Responsible Gaming

Gambling can be an exciting activity in your free time. Unfortunately, fun can quickly become serious and a gambling addiction can develop.

Gambling addiction is mostly played down by the slot machine industry and presented as a rare phenomenon. This is often compared to rare addictions such as shopping addiction. But the fact is that many slot machine players who visit the gambling halls are pathological gamblers.

As an addicted gamer you are certainly not exotic and you don’t need to be ashamed of it. Gambling addiction, like alcoholism, is a disease that affects all social classes and has nothing to do with stupidity or weak will. Gambling addicts also try not to make money from the game, but instead use it to distract from other problems such as depression and negative thoughts. In addition, they are addicted to the thrill of the game.

When it comes to gambling addiction, outsiders usually fail to understand. Therefore, seek professional help if you experience one or more symptoms of gambling addiction.

Symptoms that may indicate gambling addiction

The following symptoms are common among pathological gamblers. However, I do not make any claim to completeness with this list.

• Cravings: Players often feel enormous pressure that pushes them to play.
• Loss of interest: An addicted gamer loses interest in other activities including sexuality.
• Loss of control: Once they start, gambling addicts can find it difficult or impossible to stop gambling. They often gamble until either the money is gone or the casino closes.
• Increase in stakes: Bets are continuously increased to get the same kick.
• Extension of the playing time: The time those affected spend playing is also getting longer and longer.

In my opinion, these five points are the most distinctive symptoms of gambling addiction. All other symptoms like suicidal thoughts or wanting to get your money back are, in my opinion, only sequelae of this disease.

You can do a self-test here: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/understanding-gambling-problems/self-assessment-tool/

What can I do to protect myself from further losses?

You can block your casino account, at least temporarily, at all of the online casinos that we have listed. If you are blocked at an online casino, this block remains active until you submit an application for unblocking by e-mail. However, after submitting the application, you remain blocked for one to two weeks. Once blocked, you no longer have the opportunity to take part in online gambling for at least a week.

Excluding yourself from the game, however, is only the first step. As a second step, you should use the time and seek professional help. In addition to the local drug and addiction advice centers, there are also some organizations on the Internet to which those affected or those at risk of gambling addiction can turn:

• http://www.gluecksspielsucht.de
• http://www.anonyme-spieler.org

Unfortunately, it is impossible to exclude or block yourself in any landbased or online casino. New Casinos are being launched on a daily basis.

Some players get gambling addiction under control to some extent, they immediately compensate for all financial obligations with their electricity, rent, etc. and buy everything in terms of groceries that is needed until the next salary. Even if there is no desire or addictive pressure being felt, some players always try to buy everything in advance, because as a gambling addict you never know when the addiction will strike again. The money that remains afterwards is then consciously planned for playing. It reassures addicted gamers the reassurance that they could play if they wanted to. Unfortunately, this tip only helps if you have already gambled away your assets or do not have any.