Why Problem Gamblers Often Don’t Seek Help

Small Acts You Can Take On to Help Yourself and Others with Online Gambling

<h1>How to Help Those Looking for Gambling Addiction Support</h1>There is a long-running stigma attached to those suffering from gambling addiction. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5264412/">Plenty of research on the subject</a> makes that fact abundantly clear. Even without the data, those suffering under the weight of problem gambling know the pain well.It’s time to open up about the stigma surrounding problem gambling. Let’s see how this silent epidemic impacts victims, and what we can do about it.<h3>How stigma hurts compulsive gamblers</h3>A stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.” The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization (WHO)</a> describes social stigma as “a major cause of discrimination and exclusion.”Those targeted by a social stigma are seen as having less value than “normal” people. The victims of this phenomenon may be shunned by friends, family and their peers. They may also experience discrimination in education, housing, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/protect-your-business-from-online-gambling">employment</a> and other factors that impact them in daily life. In its most extreme forms, social stigma contributes to substantial human rights violations. This stigma affects both men and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/women-and-gambling-addiction">women</a>. Those suffering under the weight of gambling addiction are routinely stigmatised. Even though we understand addiction much better today than ever before, it is still seen by many as a personal flaw, rather than for what it is: an illness, beyond the person’s control.Stigmatisation carries serious consequences. The fear of social isolation can keep victims of addiction from seeking treatment, as they suffer in silence instead of opening up about the issue. This inhibits long-term harm reduction efforts and damages the victim’s self-esteem and self-worth.The end result: the potential for increasingly-destructive behaviour and even suicide. In fact, problem gamblers have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://800gambler.org/quick-facts-gambling-suicide/">the highest rate of attempted suicide</a> among all addictive disorders. Because of the stigma of problem gambling, those suffering under the weight of addiction and social pressure can be made to feel there is no other alternative.<h3>What can be done?</h3>The problem can get better, but only once people feel more comfortable reaching out for help. That’s why destigmatising gambling addiction is the key to treating the problem.Beating the stigma surrounding problem gambling is not going to be easy or quick. It will take years to reshape how we think about addiction and how we treat addicts in general. However, there are small acts you can take on your own to help:<ul><li>Be compassionate: Show understanding, kindness and support to those suffering from addiction. Withhold judgement, and instead simply listen to their experiences and needs.</li><li>Do your research: Education breeds empathy. If you understand what those in the grip of addiction are going through, you can better understand how to help.</li><li>Avoid labels: Words like “addict” put blame on the individual. We want to avoid blaming the victim and instead focus on the real problem: the behaviour.</li><li>Educate others: Even those with good intentions can cause harm through a lack of knowledge. Share what you learn to help broaden the understanding.</li><li>Be an advocate: Don’t stay silent when you see others abuse or misrepresent victims of gambling. Speak up and let people know they’re not alone.</li></ul>Of course, while the behaviour is the core problem, access to online gambling often enables and aggravates the issue. That’s why <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/belts-and-braces-why-more-than-one-tool-can-be-helpful">tools capable of blocking access</a> to such sites are an important piece of the puzzle.<h3>Help is out there</h3>Even if you are not ready to talk, there are tools you can use to start your recovery journey. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/">Gambling blocking software</a> allows you to keep gambling away from your devices (computers, smart phones and tablets); It works better when deployed together with GamStop, the UK’s free self-exclusion scheme, and payment blocking solutions, such as the one provided by Monzo. Get all of them, and as soon as you’re ready, get in touch with the National Gambling Helpline. They are there to listen, no shame, no stigma. Break the silence!Recovery is possible.

The Silent Epidemic Made Worse by Shame and Stigma

How to Help Those Looking for Gambling Addiction Support. Small Acts You Can Take On to Help Yourself and Others with Online Gambling

When the Money Runs Out

Problem Gamblers Can Easily Find Themselves in Vicious Cycles of Borrowing to Pay Gambling Tabs 

