure you stay in control of how much time, money and energy you spend gambling. It is much easier to make decisions that are right for you if you avoid gambling at times when you are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. The same is true if avoid gambling if you are under the influence of alcohol. However, if you find that you are losing control of gambling and need assistance or help we strongly encourage you to contact any of the organizations listed at the bottom of this page.

GamblingGuidelines.ca offer this self-assessment test

When is gambling a problem?

A gambling problem is about much more than wanting to win money. In fact, preoccupation with money is likely to be a consequence of a gambling problem, rather than the cause. The absolute focus on money comes from having lost unaffordable amounts of money to gambling and then chasing losses. The initial cause of a gambling problem is much more likely to be wanting more and more of the experience that you get from gambling. Your experience of gambling might be feeling a “buzz” a “rush” or a high from gambling. Or your experience might be feeling completely absorbed and calmed by gambling. For some people, either experience becomes addictive.

Gambling becomes a problem when you find that you have difficulty stopping, or you spend more money, and often spend more time on gambling than you can afford to. However, you cannot always measure whether you have a gambling problem by the amount of money you spend. Even if you are not spending unaffordable amounts of money you could still have a gambling problem. If you find that you are always thinking about gambling and put gambling before your important relationships and other commitments, then your preoccupation with gambling could begin to negatively impact these areas of your life. If your level of gambling is causing problems in any area of your life and relationships, and despite this you feel you cannot stop or control the amount you gamble, then these are signs of a gambling problem.

The stress, anxiety, and depression a gambling problem causes also negatively impacts your all-round wellbeing. Your mental health suffers as your emotions feel controlled by whether you are winning or losing at gambling. Eventually this can affect your ability to concentrate and perform at school or work. You are unable to engage healthily in your relationships with friends and family.

If you have developed a gambling problem you may find that you gamble at all costs. You may max out your credit cards and then, because the urge to gamble feels so overwhelming, then borrow money from family and friends. Perhaps you find yourself telling lies about the reasons you need the money because you feel ashamed of the situation caused by your gambling.

Most people who develop a problem with gambling not only hide the problem from others, but they also avoid facing the reality of the problem themselves. This is because the problems caused by gambling feel too much to deal with and gambling acts as a distraction from uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. For many, who develop a problem with gambling, the initial attraction of gambling was as a distraction from life problems.

Another reason it feels very hard to face the reality of a gambling problem is that stopping gambling means letting go of the hope of winning back enough money to pay off debts. However, most people with a gambling problem find that even if they do win, they do not keep hold of their winnings. They crave more of the experience they get from gambling and use the money to buy more of that distracting experience. This digs them deeper into trouble.

Many people feel that they cannot bear to go through withdrawal symptoms from gambling. Withdrawal from gambling does feel hard and needs to be taken as seriously as withdrawal from alcohol or drugs. Be encouraged to know it is entirely possible to get through withdrawal from gambling with professional help and guidance it can feel a lot easier. The worst of withdrawal from a gambling problem is over within a couple of weeks. By the time you have four weeks free of gambling, you will be feeling much better. Your thoughts will be clearer. Your emotions will be more stable. You will begin to enjoy time spent with family and friends again.

Common warning signs

A key sign you may have a problem with gambling is feeling in two minds about gambling. Rationally, you want to stop gambling because you know it is damaging for you, yet another part of you feels you cannot resist the urge to gamble.

Perhaps you are not worried about your own gambling, but you are concerned that someone you are close to may have a problem.

Some common financial warning signs that someone you know may have a problem with gambling include:

  • Money missing from bank accounts, wallets or piggy banks.
  • Household items or valuables go missing.
  • Being Regularly short of money in spite of regular paychecks.
  • Regularly borrowing money.
  • Taking out multiple loans.
  • Unpaid bills/disconnection notices.
  • Lack of food in the house.
  • Buying you and others generous gifts or treats with amounts of money you are surprised they have.

