Online gambling risks during coronavirus pandemic

[Obito]

I think my gambling activities are considered simple hobby. I do not gamble because I am feeling lonely or depressed. I gamble because I want to spend some time having fun. Of course there are other fun activities but gambling offers a different and unique kind of fun. It is probably because it involves money. The thrill is on a different level. But I was never really carried away by it to the point that I become addicted. I don't need any intervention for now.

Good for you that you don't have to be that to gamble but there are people out there that have a different way of thinking and have a different brain chemistry than you and they get easily addicted to things that are emotionally, physically, and financially unhealthy. I don't think that gambling is a different kind of fun, I mean in essence, fun is just a serotonin in our brains so basically anything that gives us serotonin is a fun thing to do, the problem is when it gets too much.

[lienfaye]

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

Most of these methods work for me. Well, when im at home I prefer to do other activies like cooking, watching movies or bond with my kids.

During lockdown I didnt had more time to gamble because my priority is to have an alternative income while at home.

If I gamble, mostly before going to bed, I only spend a small amount or the free satoshis from the site to just have fun.

[lxiaoh]

Most of these methods work for me. Well, when im at home I prefer to do other activies like cooking, watching movies or bond with my kids.

During lockdown I didnt had more time to gamble because my priority is to have an alternative income while at home.

If I gamble, mostly before going to bed, I only spend a small amount or the free satoshis from the site to just have fun.

What a healthy life, good for you,guy. I also envy you have kids. Maybe i will get marry this year,and have a kid next year,haha.
I think one man if he don't have the habit of gambling, and no matter how long he/she staying at home, it is no risk.
For those alreay have gambling habit, they would gamble regardless of whether they can go out or not.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

i dont track how much i gamble but i can estimate all my gambling cost in my head but tracking it in a notebook is needed if you are addicted in gambling because it can stop you if you see that your total is big . the three last advice is helpful too for addicted gambler

You don't track your expenses in gambling when you become addicted and it is really difficult to follow up with keeping a record of your expenses in gambling in the first place, maybe you can do it for a week but you are probably going to stop it in a weeks time.

[imstillthebest]

i dont track how much i gamble but i can estimate all my gambling cost in my head but tracking it in a notebook is needed if you are addicted in gambling because it can stop you if you see that your total is big . the three last advice is helpful too for addicted gambler

You don't track your expenses in gambling when you become addicted and it is really difficult to follow up with keeping a record of your expenses in gambling in the first place, maybe you can do it for a week but you are probably going to stop it in a weeks time.

i havent went in a state where i gamble too much close to becoming an addict .
 i am organized and i can track my gambling expense easily  . what about you .
 have you went in an addicted state in gambling because your confident with your reply but that could be true that addicted gamblers dont track their gambling expense because of how frequent they deposit and play and if your an addict gambler you will feel lazy and will only care in playing a gambling .

[AicecreaME]

Most of these methods work for me. Well, when im at home I prefer to do other activies like cooking, watching movies or bond with my kids.

During lockdown I didnt had more time to gamble because my priority is to have an alternative income while at home.

If I gamble, mostly before going to bed, I only spend a small amount or the free satoshis from the site to just have fun.

What a healthy life, good for you,guy. I also envy you have kids. Maybe i will get marry this year,and have a kid next year,haha.
I think one man if he don't have the habit of gambling, and no matter how long he/she staying at home, it is no risk.
For those alreay have gambling habit, they would gamble regardless of whether they can go out or not.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but marrying and having kids is not the cure for gambling addiction, in fact, don't marry yet if you still can't get over with your gambling addiction because it is gonna cause problem in your marriage life, trust me. The life of a marriage couple isn't that easy if you are not yet done on fixing something that is need to be fix.

Being a married man is a big responsibility, especially if you have kids already. Imagine losing your savings and salary because of your gambling addiction, I can see it already that your wife is nagging at you for being so irresponsible.

[peter0425]

Most of these methods work for me. Well, when im at home I prefer to do other activies like cooking, watching movies or bond with my kids.

During lockdown I didnt had more time to gamble because my priority is to have an alternative income while at home.

If I gamble, mostly before going to bed, I only spend a small amount or the free satoshis from the site to just have fun.