In theory, payday loans exist to help consumers make ends meet when they need temporary help in a short amount of time. In practice, this type of fast and easy-to-get credit products are the only option – apart from loan sharks – for thousands of individuals and families, up and down the country, who need money “now”, and are unable to obtain a loan from the bank.With strict terms and extremely high interest rates, payday loans can easily spiral out of control. For many borrowers, the payday loan is simultaneously the lifeline that keeps their heating on, and the chain that will keep them, prisoners, to an endless and growing debt nightmare.<h3>Adding gambling to the equation</h3>In <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.finder.com/uk/payday-loan-statistics">2017, 53% of UK payday loan customers borrowed money to pay for living expenses</a>, including groceries and utility bills. When we add gambling addiction to this very unbalanced equation, the end result is nothing short of a personal catastrophe. And no, it cannot simply be chalked up to misspending or poor planning of personal finances. The real causes go much deeper.Individuals living with gambling addiction don’t place a bet because they enjoy the game, or because they’re having a laugh with their mates at the pub. In fact, they usually feel quite isolated, and do it because they’re compelled to satisfy an uncontrollable urge – they just have to do it. In this process, anyone can get desperate enough to turn to payday loans as the solution to fund their sports bets, their online poker, their slot machines, or any other form of gambling.Problem gamblers can easily find themselves in vicious cycles of borrowing to pay gambling tabs, forcing them to borrow more to cover newer debts. This is extremely dangerous, and can quickly lead to an unmanageable vicious cycle of debt and financial loss. The problem can be life-threatening, as troubling stories <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3457058/Gambling-addict-27-hanged-owing-thousands-pounds-getting-messages-offering-free-bets-died.html">l</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/15/ryan-myers-bereaved-parents-taking-on-the-gambling-industry">ike that of Ryan Myers</a> highlight. Mr Myers took his life in 2016, after falling into thousands of pounds of gambling debt and turning to payday loans as a last resort.There’s no set character trait or signal precipitating this toxic situation. It can happen to anyone irrespective of their socioeconomic standing, from a low income part-time worker to affluent professionals like doctors or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/24648539">professional footballers</a>.“It’s not uncommon to have a player in a cycle of payday loans and gambling,” says Sporting Chance Clinic CEO Colin Bland, referencing patients at the athlete-focused recovery centre. 70% of Sporting Chance Clinic’s admissions are for gambling addiction, and many find themselves trapped between payday lenders and gambling before finally seeking help.<h3>Out of gambling, out of debt</h3>A person suffering from addiction turns to payday loans as a source of quick cash, confident he or she will win the money back. The plan rarely works out, and the individual is saddled with the added burden of debts that can multiply exponentially within a year due to the unfair interest rates.Those at risk of slipping into this cycle need to seek help, as do those already inside the trap. While this is easier said than done, especially due to the level of isolation many players believe to be in, there are people, organisations and technology products out there that can help.Protecting oneself from a dangerous payday loan trap is essential. But, the most important part of that process is confronting the addiction itself. Until victims overcome that obstacle, every day remains a new risk.

Should I Use Payday Loans to Pay Gambling Debt?

When the money runs out a person suffering from a gambling addiction can turn to payday loans as a source of quick cash

Gambling Addiction Misdiagnosis or Incomplete Diagnosis

Gambling Addiction Is a Serious Challenge under the Best of Circumstances. What Makes It Even More Difficult to Face? A Gambling Addiction misdiagnosis.

