CasinosHunter offers this educational guide on gambling addiction to help players recognize and address a potential problem on time.
Read the guide to learn the symptoms of gambling addiction, and ways to prevent it, and check out resources in Canada if you need counseling.
Gambling addiction is a mental health condition that shares many characteristics with other behavioral and substance addictions (for example, drug addiction) and certain psychological disorders (like phobias).
The simple description of addiction is that the person is unable to control or change their behavior patterns connected to the source of addiction, even when the person is already aware that the behavior patterns are harmful or dangerous.
Statistically Inevitable Losses
Online casino games operate with the so-called “house edge” - a small fee taken from each bet the player makes. Players can find the percentage of this fee in the games’ RTP rates.
Return To Player rates show how much money the player potentially, statistically, is able to win back in the long term from the casino game. Please pay attention to the “win back” formulation - not win more than they deposited, but win back the money they spent on games. This win-back is never guaranteed, only mathematically probable.
So, RTP rates are never 100%. This means that the player can (almost) never win back all the money they spent in the game, let alone win considerably more. This way, the casino always has a statistical advantage, and this is why losses are inevitable over time.
So, it is crucial to gamble responsibly, keeping these facts in mind, and treat gambling only as an entertainment that should be pursued only with the funds you can afford to lose.
Recognizing You Have A Problem
The hardest step is to recognize that the problem exists and that the person has run into trouble. One of the hardest parts is not to stop gambling but rather to admit that the person has failed to keep the situation under control.
The gambler may admit that their gambling patterns are too much. However, in their opinion, there is nothing in their life that could replace this activity and be equally satisfying. The gamblers may also successfully rationalize their behavior and hide the problem.
Yet, it is easy to go through a reality check by looking through a list of potential symptoms that signal addiction.
Problem Gambling: Symptoms
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but the most common are:
- Increasing investments. The deposits and bets increase with time to achieve the desired results;
- Irritation without access to games. The person is annoyed or restless if they cannot play games (for example, if they are offline and can’t connect to the site);
- Failed control. There were several repeated but unsuccessful attempts to cut or control gambling;
- Chasing losses. The person chases their losses - after losing money, they go back and play even more to at least “break even”;
- Concealing gambling. The person hides their gambling habits, the size of deposits, and the size of losses, from significant others in their lives;
- Borrowing money to play. The person seeks financial help from others to finance their playing;
- Making gambling a priority. Gambling becomes a priority among other daily activities.
Almost all of these symptoms can vary in depth and impact.
How to Avoid Compulsive Gambling and Play It Safe
If you choose to gamble occasionally, check out the following recommendations:
- Play at reliable, reputable, well-known, and properly certified casinos, whether online or offline. While gambling is a business, and its goal for the operator is to make money, the best operators always take care of their customers and take measures to prevent addictive gambling.
- Only make bets with the sums you are ready to lose. Not that casinos are only about losing. They are not, but let’s be honest - losing is inevitable at some point. Even professional card players lose from time to time, regardless of their skills. So, make yourself a separate e-wallet or card with funds you can afford to lose betting, and when these funds are over, stop playing.
- Avoid playing when you are drunk, high, or depressed. Being depressed or being drunk/high means changing brain chemistry, and triggering your brain even more with gambling can unlock the chemical chain to powerful addiction development.
- Don’t chase wins if you have already won. One win is enough. Even if you believe it is your lucky day, in reality, you can lose all the money won if you continue betting. So, stop playing if you begin losing repeatedly, and if you are winning, stop playing as well.
- Unsubscribe from the casinos’ marketing newsletters, and avoid exclusive promotion deals where possible. Keep in mind that, in reality, the fewer bonuses and promotions you use, the more chances you have to win real money. This is because dealing with the bonuses’ terms and conditions demands way more gambling activity than when you bet only with your own funds.