What a healthy life, good for you,guy. I also envy you have kids. Maybe i will get marry this year,and have a kid next year,haha.
I think one man if he don't have the habit of gambling, and no matter how long he/she staying at home, it is no risk.
For those alreay have gambling habit, they would gamble regardless of whether they can go out or not.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but marrying and having kids is not the cure for gambling addiction, in fact, don't marry yet if you still can't get over with your gambling addiction because it is gonna cause problem in your marriage life, trust me. The life of a marriage couple isn't that easy if you are not yet done on fixing something that is need to be fix.

Sometimes it Helps mate if you want to dedicate your time and money to your incoming family , Because addiction needs diversion and responsibilities and having a family is one of them.

Being a married man is a big responsibility, especially if you have kids already. Imagine losing your savings and salary because of your gambling addiction, I can see it already that your wife is nagging at you for being so irresponsible.

That's it , he will have diversion and mind setting ..he needs to decide if the funds is for the baby or for gambling.

[Alucard1]

I also notice that I became a little bit addict to the gambling world this past few days, it is because I have a lot of free time in this pandemic and I am looking for things where I can spend my time to avoid boredom and then I discovered a gambling website that is popular for game cockfighting before I gamble so rare to the point that I only gamble when I am with my friends or when my friends have invited me to do so, but with this cockfighting, I deposited $200 which I really not doing before, I really entertained with this game but unfortunately, I lose all my capital and never tried it again. I just spend my time playing the online games instead of gambling.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

You don't track your expenses in gambling when you become addicted and it is really difficult to follow up with keeping a record of your expenses in gambling in the first place, maybe you can do it for a week but you are probably going to stop it in a weeks time.

i havent went in a state where i gamble too much close to becoming an addict .
 i am organized and i can track my gambling expense easily  . what about you .
 have you went in an addicted state in gambling because your confident with your reply but that could be true that addicted gamblers dont track their gambling expense because of how frequent they deposit and play and if your an addict gambler you will feel lazy and will only care in playing a gambling .

Good for you that you haven't been in that state and you have a pretty strong will to resist and control when you want to stop but I am accounting for the fact that not every gambling enthusiast aren't the same as you, there are people out there probably that isn't on this forum that are suffering some form of addiction.

[michellee]

I also notice that I became a little bit addict to the gambling world this past few days, it is because I have a lot of free time in this pandemic and I am looking for things where I can spend my time to avoid boredom and then I discovered a gambling website that is popular for game cockfighting before I gamble so rare to the point that I only gamble when I am with my friends or when my friends have invited me to do so, but with this cockfighting, I deposited $200 which I really not doing before, I really entertained with this game but unfortunately, I lose all my capital and never tried it again. I just spend my time playing the online games instead of gambling.

Before it is too late for you, maybe you need to do something else that will make you busy and I am sure you will not think about gambling. Playing gambling can tempt you to play longer than usual, especially if you can win for more to make you spend more money. We see that in the beginning, people will say that they want to prevent the addiction. But sooner after they found that playing gambling is fun and excited, they will stay for longer and if they can not control themselves, that will be the time for them to become addicted to gambling.

[magneto]

I do think that the pandemic has the potential to exacerbate a lot of problem gambling.

However, I honestly don't think that budgeting your losses/bets is going to be a great way to solve any form of addictive behaviour. If you have to go to these lengths in order to control yourself then you are probably better off just signing up for the self exclusion program at the casino you regularly play at.

Changing your perspective on gambling probably helps the most. Stop viewing it as a get rich quick scheme - it is purely entertainment.

[molsewid]

I do think that the pandemic has the potential to exacerbate a lot of problem gambling.

However, I honestly don't think that budgeting your losses/bets is going to be a great way to solve any form of addictive behaviour. If you have to go to these lengths in order to control yourself then you are probably better off just signing up for the self exclusion program at the casino you regularly play at.

Changing your perspective on gambling probably helps the most. Stop viewing it as a get rich quick scheme - it is purely entertainment.

I'm sorry but I disagree. I think pandemic has a big potential to exacerbate a lot of gambling problem. Since we are not allowed to go out and play casino or any other game outside people chances playing online increases. We are just staying at home nowadays and people get bored most of time for sure and and gambling online could kill their time. Budgeting your loses/bets is true that  can't be great way to solve gambling addiction. I believe once the people get addicted from gambling or any other types of activities they can't control themselves anymore. Once they compute their loses and know how big their loses the eagerness to play again and revenge will be getting higher. They out of control and believes they can win back their money. Once the person get addicted they are not able to change their perspective in one snap, they needs serious therapy.