A gambling addiction can’t be diagnosed by taking a blood test or a scan. Most patients may show signs of depression, but unless they are open about it, there is no way the doctor will know the reason why. There is no physical evidence that someone’s depression is due to an uncontrollable urge to gamble and the family and financial problems that such addiction has created. If the stigma alone wasn’t enough to make it difficult, in countries where gambling is illegal, addicts will be even less likely to admit they have a problem. More often than not, the diagnosis is “depression” which, although true – gambling addicts often suffer from depression – is also incomplete, as the root causes remain unidentified.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6691482">One study</a> from the US National Institutes of Health showed that 76% of gamblers surveyed also suffered from depression. The suicide rate among self-identified gamblers is four times higher than among non-gamblers. This may lead to a confusion of correlation and causation, and contributing to a gambling addiction misdiagnosis, or incomplete diagnosis. We need to ask “which comes first: the clinical diagnosis, or the gambling behaviour?”<h2>Correlation Vs. Causation</h2>For some people, an addiction to gambling may be a product of depression or another underlying condition. For most though, that depression is a result of their gambling addiction. The stress of losing money, plus the strain this puts on the victims’ personal lives, on their families, on their jobs, create the ideal circumstances for depression and other mental health issues to flourish. This isn’t unique to gambling addiction. In fact, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-cant-i-stop/201607/misdiagnosis-behavioral-addiction">many individuals with behavioural addictions</a> are misdiagnosed with problems like obsessive compulsive disorder. It can happen with any number of addictions, but there are unique factors at play with compulsive  gambling , though, such as inconsistent social acceptability or legal status, that makes it especially tricky to identify as the cause of suffering.<h2>When Gambling is Illegal</h2>Making something illegal, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easier to deal with. Some scholarly evidence suggests drug prohibition for example, does little to actually reduce drug addiction, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1837&amp;context=facpub">may even make addiction worse</a>. The reason is simple – while it may help authorities act against those who “operate the market”, the illegal status also acts as a barrier between the victims and the treatment. The US is a good example of this dilemma: although gambling is only legal in a select number of states, the rate of gambling addiction is higher there compared to the UK.The problem of recognising an addiction to gambling is complicated by the rise of online betting. In countries or regions where betting is illegal, health professionals may be less inclined to consider gambling behaviour when looking at a patient. Gambling Disorder was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4019046/">included in the latest edition of the DSM</a> in 2014, but it’s still a recent change. If the patient is uncomfortable with disclosing their gambling habits – because it is an illegal activity, and/or because the insurance policy wouldn’t cover it – the job of the doctor or therapist becomes a lot more difficult.<h2>The Problem is The Gambling</h2>Gambling addiction is rarely a self-evident issue. Here are a few common signs that something is wrong:<ul><li>Remorse: Those with an addiction typically aren’t having fun when satisfying their urge. It’s a compulsion, not a leisure activity, and feelings of remorse are a common side-effect.</li><li>Need: Addicted individuals often see gambling as a way to resolve other problems like debts, or even to recover previous betting losses. They feel the need to keep playing to try and solve these issues.</li><li>Mismatch of Priorities: Because gambling is a compulsion, it feels natural to place it higher on a list of priorities than is appropriate. It can overshadow family and friends, work, and paying bills.</li><li>Sense of Inevitability: Some problem gamblers see their habit as an inevitable part of life, about which nothing can be done. The problem may rise to the point that “gambling money” becomes a regular monthly expense, and often one that takes priority, as mentioned above.</li><li>Inability to Stop: Problem gamblers may keep placing bets until all their money is gone. Gambling may also take up large shares of their time, as they have absolute confidence they are working on getting their money back.</li><li>Compulsive Response: Problem gamblers don’t just gamble when the mood strikes them. Like any addict, they feel compelled to place a bet. It can be an all-encompassing urge that overrides other interests or responsibilities.</li><li>Escapism: Betting is a means of escape for many addicts. As a result, sources of stress, arguments, or everyday disappointments and frustrations can trigger the urge to gamble.</li></ul> Early identification is essential for effective treatment of gambling addiction. However, that will require society as a whole to see beyond the shame, challenging our own experiences, and staying away from prejudice. That will help those with the problem to open up about it, and it will help those with the treatment resources to use them without reservations. Ultimately, it will drive the growth of those resources, backed by statistics that truly reflect the reality.<h2>Helping Gamblers Help Themselves</h2>Gambling addiction is highly stigmatised. It’s seen as a personal failure or weakness, rather than a real condition which demands treatment. We need to stop this and foster an environment in which people can speak honestly about their problem. For example, we can start by dispelling many of the myths about gambling addiction:<ul><li>Addiction only happens to certain groups of people.</li><li>You have to gamble every day to be addicted.</li><li>It's due to personal weakness and irresponsibility.</li><li>Problem gamblers are motivated solely by the allure of money.</li><li>Problem gambling only affects the gambler.</li><li>These are all misconceptions. Every single one of them.</li><li>An addiction to gambling can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any point in time.</li></ul> People can feel more comfortable <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/ban-yourself-from-online-gambling">seeking help</a> once we all have a more honest conversation about problem gambling. Until that happens though, gambling addiction misdiagnosis will continue to damage people’s chance of recovery.Worried that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/are-you-at-risk-from-online-gambling">you, or someone you know</a>, might be suffering from an addiction to gambling? The first step to deal with it is to put as many obstacles as possible between the player and the game:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/product">Gamban blocks access to 40k+ gambling websites.</a> It blocks the device itself from accessing those sites and is available for computers, phones and tablets and stop gambling. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/pricing">Click here to get started.</a></li><li>For those in the UK, we also recommend signing up to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/">GamStop</a>. This voluntary scheme self-excludes players from a large number of UK based gambling websites, in one go.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/">Gamcare</a> offers The National Gambling HelpLine, providing confidential information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling in the UK. - 0808 8020 133</li><li>Another important roadblock is money. Monzo and Starling banks have developed features that block gambling related transactions. We recommend taking a look at those.</li><li>There are a number of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/ban-yourself-from-online-gambling">self-exclusion schemes</a> out there, as well as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/help">support groups</a>.</li></ul>

Diagnosing Gambling Addiction – or Not

When Did Problem Gambling Start?

