Gambling as a form of recreation is becoming increasingly popular. If you are someone who gambles, whether in person or online, it’s important to set limits. People who take a healthy approach to gambling:
- Gamble for entertainment, not to make money
- Balance gambling with other leisure activities
- Accept losses as the cost of the entertainment experience
- Only gamble with discretionary income (never with money that is needed to pay essential bills)
- Do not access additional funds (by going to the casino ATM, for example) once their initial gambling money is gone
- Set a budget and stick to it
- Set a time limit and quit when it is up
- Never borrow money so they can gamble
- Take frequent breaks
- Limit their alcohol intake while gambling
Others, however, may have difficulty with setting limits. Signs that gambling is becoming a problem include:
- An increased preoccupation with gambling
- Gambling more often or for longer periods of time
- Playing for higher stakes or to “chase” losses
- Borrowing money to gamble
- Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling or when attempting to stop
- Neglecting personal needs, such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, or cleanliness
- Losing control of the ability to stop gambling despite increasingly serious life consequences
Source: responsiblegambling.org
