Online gambling risks during coronavirus pandemic

[Chato1977]

• When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.

There is another alternative whenever you're tempted to gamble. And that is to play some computer games or by watching videos and movies to spend your time that should be for gambling.

Yeah , diversion is what's the best way to prevent us from addiction.

Actually, there are other activities that you can revert your attention if you want to avoid to gamble or you can no longer control yourself and you're looking for some ways to avoid it.

But its hard to deny the call of Lust and greed mate, this is what happens in most of the gamblers nowadays and even from the beginning .

[Wexnident]

But its hard to deny the call of Lust and greed mate, this is what happens in most of the gamblers nowadays and even from the beginning .

Put that call of greed to use somewhere then. Greed of learning how to play something, how to do something, how to fix something, there's a lot of things that you can do once you look at the big picture. As for lust, well I don't really have anything for that, but Greed isn't all that bad when you're trying to use it for something. Losing sight of everything else while being influenced by greed is the bad thing though.

Online gambling is more convenient than traditional gambling for several reasons, but it creates one big problem that many people don't think about. We no longer notice how the money decreases because we don't have it in our hands. We can't see how our our stash depletes because we are only looking at the digits on computer screens. The money loses its value that way. If you have five $10 bills in your pocket, you feel the difference if you are only down to 1 or 2. But the digits on the screen don't feel that important. Whether it's 0, 5, or 20, it's not tangible.   

That's interesting; I hadn't considered that. Is this one of the reasons why some countries want to go all-digital with their currencies?

Maybe that's true and the prime reason for countries to keep them high on going completely digital. In my country these days we can see more and more number of online gambling sites and applications promoted through different sources. End of the advertisement they used to say in a faster note, it is subject to financial risk you're responsible for your own. What is the use of mentioning it.

Really? I don't really see it, heck I still see my money as the same most of the time. Seeing that number go down every now and then still fills me with fear and regret at times. Tangible or not, it's still money in my eyes.

[crzy]

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

This pandemic brings a lot of emotional distress to everyone and not just for a gambler but for everyone who are now being limited due to the lockdown. In terms of gambling, it is still advisable to be more responsible because using this pandemic as an excuse to gamble that much is not a good idea, if you're addicted into gambling you'd better not to try online gambling because you might got an idea that you can gamble anywhere, which can lead to a more serious problem. I'd keep my gambling habits as plain and simple, if I have extra money I can have fun online but if there's none, I'd stay away.

[kotajikikox]

But its hard to deny the call of Lust and greed mate, this is what happens in most of the gamblers nowadays and even from the beginning .

Put that call of greed to use somewhere then. Greed of learning how to play something, how to do something, how to fix something, there's a lot of things that you can do once you look at the big picture

Great Example mate , Looks like this is the best way of leaning our self from bad things (like Greed) to Positive things like fixing or doing something appropriate to be beneficial.

. As for lust, well I don't really have anything for that, but Greed isn't all that bad when you're trying to use it for something. Losing sight of everything else while being influenced by greed is the bad thing though.

at some way , Lust can be converted as well to desirable thing but helpful like what you mentioned above.

Well, it would only be different if you struggle financially during the lockdown, and if you are not a regular gambler. 

But some gamblers use this as excuse to sustain their addiction .

[Reid]

• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

I actually do this all the time.
Fiat or in crypto, every detail about the bet should be listed. I am mostly in sports betting so it is not that difficult.
You put your bet, you list how much it is, or just remember it since there is already a history in most of the sports betting sites.
There should also be a budget. Let's say 50k satoshis per day, don't go over that limit.
Discipline should be implemented or else you will keep on doing it until you get broke.
There is always another day where you go lucky.

[Saint-loup]

• Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.

This one is particularly important, as for the past year many people have stayed isolated and, while some may prefer it and even see it as a benefit, for many people, it's been stress they were not prepared for.

It's a common belief, that gambling is triggered by greed and too much excitement over such games, but the reality is that a large portion of gamblers is doing it out of boredom, loneliness, and a sense of isolation. Gambling serves them as entertainment and a distraction from the problems and such people are more likely to become addicted, due to this consolation they seek in gambling.