We Go Through the Gambling Timeline, from the First Dice to Slot Machines  

For when that was, here is Wikipedia: “Gambling dates back to the Palaeolithic period, before written history. The earliest six-sided dice date to about 3000 BC in Mesopotamia. However, they were based on astragali dating back thousands of years earlier. In China, gambling houses were widespread in the first millennium BC where betting on fighting animals was common. Lotto games and dominoes appeared in China as early as the 10th century. Playing cards appeared in the 9th century in China. Poker, the most popular U.S. card game associated with gambling, was based on the Persian game As-Nas, dating back to the 17th century. The first known casino was the Ridotto, established in Venice, Italy in 1638.”Those of us who have had our problems with gambling addiction will know how and why one or more of the people will have become addicted. So many reasons but, usually, there’s some underlying mental problem like depression. Certainly, if a person wasn’t depressed before they started gambling compulsively then they would have been afterwards. This brings me to an old joke which might just identify the first problem gambler:<h2>Gambling in History</h2>An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of the Israel museum in Jerusalem.“I’ve just discovered a 3,000-year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!” the excited scientist exclaimed. The curator replied, “Bring him in. We’ll check it out.”A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. “You were right about both the mummy’s age and cause of death. How on earth did you know?” “Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand. It said, ‘10,000 Shekels Goliath to win’.”Was this backer of Goliath a gambling addict or was he merely the first person to lump everything he had on “a sure thing”?We’ve all done that, haven’t we? Convinced ourselves that a certain horse, dog, team, the system can’t lose and then discovered, to our mortification, that it definitely could.Damon Runyon is instructive on this subject. “One of these days in your travels,” Sky Masterson recalls his father telling him, “a guy is going to come up to you and show you a nice brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken, and this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the Jack of Spades jump out of the deck and squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not bet this man, for as sure as you are standing there, you are going to end up with an earful of cider.”Another Damon Runyon character, Sam The Gonoph, points out why gamblers will eventually always lose. “I long ago came to the conclusion that all life is six-to-five against.”Or, in the words of another sage, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/improving-your-odds-at-slots-is-just-a-myth">“gambling is a sure way of getting nothing for something”.</a>Gerolamo Cardano (or Jérôme Cardano) was a 16th century Italian doctor, mathematician, physicist, chemist, astrologer, philosopher, writer, and gambler. He was one of the most influential mathematicians of the Renaissance and was one of the key figures in the foundation of probability. In his autobiography, he laid bare his addiction to gambling. “As I was inordinately addicted to the chessboard, and the dicing table, I know I must be deserving of the severest censure. I gambled at both for many years: at chess for about forty, and at dice for twenty-five”Cardano features in Mike Atherton’s brilliant book <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/oct/08/sportandleisure.features">Gambling: A Story of Triumph and Disaster</a>, in which the former England cricket captain describes how gambling came to be the massive industry it is today. Along the way, he tells of how people won and lost fortunes on the turn of a card or the roll of a die. Nothing has really changed: only how the cards are turned or the dice are rolled.Atherton also tells us about the aristocracy who won and lost whole estates in an evening’s gambling. Perversely, it was the fact that gambling debts weren’t legally enforceable that led to such high stakes gambling as it allowed the aristocrats to display their sang-froid when they lost.The emerging stock markets of the 18th century also gave plenty of scope to what was not investing but gambling. Sir Isaac Newton mistimed his purchases and sales in the South Sea Bubble and ended up losing £20,000. Atherton quotes Newton as saying that he could “calculate the motions of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people”. Meanwhile, as if to further demonstrate that this form of gambling wasn’t the sole province of the stupid, the writer Daniel Defoe lost £17,000 gambling on stocks and was declared bankrupt.<h2>For a Small Stake</h2>Most early gambling – especially in Britain – revolved around lotteries. And then they disappeared until the National Lottery arrived in 1994. Lotteries have always flourished in countries where there are few legalised forms of gambling. In Britain, we already had bingo, horse-racing, the dogs and casinos. For a small stake, you had an evening’s entertainment and the chance of winning some money. It was called having a flutter. For those who wanted a bigger upside there were the football pools where, for a few bob, you might win a small fortune or the wonderful Premium Bonds where, even if you didn’t win, you could cash in your entire stake. That was the uniquely British way of doing things. Then along came the National Lottery and its scratch card offspring to root out our baser instincts and then appeal to them. It wasn’t enough to win a few quid – even a few hundred – now it was time to start thinking in millions – it could be you.Inevitably, it was the poorest who latched on to it but, beyond the brief thrill of the draw, there was nothing in it for them – save the knowledge that wealthy non-lottery players would have their opera tickets subsidised through the 28 percent deducted for “good causes”. Sure, there were winners – multi-million-pound winners – but they were so rare that they became news stories. Everyone else was a loser; in many instances, a frustrated, resentful loser terrified of stopping just in case their numbers came up; the ultimate monkey on the back. Camelot, with its cheesy Arthurian motifs that made it look like the worst kind of theme pub, was canny. Through its advertising, it pandered to the greed that it had nurtured while keeping the supine media onside with a drip-feed of “exclusives”. To its eternal shame, the BBC went native and not only became a cheerleader but actually paid for the privilege. More important, Camelot had done its maths. It knew that to maximise publicity it needed massive jackpots. To subsidise these it had to trim the payouts in the few areas where people stood a realistic chance of winning. So for getting three balls, it paid £10 when the true odds were 56-1. For four balls they paid an average of about £60 instead of the £1,000 indicated by odds of 1,032-1. To achieve anything more – eg. five balls – you would need to overcome odds of 55,491-1 while the jackpot itself was a one-in-13,983,816 proposition. Almost one in 14 million. To put that in perspective you have less chance of winning the jackpot than you have of being struck by lightning (one in 10 million), being killed by a bee sting (one in six million), hitting two holes-in-one during the same round of golf (one in eight million) or Elvis turning out to be alive and extraterrestrial beings officially sighted on Earth (less than one in 10 million according to one bookmaker’s odds). That’s all right, people said, we’ll just buy more tickets. And so they did. In some cases, they bought hundreds more using money they could ill afford. One ticket costing one pound was enough to buy the dream but desperate people told themselves that they’d have 10 times more chance with 10 tickets. If only Camelot – or the media – had explained the probability to them. If the odds are (as they were before they became 45,057,474 to 1 ) 14,000,000-1 and you buy one ticket, then there are 13,999,999 chances of not winning. If instead, you buy 10 tickets, it means that there are now 13,999,990 chances of not winning. The difference is meaningless. Jackpots of millions of pounds change lives and not always for the better. Perhaps people who want their lives changed should ask themselves whether money is actually the answer. For a few dreadful years, the country was entranced by a truly alien concept. Fortunately, the people have come to their senses. They’ve voted with their wallets and deserted the lottery to such an extent that jackpots have plummeted and Camelot was forced to change the name of its game to Lotto. <h2>What more can a gambler lose than his or her life?</h2>No, we’re not talking about all the suicides that so many addicted gamblers are driven to. Meet DR WILLIAM PALMER (aka ‘THE RUGELEY POISONER’) Palmer is one of the most prolific British serial murderers of all time. He poisoned between twelve and fifteen members of his family to inherit money to pay his gambling debts but he was eventually caught when he murdered a gambling companion, John Cook, whom Palmer poisoned after Cook won at the Shrewsbury races in November 1855. Palmer was hanged outside Stafford Gaol in June 1856 in front of a 30,000 crowd. Of course, some people really do gamble with their lives – literally. As you probably know, Russian roulette is the most terrifying gambling game ever invented – even more dangerous than playing blackjack in an illegal spieler in Soho’s Chinatown. It appears to have originated in the 19th century among Russian officers. The revolver with its revolving cylinder had just been introduced. Officers who had drunk one too many straight vodkas would spin the cylinder and pull the trigger. They believed in fatalism; that it didn’t matter what you did, the outcome had already been pre-destined by a greater power. Interestingly, the odds were one in seven rather than one in six because the early Russian revolvers had seven chambers instead of six. The peerless British novelist, Graham Greene, played Russian Roulette – on his own with a single bullet in a revolver with six chambers – on five occasions. He then decided to give up but only after playing one last game to even up the odds (as he saw it).Fortunately, for all the subsequent fans of his books, he won.Greene is not the only famous person to be affected by gambling (was his bipolarity a possible cause?). So many more people are affected by relatives’ gambling.<h3>Here are some quotes from famous people:</h3>“Mum used to say about Dad, ‘I wish he was a drinker rather than a gambler because there is only so much you can drink before you fall down’, but with gambling, he brought nothing into the house” (Michael Barrymore, whose father was buried in a pauper’s grave, having left when Michael was 11“My father had no direction in life and he was a compulsive gambler who was a failure at it. He gambled with the rent and the gas bill.” (Sir Michael Caine)“My mother was consumed with her own interest which was gambling. She was really very self-centred’ (Michael Winner whose mother gambled away the family fortune)“One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of garden seeds” (Dan Bennett)Over the past two decades, the gambling landscape has continued to evolve with eSports, using skins-as-currency, as the most popular gambling product among younger players. Having seen a shift from ‘green felt’ to gambling in a more virtual environment, we are now seeing a transition once again to a more ‘integrated’ form of gambling – where gambling is merged so closely into the fabric of video gaming that it is normalising younger players (11-15yrs old), from the moment they pick up a gaming controller.This ‘dice to mice’ transition suggests gambling is as much about identity and status, as it is about escapism, distraction, winning (and losing) money. Nothing has really changed: only now it’s not just cards and dice; it’s crates and skins.

