At Footy Accumulators, we take safe gambling seriously. Once the enjoyment comes to an end, it might be time to pack it in and stop.
For most of our user's gambling is an enjoyable past time and that’s what it should be. If it ever begins to move past that it could start to become a problem.
As we promote the services of licensed gambling providers on our website, we think it’s important that all of our users are aware of the risks associated with gambling and the problems that can occur if it begins to slip out of control.
When is there a problem?
It’s not always easy to see when gambling starts to become a problem however there are some warning signs that can help you identify if there’s a problem beginning to appear. It’s always important to be honest to yourself and those close to you if you think your gambling behavior is beginning to get out of control.
How do I know if I have a problem?
- Are you cashing your losses?
- Started upping your stakes as £5 wasn’t that exciting anymore
- Borrowing money to have an extra bet
- Chasing losses
Any of the above things could be a sign that you might be developing a gambling problem. You might need to take a step back now and look at how gambling is affecting those around you including your family and friends.
What to do if you think you have a problem?
If you feel link your gambling is becoming a problem for you then it’s time to take action. That might be as simple as just talking to someone about it or taking more serious actions like blocking your gambling accounts. There are plenty of resources out there to help you out so we’ll run through some of them below.
What tools are available to use
Bookmakers in the UK have to offer certain tools legally in order to help any of their customers that might need some assistance in order to gamble safely. Some of these tools include visual representations that help you see your gambling habits clearly. Some of the account activity stats you’ll be able to see include;
- How much you’ve gambled
- When you’ve gambled
- How often you log in
- How much time do you spend on site
On top of visualising all these things, most operators are now offering tools to help combat any gambling issues before they become apparent. These include the following:
- Deposit limits – These help you limit how much you’re spending on your gambling account. You can set a daily, weekly or monthly spending limit to stop you from going over budget or getting carried away.
- Cool Off Periods – Using the cool off feature can help you take a break. Selecting a cool-off period will allow you to take a break from 1 to 30 days. During this period you won’t be able to access your gambling account until the period comes to an end.
- Profit & Loss – This feature helps you see exactly how your bet stakes line up against your returns. Each bookmaker will show you how much you’ve spent on your account over a certain period and how much you’ve got back from your bets by showing you a positive or negative return for that period.
- Reality Check – The reality check feature helps to remind you if you’ve been playing for too long. You can change the interval of this from ever 20-minutes to up to two hours. You’ll get a pop-up reminding you that you’ve been logged in for a certain amount of time.
- Self-Exclusion – If you do feel like you’re developing a serious gambling problem then it might be worth looking at self-exclusion from your gambling accounts. Using this will mean that you are blocked from using your bookmaker account for a specific period this can be anywhere from 6-months to 5 years.
Where else can I get help?
- Complete a self-assessment – You can see how safe your gambling is by taking a self-assessment via GamCare
- Start a Chat using TalkBanStop – A new partnership between GamCare, GamBan & GAMSTOP. Check it out here.
- Limit Social Media exposure – You can change your exposure settings on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to block specific profiles or ads.
- Install blocking software on devices – There is a range of website blocking filter software available to use with websites like GamBan, Gamblock & Betfilter working to block gambling websites. Find out more
- Block Banking Transactions – Many financial services operators in the UK will offer to block gambling transactions on your debit card.
GamCare
GamCare is a charitable organisation that provides help and counseling to those with gambling issues. If you want any advice, have any questions on your concerns about gambling or if you are worried about the gambling of someone you know, please contact GamCare online or by phone.
Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (24 hour, 7 days a week) Other support sites:
Website: Click here to visit GamCare
Other Support Sites
- Gordon House online at www.gamblingtherapy.org. See www.gordonhouse.org.uk or call 01384 241292 for details of the help and treatment they provide.
- Gamblers Anonymous at www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk or on 0207 384 3040
- Gam-Anon at www.gamanon.org.uk or on 08700 50 88 80. Gam-Anon deals specifically with friends or family of people who have issues with their gambling.
- The Samaritans at www.samaritans.org.uk or on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) or 1850 60 90 90 (ROI)