Even years ago it's been common knowledge, there's an interesting study, which was conducted back in 1998 when people used to gamble with EGM, that shows that among problem gamblers are more likely to experience boredom and loneliness as compared to non-gamblers or non-problematic gamblers.

I'm sorry but I don't think it's specific to gambling, many other activities could be done alone without friends, like video gaming, reading, watching TV, cooking, running, etc so I think it's big bullshit to say that "a large portion of gamblers is doing it out of boredom, loneliness, and a sense of isolation". I don't think this portion is larger than other lonely activities, it's just some anti-gambling propaganda, gamblers mostly gamble to try to earn big money, that's it.

and not many people who are in isolation are gamblers or has the capability to gamble. maybe just one factor for those who are already gamblers even before pandemic. their gambling habits just got worse during this pandemic. but for those that are not gamblers, only few of them went to gambling owed to this situation.

Yes I agree with you AmoreJaz I don't think the coronavirus pandemic has converted so many no gamblers into gambling addicts but just_Alice wasn't referring to the pandemic situation but to the overall gambling matter. And I don't think that's a correct statement about regular gamblers.

[Johnyz]

• When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.
• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.
• Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.
• Finding other mental stimulation to keep your mind busy can be very helpful in suppressing thoughts of gambling. If you need to be online then seek out online activities that help you to overcome the urge to gamble.
• Seek expert advice if you feel your gambling activities are getting out of hand. BeGambleAware.org is a very good place to start.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits

This is a great reminder for every gambling who are playing now online because of the lockdown restrictions, it doesn't mean you can play anytime, you'll play because you still need to compose yourself, set-up your capital and your limitations. Addiction can happen at any form as long as you gamble so make sure that you know what you are doing and you'll not fall on a big trap of every casinos. I can honestly say that I increase my gambling activities because of online casinos, and fortunately I can still control myself.

[carlisle1]

• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

I actually do this all the time.
Fiat or in crypto, every detail about the bet should be listed. I am mostly in sports betting so it is not that difficult.
You put your bet, you list how much it is, or just remember it since there is already a history in most of the sports betting sites.
There should also be a budget. Let's say 50k satoshis per day, don't go over that limit.
Discipline should be implemented or else you will keep on doing it until you get broke.
There is always another day where you go lucky.

Don't exceed as the chance that you'll regret the amount of money that you may lose is really unexpected.

Better to play with the amount that you really capable of losing and aim only for a certain target and never to get greedy to aim for more
most of the time it leads you to lose your bankroll.

Always think before making your move, gambling is a high risk activities.

[Pmalek]

One thing that I also want to add to not become addicted to gambling is to find another way to spend your time so you can distract yourself, if you can't go outside for a walk then go watch a Youtube video or a movie.

Using the pandemic to get addicted to gambling is just an excuse and a very bad one in my opinion. It's like saying I was bored and had nothing to do, so I tried meth.

There are many things you can do inside if repressive measures prevent you from going out. Watch movies, listen to music, read books, or learn more about crypto and bitcoin. Play social games and spend time with your family and loves ones. I bought a stationary bike a few months ago and I am sweating my ass of almost every day. Use the time to work on your physique and get in shape. Do pushups and pullups, and learn how to cook and prepare food. No reason is strong enough for a strong-minded person to become an addict in any sense of the word.     

[madnessteat]

~snip~

I fully support your point of view. If one has an activity that gives them pleasure, the likelihood of becoming addicted to gambling is greatly reduced. Cryptocurrencies give us a great opportunity not only to get a hobby, but also to make friends, because the crypto world is getting wider and wider and it is not hard to find like-minded people.

[Mauser]

As we stay at home more it is inevitable that we will spend more time online, on social media, and online games. Several research studies have demonstrated that online gambling companies have benefited greatly as a consequence of this.

