4 Tips for Sustainable Gambling Habits
Start with the Money You Have
To develop sustainable gambling habits, start by looking at your finances and setting aside a specific amount you can afford for gambling. This might be familiar advice, but it’s worth revisiting.
There’s no doubt that casino gambling is entertaining. On the other hand, we usually aim to win when we bet. While losses happen, it’s satisfying when you finish with more than you started with.
It can be helpful to set up a separate account just for gambling. For instance, you could deposit $100 each month and spend $25 each weekend. This way, you know you won’t go over your planned limit. You might also decide to make another deposit only if you’ve won a certain amount – this choice is yours.
Know When to Stop Betting
As mentioned, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. You might lose track of how much you’ve bet or how long you’ve been playing. That’s why it’s important to know when to stop.
Setting an alarm on your phone can be helpful – one or two hours works well. Also, try to avoid playing late at night, as fatigue can lead to poor choices.
It’s common to mix casino games and alcohol, but we don’t recommend it. If you do, make sure to stop before it becomes hard to make good decisions.
Find a Casino with Built-in Limits
Many online casinos let players set their own deposit limits. Some also allow players to set time limits or take short breaks. Choosing a casino with these options makes it easier to keep sustainable gambling habits.
Set Deposit Limits
In the best casinos, you can set not only deposit limits but also daily, weekly, and monthly caps. Using these tools helps you track how much you’re spending. It’s easy to make extra deposits after a long session, so having limits is a good safeguard.
Set Loss Limits
Just as you can set deposit limits, some casinos also allow loss limits. You can choose an amount you’re willing to lose in a day, week, or month. Loss limits often include winnings, allowing you to lose only what you’ve won.
Take a Timeout
Taking a timeout is also a good idea. This can be combined with deposit or loss limits. A timeout means you can’t place bets for 24 hours, 7 days, a month, or even longer. If a casino offers multiple products, like sports or poker, you may also be able to block specific games.
Self-Exclusion
The best casinos also offer account deletion. This option is for people who feel they’re close to becoming, or already are, addicted to gambling. Self-exclusion ensures you can’t access that casino again, even if you try to reactivate your account later.
Understand What Makes a Player Addicted
No one wants to become addicted to gambling. In the worst cases, it can damage your life and the lives of those you care about. Watching someone struggle with gambling can also be tough, especially when it affects their mental health, physical health, and finances.
To maintain sustainable gambling habits, it’s important to recognize what addiction looks like. You may never become addicted, but understanding the signs of a gambling problem can help you stay in control.
- Are You Trying to Win Back Losses? If you want to keep adding money to win back what you lost, this could be a sign of gambling addiction.
- Do You Spend a Lot of Time Thinking About Gambling? If you often think about gambling, even when you’re not playing, this could be a warning sign.
- Do You Need Bigger Bets to Feel the Same Level of Interest? If you constantly increase your bet size because smaller bets feel dull, this might be a sign that you’re becoming dependent.
- Are You Trying to Cut Down but Can’t? If you’ve tried to reduce your gambling but haven’t succeeded, it might be wise to ask for help. This support is available at most popular casinos.
- Do You Lie About Your Gambling Habits? Lying to friends or family about your gambling habits isn’t a good sign.