A History of Problem Gambling

What Are My Odds? To Be Blunt… They’re Not Great

As They Say, “the house always wins.” 

Slot machines are among the most popular games in the world, both in betting shops and online. You’ve probably heard stories about slot “experts” improving their odds with simple tricks and strategies. You may even wonder how you can get in on the game.Let’s take a look at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gamban.com/blog/understanding-and-controlling-gambling">mechanics</a> behind slot machines and see how well those tricks hold up.<h3>How does a slot machine work?</h3>All digital slots operate based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/9091/random-number-generator-rng">a random number generator</a>, or RNG. This is a basic computer process designed to assemble random strings of numbers.The RNG in an average slot machine assembles hundreds of random sequences every second. Before you begin a game, the computer is already generating number sequences. The machine then records the randomised set of numbers generated the millisecond you click “start,” thus determining the position of each slot reel.Contrary to popular belief, slots are not programmed to have “hot streaks” or “cold streaks.” <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thoughtco.com/understanding-the-random-number-generator-536660">Each pull has the same odds</a>, and the probability of winning isn’t impacted by how long you sit at the machine or how long it’s been since the machine paid out.Let’s assume you’re sitting at a slot machine in a high street betting shop. You don’t have any luck, and you decide to switch to a new machine. Minutes later, someone comes along, sits at the machine you just vacated, and wins a jackpot on the first go. You can take solace knowing your odds wouldn’t have been any better if you’d stayed put. It’s all a matter of luck.  <h3>How slot machines play with your perception</h3>Make no mistake: slots are a game of chance. However, they can use certain tricks to make you feel you have more control over the outcome than you actually do. Here are a few common examples:<ul><li>False wins: This occurs when you win, but your prize is less than what you wagered. It feels like you won, but in reality, you’ve lost money.</li><li>Near-misses: A jackpot symbol appears directly above or below the pay line, giving you the impression, you were just one space away from the prize. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wired.com/2011/03/the-near-miss-effect/">Research suggests</a> there’s a psychological effect at work, making you more likely to keep playing if this happens.</li><li>Stop buttons: You might feel like pressing the “stop” button will have an impact, but because of the RNG, the outcome is already determined the moment you hit “spin.”</li><li>Small wins: Similar to false wins, small wins give you the sense that you’re making progress. However, they’re not collectively enough to recoup losses.</li></ul> <h3>What are my odds?</h3>To be blunt… they’re not great. For example, assume each of the three reels on a machine has 64 virtual stops. That means your odds of landing the jackpot 1 in every 262,144 pulls.Remember – digital slots are all based on the random number generator. There are no real shortcuts or tricks that can help improve your odds. Some slots may have a higher payback percentage, but these machines don’t change your actual odds of winning.Beyond that, though, improving your odds at the slots is just a myth.