I recently read an article in which Lazaros Gonidis, lecturer in Psychological Methods and Statistics at University of Kent, commented about the risks that gambling addicts might face during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the responsibility of operators to protect vulnerable individuals.^[1]

Whether you have a history of pathological gambling addiction or just considering gambling for fun, Gonidis has shared some valuable tips for all of us:

• When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.
• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.
• Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.
• Finding other mental stimulation to keep your mind busy can be very helpful in suppressing thoughts of gambling. If you need to be online then seek out online activities that help you to overcome the urge to gamble.
• Seek expert advice if you feel your gambling activities are getting out of hand. BeGambleAware.org is a very good place to start.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

[1] - Olivia Miller, "Online Gambling Risks During COVID-19 Lockdown", News Centre - University Of Kent

Fitness and exercise are very important through this pandemic. This will help us with gambling and without it. We shouldn't forget how positive the impact of just going for a walk is for us. When fighting an addiction it is even more important. For many of us here gambling is just a way to relax in the evening. If I wouldn't be gambling I would probably drink alcohol and watch TV. I am already happy that I can get rid of my bad habits and some alternatives to do at home. Making money is not a priority for me when gambling. I understand that it is more likely to lose than to win. But I don't mind losing a little money if I have the chance to win big one day.

[RealMalatesta]

• When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.
• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.
• Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.
• Finding other mental stimulation to keep your mind busy can be very helpful in suppressing thoughts of gambling. If you need to be online then seek out online activities that help you to overcome the urge to gamble.
• Seek expert advice if you feel your gambling activities are getting out of hand. BeGambleAware.org is a very good place to start.

These tips sound like good and effective but I'm not seeing none of them are new against what we are discussing in the forum for years. I mean definitely you could find better tips from this community  for protecting yourself from gambling addictions and also how to keep you busy against gambling urge and ect.

This BeGambleAware.org seems like a new thing (sorry I could not recall any similar services suggested by this gambling community before) hence I will surely check it out after my today's gambling hours .

[AicecreaME]

I agree to all of the advices.

Because there's a lot of jobs out there for you to make money and not just on gambling. The majority of people that plays gambling is because they wanted an easy money, maybe they are not qualified to get a job so it is their last resort, it also depends on their privilege on how to make money as self-employed for example, and gambling is the easiest way they found, though it turns out that it is gonna be their nightmare.

It is really crucial for all of us in this time of pandemic, because we're all desperate to earn money to survive, it's just sad because some people think gambling is the only way.

[death69]

Try to become balance. Gambling too much only brings bad results. That is why we should find other hobbies such as taking exercise, playing sport, learning a musical instrument, etc. Managing your money (as an article say) is also an important way to limit ourselves from going too far.

Studying is the best thing to do, IMO. You will never have too much time like this to study, to obtain knowledge. The world is changing with a rapid pace and therefore, without studying, you might be left behind

[fiulpro]

Honestly I do not think that it's disadvantageous as long as you are active and healthy. It's indeed very important to involve yourself with the real world and your family should always be there to support you. If you are gambling then you have to realize that it's not a game rather you are using your money. Sometimes, people forget and they use up the most of what they should be using for the long term because online gambling seems easy.
1. You should gamble ofc but only if you have some saved up bucks and also in moderation.
2. I think going outside does depend on the person itself and not on gambling. The person might try and spend the whole day in gaming.... Still he won't go outside but uk there are places where the virus is in the air !! We cannot do anything about it. People have to stay inside ! But that should not stray them from exercising.

[nitrobetting]

As we stay at home more it is inevitable that we will spend more time online, on social media, and online games. Several research studies have demonstrated that online gambling companies have benefited greatly as a consequence of this.

I recently read an article in which Lazaros Gonidis, lecturer in Psychological Methods and Statistics at University of Kent, commented about the risks that gambling addicts might face during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the responsibility of operators to protect vulnerable individuals.^[1]

Whether you have a history of pathological gambling addiction or just considering gambling for fun, Gonidis has shared some valuable tips for all of us:

• When you are tempted to gamble online, use that to motivate you to go for a walk or exercise instead.
• If you decide to gamble, you should keep a record of how much money and time you spend on gambling daily. Studies show that gamblers lose track of how much time and money they spend on gambling.
• Social distancing should not lead to social isolation, so talk to your friends and peers and discuss your gambling problem with them. Having support can make a big difference.
• Finding other mental stimulation to keep your mind busy can be very helpful in suppressing thoughts of gambling. If you need to be online then seek out online activities that help you to overcome the urge to gamble.
• Seek expert advice if you feel your gambling activities are getting out of hand. BeGambleAware.org is a very good place to start.

