How to Gamble Responsibly

How can you bet properly when another chance is only a tap or swipe away? Data from Australia discloses that 64% of their respective population bet at least once a year—moreover, one-third of gamblers engage in several different forms. Lottery is the most popular kind of gambling among people, making up 76%. This is followed by instant scratch tickets, which comprises 22%, and electronic gaming machines, which is almost 21%. Approximately 160,000 Australians have major gambling issues, and another 350,000 have intermediate chances of developing a gambling addiction. So, what does this mean for gamblers? Do they stop or do they proceed with better intentions?

The Rise of Online Gambling

It goes without saying that online gambling has grown in popularity over the last 15 years. While Australians’ engagement in internet gambling is still minimal when compared to conventional forms of gambling, it looks to be growing quickly. If this trend continues, traditional in-venue gaming may soon be replaced by internet gambling, especially among young people—meaning we could be very well bidding farewell to traditional casinos. One in every 25 young people has a gambling issue, which equates to one in every high school classroom. One out of every five people bets on sporting events, and one out of every 10 gambles online.

In Australian sport, advertisements promoting gambling and online betting are especially prevalent. Even though there has been a gradual shift in how and when gambling is presented during athletic events, it still has a significant presence. In reality, three out of every four youngsters aged eight to sixteen who watch sports can think of at least one bookmaker. This has been such a noticeable issue that a public health campaign titled “Love the Game, Not the Odds” was launched as a response to the problem—the goal was aimed at minimizing young people’s exposure to sports betting and eradicating the perception that gambling is an accepted component of sports and spectatorship. The campaign also attempts to start and enable discussions with children and adolescents about how gambling does not have to be a part of gaming.

Gambling Consciously and in Moderation 

With all that being said, there still is a way to engage in gambling without going overboard. For years, advertisers and websites used the slogan “gamble responsibly” before scholars and public health activists looked at the sorts of behaviors that underpin it. The term “responsible gambling” is defined as follows: Exercising control and making educated decisions to keep gaming within reasonable financial and time constraints, pleasurable, in balance with other activities and obligations, and free of gambling-related damage.

Gambling responsibly entails having power over your wagering and not allowing it to negatively affect other aspects of your life. When you gamble responsibly, you’re in charge of how much time and money you spend, and you view gambling as a sort of fun. One must not put more money on the table than you can afford to lose. Understand and accept the chances—keep in mind your odds of winning and accept that your budget may be smaller than others’. Don’t try to recoup your losses the following time you play.

To achieve responsible gambling, you have to make sure that gambling is inexpensive by not playing with money that may otherwise be used for essentials. Moreover, you have to guarantee that gambling does not take over your free time and that you are participating in other social and recreational activities. For a more conscious experience, it’s best to avoid borrowing money, gambling with a credit card, placing bets when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or as a means to cope with feelings such as boredom, depression, or anxiety. Basically, you must set boundaries on how much and how long you will gamble, limiting your maximum bet amount, and avoiding raising bets while winning or losing.