Author: Christine (Christine Orford)

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May17May 17, 2023

A Path To Recovery For Compulsive Gamblers

Gambling addiction is a serious issue that affects countless people around the world. For those trapped in the cycle of compulsive gambling, seeking help and support is crucial. One avenue for this is the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship.

GA brings together men and women who have experienced the devastating consequences of gambling addiction. Although everyone’s experiences are different, people find great solace in sharing their journey.

Understanding the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship

The Gamblers Anonymous fellowship is a self-help organization that follows the principles of the Alcoholics Anonymous program. It provides a safe, non-judgemental environment for those struggling with gambling addiction to share their experiences, find support and develop coping strategies. The program operates on the belief that gambling addiction is an illness that can be managed with abstinence and peer support.

Meetings and fellowship

Meetings are the cornerstone of the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship. These meetings bring together people from all walks of life who share a coming goal of overcoming a gambling addiction.

Participants discuss their struggles, achievements and strategies for maintaining abstinence. The fellowship within GA is invaluable. It provides a sense of understanding, empathy and unity among its members.

The 12-step program

The 12-step program is central to Gamblers Anonymous. Like in AA, the 12-step program in GA serves as a guide for personal recovery.

Participants work through the steps, which include admitting powerlessness over gambling, surrendering to a higher power, taking a moral inventory, making amends and offering support to others.

These steps encourage self-reflection, personal growth and the development of a new way of life.

Benefits of Gamblers Anonymous

There are lots of benefits to joining the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship. By attending meetings and engaging with the 12-step program, you can gain insights into your addiction and underlying issues contributing to your gambling behavior.

The support and understanding you get from fellow members can instill hope, promote accountability and foster a sense of community.

Anonymity and confidentiality

Anonymity and confidentiality is so important in the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship. Members are encouraged only to use their first names. This helps to promote a sense of privacy.

It is designed to create an atmosphere of trust. It enables participants to openly share experiences without fear of judgment or consequences. Adherence to this lets people feel safe when they go to a meeting.

Want to get more help for your gambling problem?

The Gamblers Anonymous fellowship is a great place to start, but this isn’t the only place you can get help for gambling addiction. You can find a great wealth of information and support at Gamble Aware. This UK-based organisation has lots of online resources, plus contacts for counselors and treatment centres.

Want to read more responsible gambling articles? Here are a few here that you might be interested in:

April13April 13, 2023

7 Ways To Cut Down On Intrusive Gambling Ads

By ChristineIn

Darts Betting Sites

Is it just us, or does it seem like online gambling ads are everywhere these days?

They’re annoying, to say the least. But you don’t have to just suck it up and deal with it.

Instead, you can take a little bit of initiative and stop how often they pop up for you.

Yes, it’ll take a little bit of legwork on your side. But trust us, the internet is a nicer place without irritating online gambling ads. After you do a little bit on your end, we guarantee you’ll have a little more breathing room away from online gambling ads.

1. Block offending advertisers on Google

Do you see online gambling ads on Google? Well, strictly speaking, you shouldn’t. That’s because they’re banned on Google’s search engine. But that’s not to say that some don’t slip through the net. If you do see a gambling ad on Google, you should block that advertiser.

2. Stop the spread by muting similar ads on Google

On Google, when you click Mute similar ads, it’s giving the platform the message that you’re not into that type of advertising. Then they can filter out ads using similar language, thus lowering your chances of seeing other gambling ads.

3. Tell Twitter you don’t like that ad

On ads on Twitter, you can select a “I don’t like this ad” button. That’ll stop you seeing similar ads.

4. Block gambling companies on Twitter

The fewer gambling companies you follow on Twitter, the less likely you are to be served up gambling related advertisements.

5. Change your Twitter interests

By going into Twitter and adjusting your interests, you should be able to tell the algorithm a bit more about what you do and don’t want to see. A good trick to avoiding online gambling ads on Twitter is to unselect any interests related to gambling and even sports.

