CasinosOnline.co.uk Commitment to Responsible Gaming
UK Helpline: 0845 600 0133, 8 AM - midnight, 7 days a week.
Web: www.gamcare.org.uk
Since its inception, gambling has been intended to be a fun pastime for responsible adults to enjoy. The element of a small financial risk adds an edge, a spice to the activity.
It is true that gambling is more than a game for some people. For example, professional gamblers earn their living by travelling to different casinos and visiting different online casino websites to take part in gambling tournaments.
But both professionals and casual players have one thing in common: they know when to quit. As in life, sometimes in gambling luck is simply against you, or the risks facing you are simply too great. In this situation a responsible gambling stops playing and takes themselves out of the situation to cool off, to regroup, or simply to go home.
But some people are unable to recognise the tell-tale signs that they are in trouble, or even if they do, are unable to take any steps to protect themselves. These people are known as compulsive gamblers, and are completely powerless to stop themselves from gambling away everything they own.
GamCare is a UK-based charity whose mandate is to provide advice and support for people suffering from addiction to gambling. Their services range from providing non-judgemental information to the public about the social impact of gaming, to offering counselling to active sufferers.
GamCare also works with online casino operators to put in place mechanisms that protect vulnerable people. These include age checks to prevent underage play, and built-in software controls that regulate players spend, preventing them from incurring massive losses if they're on a fast losing streak.
GamCare also provides training to casino support staff to help them recognise the signs of gambling addiction, and to react to it appropriately when they encounter it.
If you are a compulsive gambler, or if you think you might be, or if you know someone who is, GamCare can help. They have set up a call centre staffed by highly trained people who understand how the allure of easy money can be overpowering to a gambling addict.
The staff are equipped both to assist sufferers and to advise therapists working with sufferers. All calls to the GamCare help centre are treated with the strictest confidentiality, and it operates between 8 AM and midnight, 7 days a week.
In the UK, the helpline number is 0845 6000 133.
GamCare also offer face-to-face counselling for gambling addiction. They have offices in London Bridge in the city of London where they offer group therapy to people suffering from the compulsion.
This therapy is an ongoing programme that takes place over 12 weeks, and helps sufferers to develop practical skills for managing their condition.
Because so much gambling takes place online these days, GamCare have taken the forward thinking approach of placing their services online. By visiting the GamCare website, you can chat live with a real GamCare councillor via streaming audio.
This live chat facility works just like the telephone help centre, but is currently only available between 10 AM and 6 PM, Monday through Friday.
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