Improving Your Odds at Slots Is Just a Myth

Improving Your Odds at Slots. What are my odds? To be blunt… they’re not great

How Does Gamban Work? What Does Gamban Block? And Many More Questions Answered

Answering some Frequently Asked Questions   

<a href="https://gamban.com/product">Gamban</a> is an easy to use application which blocks online gambling on all of your installed devices, offering you a secure, reliable, and affordable option to stay away from gambling sites and apps, helping those with a gambling problem to fight the urge. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:<h3>How does Gamban work?</h3>Once installed, the device will no longer be able to access gambling websites and apps. The software can be quickly installed on computers, mobile phones and tablets. We advise you to install Gamban on all the devices you use, so that you are fully protected. It works on <a href="https://gamban.com/compatibility">Mac OS, Windows, Android, and iOS.</a><h3>Is Gamban Safe?</h3>Other than blocking gambling websites and apps, Gamban doesn't intrude on your devices' use. All other websites and apps (not gambling related) work just as intended. However, if you do find something blocked that you believe shouldn't be, please don't hesitate to get in contact with our support team at info@gamban.com.<h3>Does Gamban work in my country?</h3><a href="https://gamban.com/blog/does-gamban-work-in-my-country">Yes.</a> We block thousands of gambling sites and apps, from every corner of the world, including many illegal or unregulated ones. It is an ever-growing list!<h3>I found a gambling website that Gamban does not block. What should I do?</h3>If you find an online gambling site that Gamban is not blocking, please let us know (info@gamban.com) and we’ll take care of it immediately – we love that part!<h3>Does Gamban block Crypto and Trading?</h3>Gamban recognises an increasing overlap between traditional gambling and emerging investment platforms, where there is significant potential for harm due to speculative trading and volatility risk exposure.Gamban has decided to block these sites in the interest of our users who have suffered harm as a result of <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/gamban-blocks-trading-platforms">gambling</a>.<h3>What is the difference between Gamban and GamStop?</h3>Gamban blocks the device from accessing thousands of gambling websites and apps;<a href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/"> GAMSTOP</a> is the UK's National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme and prevents someone from logging into and registering with all gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain. Are you wondering why you need both? Because no one solution is perfect and we should all put as many obstacles as we can between ourselves and the gambling site. In fact, we should add a third source of friction: payment blocking. <a href="https://gamban.com/blog/belts-and-braces-why-more-than-one-tool-can-be-helpful">Here’s more on this topic.</a><h3>Leaders in self-exclusion technology</h3>Simply put: Gamban works. When you install Gamban, you are excluding yourself from thousands of online gambling platforms all over the world, not just a particular one or a small group. The software has been independently evaluated with very good results. A recent study conducted by independent charity GambleAware showed Gamban to be <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/media/1813/blocking-software-evaluation-findings-report.pdf">up to 99% effective</a> in blocking users from gambling sites.Gamban manages to provide superior self-exclusion at a fraction of the cost of competitors. When you look at the tool’s results and capabilities, there’s simply no comparison. <a href="https://gamban.com/register/account">Click here</a> to start your journey towards recovery today.

What is Gamban?

Gamban explained: How it works, what it blocks, and how it can help you during your recovery journey.

Are Students Spending Too Much?

Tens of Thousands of Students Each Year Are Using Their Loans to Gamble in a Bid to Top up Their Funds  