Does any of these methods work for you? How do you keep a rein on your gambling habits?

[1] - Olivia Miller, "Online Gambling Risks During COVID-19 Lockdown", News Centre - University Of Kent

These are helpful and valuable tips to mitigate the effect of gambling addiction. As the pandemic goes on and continues to challenge our mental strength,  going guns blazing to gamble online carelessly isn't obviously a productive choice to do in these trying times. Easier said than done, there should always be a limit to everything we spend our money with even if we get leisure out of it. Balance is key in online gambling. Completely going off and being broke will only take the fun out of it, and may very well change your mind on your outlook on how you can normally earn and have fun at the same time with online gambling.

[Raflesia]

Online gambling is more convenient than traditional gambling for several reasons, but it creates one big problem that many people don't think about. We no longer notice how the money decreases because we don't have it in our hands. We can't see how our our stash depletes because we are only looking at the digits on computer screens. The money loses its value that way. If you have five $10 bills in your pocket, you feel the difference if you are only down to 1 or 2. But the digits on the screen don't feel that important. Whether it's 0, 5, or 20, it's not tangible.  

We feel the difference between traditional and online gambling, when we have banknotes in our pockets and then go to traditional gambling, it will be very different when a loss occurs but it's a bit hard to get money out of pocket because that's what money out of pocket is more important because other necessities can also be done. used so it will feel very different.
The betting figures at the $ 5-20 online casino will also not be felt because it doesn't materialize at all, even I often spend more in pandemic times just because of online gambling that I often do, therefore in today's pandemic there are bad and good sessions that's how we respond properly.

[stomachgrowls]

One thing that I also want to add to not become addicted to gambling is to find another way to spend your time so you can distract yourself, if you can't go outside for a walk then go watch a Youtube video or a movie.

Using the pandemic to get addicted to gambling is just an excuse and a very bad one in my opinion. It's like saying I was bored and had nothing to do, so I tried meth.

There are many things you can do inside if repressive measures prevent you from going out. Watch movies, listen to music, read books, or learn more about crypto and bitcoin. Play social games and spend time with your family and loves ones. I bought a stationary bike a few months ago and I am sweating my ass of almost every day. Use the time to work on your physique and get in shape. Do pushups and pullups, and learn how to cook and prepare food. No reason is strong enough for a strong-minded person to become an addict in any sense of the word.     

Try to distract yourself and this is actually mattering on someones self discipline and dedication on not to get involved into gambling within these times but honestly it isnt really bad to test out or play gambling

if you are really just responsible out of your funds.The wrong thing here is that if you do already cross out borders on using up your finances unwisely then thats where the main problem would come out.
Using pandemic to get addicted to gambling is really just an excuse.I dont see for you not able to avoid that.

We are really prone since screen time is much more than compared to those typical days but its really just depending on someones discipline.

[Ararbermas]

A good advice especially on this day wherein alot of ppl seeking opportunity to make an income while at home because of the pandemic. and you know what i believe that mostly preferred online gambling as its so easy to make money. Indeed here in our country a lot of ppl become addicted to online cock fighting and the outcome seems not good at all,  just imagine because of addiction some players of that online cock fighting lost a lot of money wherein even properties, they sacrifice everything for it.., seems they need some advice like this because its like they're out of their mind.

[Beparanf]

A good advice especially on this day wherein alot of ppl seeking opportunity to make an income while at home because of the pandemic. and you know what i believe that mostly preferred online gambling as its so easy to make money. Indeed here in our country a lot of ppl become addicted to online cock fighting and the outcome seems not good at all,  just imagine because of addiction some players of that online gambling lost a lot of money wherein even properties, they sacrifice everything for it.., seems they need some advice like this.

Are you from Philippines? Online cock fight become popular after Online Sabong get a license to operate to Pagcor last year. I have many friends that earns a lot of money per day by being an agent. They have commission on every bet of the user under them. So they are the real winner on this game no matter what will be the fate of there players.