[madnessteat]

~snip~

Many young people spend their free time playing online games, but when they grow up they realise that they have wasted it. I would advise you to devote part of your free time to self-education, which would further help to stand more firmly on his feet and get a high-paying job that you like. In today's world, you can work online as much as you like.

[ice098]

Many young people spend their free time playing online games, but when they grow up they realise that they have wasted it. I would advise you to devote part of your free time to self-education, which would further help to stand more firmly on his feet and get a high-paying job that you like. In today's world, you can work online as much as you like.

Well I guess even if we're not in pandemic situation today the young people will probably be engage in playing online games because of the modern technology. They are adventurous and risk taker too and they just think that it is cool because they are on trend.

I also notice that I became a little bit addict to the gambling world this past few days, it is because I have a lot of free time in this pandemic and I am looking for things where I can spend my time to avoid boredom and then I discovered a gambling website that is popular for game cockfighting before I gamble so rare to the point that I only gamble when I am with my friends or when my friends have invited me to do so, but with this cockfighting, I deposited $200 which I really not doing before, I really entertained with this game but unfortunately, I lose all my capital and never tried it again. I just spend my time playing the online games instead of gambling.

This pandemic really brought gamblers in online gambling world because of the lot of time that they have staying at home and not doing anything but just to keep themselves busy all the time tapping the screen of their phone or gadgets and joining gambling activities to spend their time.
Good thing that you have now control yourself to spend a single amouny of money on gambling activitoes and turn your attention playing online games.

[doomloop]

Many young people spend their free time playing online games, but when they grow up they realise that they have wasted it. I would advise you to devote part of your free time to self-education, which would further help to stand more firmly on his feet and get a high-paying job that you like. In today's world, you can work online as much as you like.

Gambling is kind of mind controlling act which will never get you to think about getting out of it for any other activities which including self education or anything. So, once you get into gambling you will never think about improving your self in terms of knowledge or physically or anything. So, preventing gambling before getting into would be the only solution it seems it is available for all of us.

I agree most people after growing up, realizing that they have wasted time with gambling but when they are young, even some people are guiding, they are not ready to listen which is the reason for the later-on regrets.

[tyz]

There is, in my opinion, only a slightly higher chance of getting addicted to gambling through Corona than in normal times. Of course, many more people are bored at home and may then seek the thrill in online casinos. But first, you have to be receptive to it, which many aren't, and if they are, they were gambling before Corona. On the other hand, you need money for that, and for many that is much less available due to Corona.

[pinggoki]

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

To be honest, this piece of advice is what really want in order to cope up with our gambling addiction. Instead of looking for online gambling, go outside and have a peaceful walk and try to appreciate how beautiful the world and environment are. Another thing is that this would be probably what will be said by the psychologist in order to cope up with our problem. But always remember that we are in the midst of the pandemic in which we must really be more careful in order for us to be more safe and sound.

[goinmerry]

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

It's not that simple.

Since we are talking about pandemic here, not all have their own place to do jog or exercise. No need for others to be on healthy living just to stay away from gambling. It's about forcing ourselves to become responsible gamblers at any cost.

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.

This is too much for an average gambler. Why should they record that?

Not making things complicated is the more comfortable thing to do.

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.

It will work but sometimes, once a gambler is now slowly turning their activity into addiction, they won't notify anyone about it. The friends or closest ones need to take the action first on that case.

[South Park]

These are actually good guidelines to follow for every gambler, regardless of whether or not the gambler is addicted.

Even more importantly, be realistic in your expectations. We already know the great risks of compulsive gambling. And there's another risk that's rarely mentioned: how the compulsion to gamble can warp your perception of reality. There are so many times that I've found myself betting big when I shouldn't have been because I went into it all in, with the idea that I could beat the house. In reality, this rarely happens.

The pandemic had many different effects and the increase in all kind of addictions is one of them, many people have hobbies that require the participation of other people and when they found themselves alone on their own homes they got depressed and they had a hole on their lives they had to fill with something, and whether they choose alcohol, drugs, gambling or social media we know this is incredibly damaging, which is why it is important to also develop some hobbies which you can use to entertain yourself during these difficult times as the pandemic is far from being over on most countries around the world.

[Twentyonepaylots]

It's all about self-control really. Long as you know when to draw the line with online gambling, you should be good to go when gambling. As OP suggested, do something else that will distract you from the urges of gambling when you feel like you're succumbing to addiction. Exercise, do something that is entirely unrelated to gambling so as to not give you any hints and ideas while you're abstaining from betting.