We tend to think of gambling addiction as something that affects older people. You may imagine a seasoned individual who develops a habit after years of gambling. However, due partly to the rapid growth and ease of access to online play, younger players are finding themselves bogged down in problem gambling. Many students experience problem gambling, and many find themselves in a very dangerous situation.<h3>The UK’s student gambling figures – you are not alone!</h3>Online betting is a fast-growing trend among young adults in the UK. Students are especially susceptible; in fact, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nus.org.uk/en/take-action/welfare-and-student-rights/gambling--knowing-the-risks/">according to the National Union of Students</a>, about 59% of university students have gambled within the last year. About one in eight will eventually gamble more than they can afford to lose, with nearly 10% of UK students having used student loan money to gamble at least once.How do young people get sucked into this cyclic behaviour? One widely-cited rationale is money. The financial pressures of supporting oneself through school can tempt users to see gambling as a quick way to get cash. However, entertainment and the excitement of betting are also common motivations. It may seem harmless at first, but a leisure activity can turn into an addiction easily.This can have serious, lasting consequences. For example, nearly a quarter of respondents to the NUS study reported feelings of guilt when gambling. Many have even experienced problems with mental health as a result of gambling, such as extreme stress and depression. This is exceptionally dangerous for young people, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/05/levels-of-distress-and-illness-among-students-in-uk-alarmingly-high">who are already very vulnerable group</a> from a mental health perspective.The rate of suicide among university students in the UK <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/12/universities-have-suicide-problem-students-taking-lives-overtakes/">increased by 56%</a> between 2007 and 2016. There are many factors at play here, and not all of these cases are related to gambling addiction. However, the increase does correspond to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2018/06/19/438514-uk-online-gambling-industry-growth-over-years.htm">the rise in online gambling</a>.<h3>Identifying and addressing problem gambling</h3>It’s not always easy to determine when gambling becomes problematic. By the time you can identify the issue in young people, it’s often already at an advanced stage. Here are a few key indicators to watch out for that might suggest a problem:<ul><li>Skipping classes, activities, or other social events to engage in gambling.</li><li>Losing interest in favourite pastimes and choosing to gamble instead.</li><li>Avoiding or lying to friends and family to hide the habit.</li><li>Selling or trading personal belongings to acquire money to put toward games.</li><li>“Doubling-down” and trying to win money back by gambling more.</li></ul> As with any addiction, the first step with problem gambling should be to seek help.The National Gambling Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call them on 0808 8020 133. It’s free and it <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/frontline-services/helpline">does not show on itemised phone bills</a>.If you are not ready to talk yet, you can take the first step towards recovery by installing Gamban on your devices – computer, mobile phone and tablet. Click here to register and get started today.Gamban is a leading provider of blocking software. The tool is demonstrated to be up to 99% effective, offering security and peace of mind and allowing victims of problem gambling to focus their attention on recovery.SOURCES:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nus.org.uk/en/take-action/welfare-and-student-rights/gambling--knowing-the-risks/">https://www.nus.org.uk/en/take-action/welfare-and-student-rights/gambling–knowing-the-risks/</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/05/levels-of-distress-and-illness-among-students-in-uk-alarmingly-high">https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/05/levels-of-distress-and-illness-among-students-in-uk-alarmingly-high</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/12/universities-have-suicide-problem-students-taking-lives-overtakes/">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/12/universities-have-suicide-problem-students-taking-lives-overtakes/</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2018/06/19/438514-uk-online-gambling-industry-growth-over-years.htm">https://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2018/06/19/438514-uk-online-gambling-industry-growth-over-years.htm</a>http://OFFLINEZIP.wpsho/register/

Do Students in the UK Have a Gambling Problem?

Are students spending too much? Nearly 10% of UK students having used student loan money to gamble at least once

Not Just a Problem That Impacts Men

Online Gambling Is Narrowing the Gap Between Male and Female Betting Habits  

Problem gambling is often seen as a struggle that primarily affects men. While it is true that men represent the largest share of the betting public, and of problem gamblers, women are also susceptible to this addiction.For decades, gambling was seen as more of a men’s domain. Whether it was by lack of interest or by social convention, most women wouldn’t even entertain the idea of walking into a betting shop. However, online gaming and the industry’s efforts to find new customers for a growing offer of gambling products have helped normalise gambling for the female public. Not only that, there’s even been an effort to try and portray gambling <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamblingsites.org/blog/how-gambling-can-be-more-fun-together/">as a couple’s activity</a>.How problem gambling manifests itself in players, however, tends to vary considerably based on one’s gender. Let’s take a look at some of the statistics and figures and see how this problematic behaviour impacts women gamblers.<h3>Women and Gambling: Running the Numbers</h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/Gambling-participation-in-2018-behaviour-awareness-and-attitudes.pdf">A recent study by the UK Gambling Commission</a> produced some revealing stats on this topic. For instance, about 41% of female respondents claimed to have engaged in gambling within the previous four weeks. While men still gambled at a higher rate, the key difference is their motivation.The largest share of men reported they were most likely to gamble for fun. In contrast, women said that winning was their primary reason for playing. Also, motivations such as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/gambling-addiction-why-women-risk-it-all/">escapism</a>, loss, abandonment and bereavement, may be more common among female gamblers.Part of the reason for the increase in gambling activity is accessibility. While the advent of online platforms made betting a much more readily-available activity, it’s the rise of mobile gambling that presents the greatest opportunity to bet. It also provides anonymity and a sense of safety that many wouldn’t find in traditional betting venues. The Gambling Commission’s study shows that, in 2018, 43% of women gamblers played using their phone – a 5% increase compared the year before.<h3>Women Gamblers Aren’t Alone</h3>The stats give an impression of the problem. However, the real-life stories of individual women back up the premise. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6752665/The-women-gambling-marriages-careers-lives.html">As many can testify</a> it’s a problem that tends to start small, then snowballs rapidly. Within a short time, casual female gamblers can find themselves addicted to online play – just like their male counterparts.So, what can you do if you or someone you love is caught up in an addiction to online gambling? One of the first steps should be self-exclusion. This describes the practice of consciously preventing yourself from engaging in an activity, either by personal behaviour or through tools designed to block access to harmful sites.Even when it comes to self-exclusion, though, there is still a disparity between genders. Of the 47% of respondents who were aware of self-exclusion as a means to address problem gambling, men reported self-excluding at a rate nearly double that of women (7% of all respondents, compared to 4%). The numbers are even lower for women who purchased a product to help them self-exclude, representing just 1% of respondents.The journey towards recovery can begin by a multi-layer self-exclusion strategy: blocking all devices from accessing gambling sites and apps with Gamban, enrolling with the national self-exclusion schemes (if your country has one) and blocking payments to gambling operators – if your current bank doesn’t provide that, shop around for one that does.While abstinence can increase your chances of recovery, those with a gambling addiction should also seek treatment rather than relying solely on technology. If you are in the UK, we recommend you get in touch with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/frontline-services/helpline">National Gambling Helpline</a>.  Sources:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/survey-data/Gambling-participation-in-2018-behaviour-awareness-and-attitudes.pdf">https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/survey-data/Gambling-participation-in-2018-behaviour-awareness-and-attitudes.pdf</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/gambling-addiction-why-women-risk-it-all/">https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/gambling-addiction-why-women-risk-it-all/</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6752665/The-women-gambling-marriages-careers-lives.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6752665/The-women-gambling-marriages-careers-lives.html</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.gamstop.co.uk/">https://www.gamstop.co.uk/</a>

How Is Online Gambling Affecting Women?

