5 Signs That It’s Time to Take a Break from Gambling
It’s about as surprising as saying water is wet, but gambling can indeed turn into an addiction. One could argue that even if you’re not fully held captive by your habits, there might be subtle hints that it’s time to take a break from gambling.
We are certainly not here to rain on anyone’s money parade or be ethical authorities. For those who indulge, it’s a fun and exciting pastime! Most can keep their gambling under control, but for some, it becomes more challenging to recognize when to stop.
Addiction to gambling is treatable, but a fundamental step is admitting there is a problem. We will look at five signs that your gaming could be getting out of control, and it’s time to step away from the tables, phone, or for the old schoolers, your bookie.
1. It Stops Being “Fun“
Unless you’re a professional gambler, then it’s supposed to be fun–when your obsession with betting outshines your love for the game, you need to call a timeout.
Betting for real money shouldn’t disrupt your regular routine–you shouldn’t base your budget on the outcome of a Saturday soccer game in Argentina. If the results of the matches you’re betting on are beginning to impact your life beyond your financial resources, you should consider taking a break from gambling and examining what’s happening.
You’re going dangerously close to gambling addiction the first time you find yourself making a specific choice in life and considering how gambling fits into the equation. If it stops being just recreational and starts interfering with your life, a break from gambling is necessary!
2. You Begin to Hide It
The sense of community among gamblers is a major draw to the betting world. We know that it might be irritating to listen to everyone else’s betting predictions all the time, especially if you don’t engage in the activity yourself. However, for true sports fans, this is all part of the fun!
If you’re a regular betting at sports, you’ve probably yelled louder than usual during action on TV to make it clear that you have something at stake. The moment you feel shame for displaying something like this is a signal that you need to change your bettin’ ways.
It might be as simple as gambling in secret, or it could include placing a wager while using the restroom or somewhere else where no one can see what you’re doing. However, if you’re to the point where you need to bet covertly, you probably already have a gambling problem. It’s common for people to want to hide their problems rather than face scrutiny, despite the fact that doing so might lead to much worse outcomes.
Another sign is when friends or family members voice their concerns about your gambling–people usually don’t express their worry without a valid reason. It might be difficult to acknowledge a compulsive behavior when going through it, even if you feel like you have everything else in your life under control.
If you feel like you need to hide your gambling from loved ones, you may have a severe issue on your hands, and it is time to take a break from gambling.
3. You’re Using Bill Money for Gambling
By “bills,” we refer to any essential expenses such as utility bills (water and electricity), rent, credit card payments, and even basic necessities like groceries.
Never put off paying for necessities so that you can afford to gamble. Even while you may be able to rationalize the thought process behind it–you lost a lot of money gambling; the only way to remedy the problem is to win a lot of money gambling–in practice, this never ends well.
If you are faced with a choice like paying your rent or re-upping your balance on your favorite online betting app, that’s not a position you should be in! Don’t simply consider the long-term impact on your bank account; broaden your perspective. Gambling can have serious psychological and emotional consequences in addition to financial ones.
There’s a chance you won’t ever get to a choice like this if you take gambling out of the equation.
4. You Are Chasing Your Losses
We touched on this above; to “chase losses” is to increase one’s gambling after losing money. If someone feels compelled to get vengeance for a loss by winning, it may indicate that their attachment to gambling has become problematic, and it’s time to take a break from gambling!
Gamblers are not immune to “mind traps” or beliefs like the “gambler’s fallacy” that cause a skewed perspective. For instance, believing they are “owed a win” because of the karmic gambling gods, they should bet again.
All of this noise masks the truth that your odds of winning haven’t changed!
5. Gambling Beyond Your Financial Means
When gambling responsibly, you should know how much money you are able to lose if your bets don’t pay off.
If you use a gambling app and stake $150, for instance, you should be okay with losing that much money since you know you’ll quit playing after that.
By doing this, you can manage the level of risk you are exposed to and minimize potential losses. Without setting limits, it can be easy to overlook your actual spending. If you lose the money you require to cover your other expenses, having fun can quickly transform into feelings of guilt.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the proliferation of mobile gambling apps, we appreciate how convenient it is that people can now gamble without having to leave the comfort of their homes. You don’t have to schlep to a casino–you can just download an app!
However, now that it is easier than ever before to do so, we worry that it may become a problem for certain people.
Many gamblers are likely to develop friendships with other gamblers–by watching out for each other, you can steer clear of the potential risks that come with the ups and downs of gambling.