- Use responsible gambling tools offered by casinos. Set deposit limits, bet limits, and/or loss limits. Remember to bet only with the money you can afford to lose, and keep the activity fun and exciting instead of piling on your hopelessness.
- Use session time limits. Set session time alarms, take regular breaks, and avoid marathon play sessions.
- Retreat to self-exclusion when you feel that you had too much. Require the casino to temporarily block the account, exclude you for weeks, months, or years, or use national exclusion programs (find contacts below).
Gambling Addiction Resources for Canada
In case you or your loved ones need counseling and assistance, please check out the following resources available in Canada:
- Alberta Health Services. Call 1-866-332-2322
- British Columbia Partnership for Responsible Gambling. Call 1-888-795-6111
- Addictions Foundation in Manitoba. Call 1-855-662-6605
- New Brunswick Health. Call 1-800-461-1234
- Newfoundland Labrador Health and Community Services. Call 1-877-999-7589
- Northwest Territories Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-661-0844
- Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Help Line. Call 1-888-347-8888
- Nunavut Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-265-3333
- ConnexOntario. Call 1-866-531-2600
- Health PEI Gambling Addiction Services. Call 1-855-255-4255
- Quebec Gambling: Help and Referral. Call 1-800-461-0140
- Saskatchewan Health — Gambling. Call 1-306-787-7239
- Yukon Health and Social Services. Call 1-800-661-0408
National Self-Exclusion Programs
Where to voluntarily self-exclude across Canada:
- Alberta - AGLC’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (780-447-7582 or 1-800-272-8876)
- British Columbia - BCLC’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (1-866-815-0222)
- Manitoba - MLL’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (204-957-2500 ext. 8468)
- Ontario - OLG’s My PlayBreak Program (1-800-387-0098)
- New Brunswick - NBLGC’S Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (506-861-4699)
- Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia Gaming’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (902-424-8663 (Halifax) or (902) 563-3797 (Sydney)
- Prince Edward Island - PlayWise Information Centres (902-620-4267)
- Quebec - Loto Quebec’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program
- Saskatchewan - SIGA’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program
There are no currently available self-exclusion programs for the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. However, toll-free gambling helplines are available:
- Northwest Territories General Help Line: 1-800-661-0844
- Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333
- Yukon Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services: 1-866-456-3838
Global Gambling Addiction Resources
Global resources on education and assistance with compulsive gambling include:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Problem Gambling
- The National Council on Problem Gambling
- Befriends Worldwide - suicide prevention organization
Gambling is fun and should be pursued as fun. With these resources, playing games and making bets can be pursued without harming one’s health and life.
FAQ
If I can afford my gambling, can I face negative issues?
Uncontrolled gambling causes not only financial issues but may also ruin your relationships or your health. So do not consider the financial factor as the most crucial one.
I play casino games from time to time, but when I do, I can’t stop. Is that addiction?
This looks like binge gambling. You may not feel much interest in playing most of the time, but your episodes of uncontrolled gambling can become more frequent. If they do, you are facing the risk of serious addiction.
Do only weak and irresponsible people develop a gambling addiction?
Many factors contribute to the development of addiction. If the main cause is a biological predisposition or brain chemistry disorder like depression, the power of will or responsibility has little to do with managing addiction.
Do only adults suffer from gambling addiction?
Children and teenagers are as vulnerable to mental health disorders as adults are. Moreover, with time, and technological development, more and more children and teens get exposed to gambling activities, so the risks increase.
Can I help an addicted loved one by paying their debts or providing for them if they lose a job?
This is one of the worst ways to manage the situation. If the compulsive punter feels their problems are managed by someone else, they are not likely to change their unhealthy behavior. If you are not sure what steps to take, get counseling with a therapist.
With years of experience in online gambling, he's dedicated to helping players find reliable casinos. He created CasinosHunter to provide honest assessments. Like hunting good prey, it requires knowledge and patience to find safe and rewarding Canadian casinos and Mike ensures that Canadian players have this opportunity.
