CORAL ISLAND CASINO SAFER GAMBLING BLOG
Safer Gambling Week 2023
Safer Gambling Week is almost here, and to mark it we wanted to look at raising awareness about the serious implications that gambling addiction can have on people, as well as sharing some tips that can provide help for anyone who thinks that they might have a gambling problem.
Safer Gambling Week is a cross-industry initiative that takes place across the UK and Ireland from Monday, November 13 to Sunday, November 19. During that week, casinos, both on and offline, bookmakers, and anyone in the gambling industry will be placing a higher emphasis on providing access to safer gambling tools that can help customers gamble responsibly all year round.
What Is Safer Gambling Week?
This is Safer Gambling Week’s sixth year and runs alongside European Safer Gambling Week, showing how the safer gambling narrative continues to grow internationally. People might question if an industry-sponsored initiative can make a difference, but we do believe that awareness campaigns such as this can be a big help.
In fact, according to the Gambling Commission, Safer Gambling Week activities have coincided with a reduction in the rates of gambling problems in the UK, demonstrating that these campaigns do make a difference.
The objective of Safer Gambling Week is to help create an environment in which the UK’s gamblers can feel free to be more open about and examine their relationship with gambling, and those who find they are not gambling responsibly can find the help and assistance they need.
Throughout the year, betting and gambling operators such as Coral Island Casino are actively promoting safer gambling, not just during Safer Gambling Week.
Safer Gambling Week provides an opportunity for us to go beyond offering the usual tools and provide additional support for anyone who may be struggling with gambling addiction.
The ultimate goal is to facilitate open conversations about gambling and encourage people to examine their relationship with gambling and to seek help and support when they need it.
Gambling Responsibly
Some people do gamble for fun and enjoyment, but there are others who think that gambling can be a means to make money, and often spend more than they can afford, or use gambling to distract themselves from their everyday problems.
At Coral Island Casino, we want to provide a genuine casino experience for our customers, and for that to be entertaining and fun. But that doesn’t change the fact that this experience contains gambling, and you must pay to play the games with no guarantee of winning. We like to emphasise that it is about enjoying the games you like to play, rather than playing just to win.
Let’s have a look at some tips
Set Limits
A visit to a casino should be treated as a form of entertainment, just like a visit to any other attraction in Blackpool, so please only ever gamble with money that you can afford to lose.
Set a money limit, or a weekly entertainment budget, and make sure you gamble within that, never spending money that you need to pay your bills, rent or mortgage. Always decide how much you can afford to lose before you visit a casino, and when it’s spent, then do not be tempted to spend more.
If you’ve been lucky and won, then well done! But don’t be disappointed if your luck doesn’t continue.
It can be a good idea to set time limits too and decide in advance just how long you are going to gamble. When your time is up, win or lose, then it’s time to go.
Gambling is never a way to make money!
Never chase your losses
If you’ve lost your set money limit, and try to win some of it back before you leave, then you haven’t really set a limit. Chasing your losses will inevitably lead to greater and greater losses.
Don’t gamble when you’re feeling depressed or upset
When you’re stressed or upset, decision-making can become more difficult, so ensure you only gamble when you’re clear-headed and happy.
The same can be said for if you have had lots to drink or have taken drugs - this can impair your decision-making. We do not condone the use of drugs, and while it is fine to enjoy a drink, avoid indulging too much and losing control of your gambling.
Balance gambling with other activities
If you have no other forms of entertainment except for gambling, then you’re likely not gambling for the fun of it, and you may have a problem. Make sure you balance your time gambling with other activities. Spend time with friends and family, and find new interests and hobbies.
We always want to make sure our customers are having a positive experience and care about their well-being, so please gamble responsibly and stay safe.
If you want to find out what kind of gambler you are, you can take The Telegraph's Gamalyze test here.
Know the gambling warning signs
Gambling may be becoming riskier for you if you are:
If you feel that any of these apply to you, then you can find free, confidential, and non-judgemental help and support is available to help you take back control.
The National Gambling Treatment Service
The National Gambling Treatment Service is a network of organisations working together to provide confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms in England, Scotland and Wales. It provides telephone, online and face-to-face support for individuals and groups.
Call free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, or visit the National Gambling Treatment Service website
GamCare
GamCare is part of the National Gambling Treatment Service. It is the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling.
Call free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
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