When someone develops a gambling problem, there are often noticeable changes to their mood:

  • Becoming withdrawn from others.
  • Performance at work or school is affected.
  • Appearing worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reasons.
  • Appearing to be on a high for no apparent reason.
  • Mood swings between high and low mood.
  • Feelings of hopelessness, depression, frustration or even feeling suicidal.
  • Changes in personality.
  • Changes in sleeping, eating, or sexual relationship patterns.
  • Becoming defensive if asked about their behaviour.
  • Using threats, lies or charm to control or manipulate others.

Some common time-related signs that could indicate someone has a problem with gambling include:

  • Spending more and more time gambling.
  • Being late for commitments.
  • Frequently cancelling social arrangements.
  • Being secretive about unexplained absences.
  • Taking a lot of time off work/school.
  • Taking an unusually long time for simple tasks (e.g. taking two hours to get bread from the store).

Whether it is your own gambling you are concerned about or that of someone you are close to, it can feel like a big step to make that first call to seek help. Nobody ever regrets taking that step.

If you are wondering if you should take the step to seek help for yourself, then feel encouraged by knowing that everyone now in recovery from a gambling problem once felt similar to the way you feel now. It is entirely possible to take control of your gambling and start living a rewarding, healthy life. There is no better time than now to make a start.

Get help with problem gambling in Canada:

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

From the GTA: 416 535-8501

Toll-free: 1 800 463-2338

Visit: www.camh.ca

OR

GamTalk is an online facility that allows you to share your experience with someone online. GamTalk connects you with people who have been through this before. Visit GamTalk here https://www.gamtalk.org/

Get help with problem gambling in Alberta:

Alberta Problem Gambling Resources Network

1-866-461-1259

Get help with problem gambling in British Columbia:

British Columbia Problem Gambling Help Line

1-888-795-6111

Get help with problem gambling in Manitoba:

Manitoba Addictions Help Line – Problem Gambling

1-800-463-1554

Get help with problem gambling in New Brunswick:

New Brunswick Gambling Information Line

1-800-461-1234

Get help with problem gambling in Newfoundland and Labrador:

Newfoundland Problem Gambling Help Line

1-888-899-4357

Get help with problem gambling in Northwest Territories:

Northwest Territories General Help Line

1-800-661-0844

Get help with problem gambling in Nova Scotia:

Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Help Line

1-888-347-8888

Get help with problem gambling in Nunavut:

Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line

1-800-265-3333

Get help with problem gambling in Ontario:

Ontario ConnexOntario Help Line

1-866-531-2600

Get help with problem gambling in Prince Edward Island:

Prince Edward Island Problem Gambling Help Line

1-855-255-4255

Get help with problem gambling in Quebec:

Quebec Gambling: Help and Referral

1-800-461-0140

Get help with problem gambling in Saskatchewan:

Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline

1-800-306-6789

Get help with problem gambling in Yukon:

Yukon Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services

1-866-456-3838

Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling

A collaboration of non-profit organizations, gaming providers, research centres and regulators working to find and promote effective ways to reduce the risk of problem gambling

British Columbia Gamblers Helpline

Non profit organisation helping gambling addicts.

Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Helpline 

Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Helpline is a not-for-profit, arms-length government organization.

Nova Scotia "Office of Health Promotion" Problem Gambling

Website provides information on treatment services in Nova Scotia and helpline information.

Problem Gambling Helpline

24-Hour hotline providing information about treatment in Ontario.

ResponsibleGambling.org

Non-profit organization promoting responsible gambling.

Saskatchewan Problem Gambling

Website provides information on the prevention, treatment and crisis services available to Saskatchewan residents.

Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline

Provides information on a free 24/7 helpline. Helpline offers: information, short term counselling, crisis intervention, referrals to counsellors and information on self-help groups.

PEI Problem Gambling Helpline

Assists gambling addicts in the province.

Liz karter

Contributor Liz Karter

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Liz Karter is a leading UK therapist in gambling addiction.

Since 2001 Liz has successfully helped hundreds of men and women stop gambling and start living rewarding lives. She has an established online practice, Level Ground Therapy, enabling her to help people worldwide.

The author of three published books on gambling addiction in women, Liz also contributes to numerous other publications.

With an excellent reputation for making sense of addiction in an approachable style Liz is a frequently appears on national and international TV and radio as consultant therapist.