Advice for responsible slot gambling from an ex-addictPlaying slots can be an extremely enjoyable pastime, the perfect way to unwind after you put the kid’s to bed, an ideal distraction while you’re commuting to and from work and a thrilling way to spend your free time -
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However, for some players playing slots can turn into problem gambling which can lead to serious addiction problems as well as social problems, breaking down relationships and leaving players financially devastated in the process. Ex gambling addict Darren from Scotland fell victim to problem gambling and at his lowest point be lost over £5k in one sitting and wants to help other players play responsibly and not get let playing slots turn into an addiction with his advice:
Set a gambling budget The temptation is all around us, especially when it’s so easy to pick up your phones and play slots on a slot app or log onto an online casino within minutes and play on your laptop, desktop or tablet. Not to mention players frequently receive deals, offers and bonus via e-mail or when they search for slot games, so it can be easy to overspend or spend too long playing slots. To ensure this doesn’t happen, before you play, set yourself a sensible budget of the amount of money you will be prepared to spend whilst playing slots. This should be an amount you’d feel comfortable losing without putting you in a difficult position and you should only use money which you class as disposable income.
Set a winning budget You’ve had a winning streak and you’re over the moon with the money, you’re already starting to spend the money in your head, thinking of where you could go on holiday with the money or what you could treat yourself to. Now imagine you lose all that money in the next 15 minutes. How gutting would that feel? For some players, that’s just the risk you take, but if you want to hang onto your winnings, set yourself a winning budget, which is an amount that you’d be happy to walk away with once you’ve won. Once you hit this amount, withdraw your winnings and don’t place any more bets to avoid gambling away your winnings.
Set time aside for slot play and only play at these times
There is a time and a place for playing slots and part of playing slots responsibly is playing at appropriate times. Treat playing slots like you would treat any other hobby and use it to relax, have fun and enjoy some “me” time, so whether that’s an hour after the kids have gone to bed or for 15 or 30 minutes on your lunch break from work, only play within these times. Gambling at inappropriate times, like during work or when your focus is supposed to be elsewhere, is a sign of problem gambling so setting yourself certain times to enjoy your hobby will help you to gamble in a responsible way.
Most importantly, if you do feel you are developing a gambling problem, confide in someone you trust and get the help you need.