6. Double-check your Facebook settings

Through your settings and privacy menu on Facebook, you’ve got the option to hide ads from certain advertisers and to choose to see less ads related to particular topics too.

7. X out of sponsored posts on Facebook

By simply hitting ‘x’ when you see sponsored posts from Gambling companies on Facebook, you’re giving the signal that you don’t like that content. Over time, the algorithm will get better at knowing what you don’t want, and what you do.

Cutting down on online ads because you think you have a gambling problem?

If you have a gambling problem, of course it helps not to see online gambling ads. But this is not the only thing you should be doing. Contact experts who can guide you towards getting help to stop gambling for good. In the UK, Gamble Aware do brilliant work. They have lots of online resources, as well as contact details for counselors and treatment centres.

You can also read more responsible gambling articles here:

Protect yourself from a family members’ addiction

7 ways you can avoid making stupid bets

Stop minors from gambling

Frequently asked questions: Self-exclusion

Warning signs that your loved one has a gambling problem

March2March 2, 2023

7 Ways You Can Avoid Making Stupid Bets

By ChristineIn

Darts Betting Tips

Want to avoid stupid bets? We’re with you on that front too.

Betting on darts can be fun. But there are loads of times that you might find yourself making stupid bets that really, you could’ve avoided.

We’re going to help you on your quest to stop betting in a silly way. Once you avoid stupid bets that you regret making, you can make sure your betting sessions are a little smarter and safer.

1. Think twice

It’s all too easy to just press a button online and make a wager. But one of the most useful pieces of advice we’ve ever heard is to pause before making every single sports bet. Decide what you want to bet. Then take a step back. Make a tea, have a look out the window. Think about it. If you still want to make the bet after a few minutes, then go for it. If you’ve decided it’s not for you, then that’s great. That’s one stupid bet avoided!

2. Don’t bet under the influence

Whether your poison is alcohol or any other mood or mind altering substance, you should certainly not be under the influence while you’re betting. Betting when you’re drunk is going to lead to you make stupid decisions.

3. Always stick to your budget

Your gambling budget should be at the heart of every decision you make at the bookies, whether that’s online or offline. Once you go over your daily, weekly, monthly or yearly limit, every bet you make after that is definitely not worth it. Even if it comes in, it’s not smart to overspend on your gambling budget.

4. Never try to make up money you lost

You made a bet. Things didn’t go your way. What can we say, it happens. The worst thing you can do is try to rectify that situation by betting more. The subsequent bets you make to try and replenish your funds are undoubtedly going to be made out of desperation not out of a sports savvy. Betting more is probably just going to result in your losing more!

5. Keep your mental health in check

If you’re annoyed, stressed out or anxious, you’re probably not going to be thinking straight about anything, let alone betting. Avoid stupid bets by making sure that your head is straight when you’re enjoying a flutter. But as an aside, if you find that betting itself is making your feel anxious (or if you feel bad when you don’t bet), this is a warning sign you might have a gambling problem and you should get help.

6. Don’t spend too long betting

If you don’t keep an eye on the length of your gambling sessions, they can get too long without you even noticing the time go. The longer you bet, the sloppier you become. You’ll get tired, you’ll be less focused. So to keep yourself sharp and avoid stupid bets, you should take a look at limiting the time you spend gambling.

7. Know how gambling works

Sometimes understanding the mechanics of gambling can help you navigate the world of making smart bets a little better. Arming yourself with more knowledge, especially the fact that sportsbook’s main goal is to make money off punters, puts you in a much better position than sticking your head in the sand.

Getting help for a gambling problem

No amount of advice to avoid stupid bets is going to help you if you’re battling with a gambling problem. You need to stop gambling entirely to overcome addiction. And in order to give yourself the best chance, you should get external help. UK-based Be Gamble Aware is a really important resource that you can turn to for practical advice and support.

Here are a few more responsible gambling articles that you might find helpful: