Understanding The Dangers of Gambling

“Money spent on getting mad or getting even is money wasted” – Richard Wagner

You may have seen the famous scene of James Bond in the Casino in Casino Royale, but the reality is that gambling isn’t that simple! Gambling is prominently advertised in our day-to-day lives, yet without sufficient knowledge, it can cause more harm than good. In this section, we will discuss the risks that gambling poses, and how you can overcome these to stay safe and gamble responsibly.

WHAT IS GAMBLING?

Gambling is the action of risking money on the outcome of something involving chance, for example betting on a football match, or buying loot boxes in a video game.

THE DARK SIDE OF GAMBLING…

With gambling and betting there are many associated risks you should be aware of. Some of these include…

Addiction: There are many reasons people suffer addiction. These include people chasing their losses, or trying to recreate the thrill of a big win.
Peer Pressure: If you’re with friends who gamble, there may be pressure on you to get involved, even if you don’t want to.
Coping Mechanism: Some gamble as a coping method for issues such as mental health, including anxiety and depression. This is a destructive method, and often leads to worsening mental health conditions. Below we outline some key tips to help you prevent gambling becoming an issue for you.

HOW TO STAY SAFE:

Thankfully, there are plenty of solutions and methods to ensure you can best protect yourself from the harmful side of betting.

Firstly, setting time limits can help you to keep the time you spend on betting apps and websites to a minimum. Expecting to lose will help reduce the pressure on you feeling the need to win. Although this may sound tricky to do, it will make any wins feel like a bonus! Speaking to others, such as family and peers, where you can share and discuss any issues, can often be very beneficial to help increase awareness and understand any problems you are facing. Remember, gambling should be viewed as a form of entertainment, not a source of income!

If you want to further understand the world of gambling and make yourself aware of its dangers, click here for information from the responsible gambling page.

Key Terms:

Coping mechanism – Behaviour that aims to prevent stress or other negative emotions..

Addiction – The feeling of dependence on a certain substance, such as gambling.