Responsible gaming has always been extremely important to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) as shown in the Gambling Act 2005 put together by the commission that lists one of the main licensing objectives of the Act as the protection of vulnerable people. Nowadays, the Commission adopts a zero-tolerance policy to any form of gambling-related harm which means that licensed casino sites in the UK are considered the safest in the industry, ready and able to help problem gamblers and gambling addicts and working with industry bodies including the UKGC.
What is a gambling addiction?
Gambling problems are common. Gambling begins as harmless fun but turns into an obsession with serious consequences irrespective of where or how the bets are made. You will recognise a gambling problem because it strains relationships, has a negative impact on work and often leads to financial problems. Being self-aware of the problem means you can begin to fix it.
Gambling addiction is an impulse-control disorder that without treatment is impossible to control long-term. There is a compulsion to gamble and once started an uncontrollable obsession to continue gambling means that all other responsibilities and reasonable thought processes are lost, creating negative consequences for the player and their loved ones because once addicted, the consequences of the gambling are not considered relevant. Although addicts feel powerless to stop gambling, it is a problem that has can be solved with help.
Organisations that can help
There are organisations who can help those struggling with a gambling addiction.
GambleAware
Entirely independent, GambleAware is a registered charity in the UK that has a framework agreement with the UKGC to deliver the “National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms” funded by voluntary donations from the gambling industry.
The GambleAware logo on a website is not an endorsement of a particular product, company or brand. It is added purely to ensure that people who need information, advice and support can find it as easily as possible. The charity monitors all UK casinos that show the UKGC seal of approval.
Online gambling sites in the UK are obliged, as part of their licensing terms, to offer all the necessary tools to help gamblers. Players at online casinos can self-exclude themselves for a specified period. If self-exclusion does not help, anti-gambling software such as GamBlock, Betfilter and Gamban will block casino sites entirely.
More information about responsible gambling, including how to access confidential support and advice, is available at the BeGambleAware website, prepared by GambleAware.
GamCare
Founded in 1997, GamCare offers information, advice and support to anyone affected by problem gambling. It operates the National Gambling Helpline, provides treatment for problem gamblers and their families, creates awareness about responsible gambling and treatment, and encourages an effective approach to responsible gambling within the gambling industry through education, prevention and communication.
GamCare also helps and supports operators and regulators in the development and implementation of effective responsible gambling policies, measures and practices, including certification, training and consultancy. As leaders in the development of best practice in research, education and communication, the organisation has become an internationally recognised Centre of Clinical … Read the rest