Online gambling's hidden impact on women. Addressing the growing challenge of female gambling addiction.

Using Self-Exclusion As A Part Of Treatment &amp; Recovery

A survey into the usage and effectiveness of self-exclusion as a part of the recovery process. 

<figure><img src="https://web-cdn.gamban.com/img/5cd49ba8-5de3-4b9c-8459-977ceabcb692.jpg" alt="gamban gambling recovery process" /></figure>In October 2018, GambleAware commissioned an <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/media/1813/blocking-software-evaluation-findings-report.pdf">independent evaluation</a> on online blocking software, designed to block access to gambling websites and apps.The evaluation, conducted by researchers from Winning Moves, led to <a href="https://about.gambleaware.org/media/1814/2018-10-10-blocking-software-evaluation.pdf">GambleAware’s decision to fund distribution of Gamban</a> through the national gambling treatment network.Karl King, Associate Director of Winning Moves said: “Based on the results of systematic testing, blocking software appears to be generally effective in restricting access to online gambling. One gambling-specific package [<a href="https://gamban.com/">Gamban</a>] was found to block access to 99% of active gambling websites associated with UK Gambling Commission licences. When gamblers experiencing gambling-related harm are not aware of blocking software it can come as a welcome surprise, particularly to those feeling that they had exhausted all other potential self-treatment methods available to them. Blocking software was felt to work best as part of a treatment package tailored to the individual rather than being effective in isolation.”Marc Etches, Chief Executive of GambleAware said: “Blocking software can be an effective tool to help those at-risk of getting into difficulties resist the ubiquitous gambling adverts and special offers that surround us these days. This report reinforces the point that such tools work best as part of a treatment package tailored to the individual rather than being effective in isolation. This evaluation gives us the confidence we needed to fund the use of this software for anyone who is referred to our treatment services.”<h3>How Effective are Gamban and Self-Exclusion?</h3>As part of the distribution arrangement between <a href="https://gamban.com/">Gamban</a> and <a href="https://www.begambleaware.org/safer-gambling/gambling-blocking-software/">GambleAware</a> individuals obtaining the software free-of-charge through the network of distribution partners, including the <a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/">National Gambling Helpline</a> (operated by <a href="https://www.gamcare.org.uk/">GamCare</a>), Breakeven,<a href="https://www.gordonmoody.org.uk/"> Gordon Moody Association</a> and <a href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/">Citizens Advice</a>, opted to participate in a survey evaluating the effectiveness of Gamban. Just over a year since distribution started and the headline results are:<ul><li>89% of participants said that they thought Gamban was a helpful tool in aiding their recovery</li><li>62% of participants said that they used additional digital self-help tools to aid their recovery</li><li>70% said they felt that Gamban helped them significantly reduce the amount of time they spent gambling online</li><li>88% said they would recommend Gamban as part of the recovery process</li></ul> Jack Symons, Chief Executive of Gamban says “Although these figures are both positive and promising, there is also room for improvement. We continue to believe that blocking software works best in conjunction with other barriers and have come to understand that Gamban is particularly effective when used in a structured treatment environment, as part of a more holistic recovery process. We will continue to develop functionality that adds value to individuals and treatment providers in this way. As well as using technology to minimise gambling-related harm and support recovery, we must also work on improving distribution effectiveness through training, while continuing to play a role in combating stigma, shame and silence that prevents many from making that crucially important first step."

Does Gambling Self-Exclusion Work?

How effective is self-exclusion? 88% of participants would recommend Gamban as a part of the recovery process.

News & Articles

The Silent Epidemic Made Worse by Shame and Stigma

Should I Use Payday Loans to Pay Gambling Debt?

Diagnosing Gambling Addiction – or Not

A History of Problem Gambling

Improving Your Odds at Slots Is Just a Myth

What is Gamban?

Do Students in the UK Have a Gambling Problem?

How Is Online Gambling Affecting Women?

Does Gambling Self-Exclusion Work?

Protect ALL Of Your Devices

News & Articles

List of Articles

The Silent Epidemic Made Worse by Shame and Stigma

Should I Use Payday Loans to Pay Gambling Debt?

Diagnosing Gambling Addiction – or Not

A History of Problem Gambling

Improving Your Odds at Slots Is Just a Myth

What is Gamban?

Do Students in the UK Have a Gambling Problem?

How Is Online Gambling Affecting Women?

Does Gambling Self-Exclusion Work?

Protect ALL Of Your Devices

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