Horse racing betting is a pastime that has been enjoyed in the UK since the 1600s, with horse racing betting rising to prominence during the reign of King James I. While betting options have become more diverse and sophisticated since the 17th century, our love for betting on the gee-gees remains an important part of our sporting heritage.
Whether you only place an annual bet on the Lansdown Fillies Stakes at Bath, enjoy the odd flutter over the festive period, or place a horse racing acca every week without fail, understanding how to stay safe and maintain a healthy relationship with gambling is of utmost importance.
The following information will serve great purpose if you're attempting to cope with a gambling issue or are concerned about a friend or family member's gambling behaviours.
Signs that you are not gambling responsibly
There are many indicators that you are not gambling responsibly. Telltale signs include:
- You are spending an increasing amount of money on betting
- Peers have passed comment on your gambling
- You are spending an increased amount of time on horse racing betting
- You are placing riskier bets with long odds
- You are constantly seeking betting tips and free bets
- You find refraining from gambling hard or impossible
- You are loaning money to fund your gambling habits
Responsible gambling tips to stay in control
If you are passionate about remaining in control of your gambling, these tips will ensure you stay on the right track:
- Set a budget for gambling: It is important that you have a betting budget in place, ensuring you are not overspending and putting yourself and your family at financial risk.
- Set a time limit: Limiting the amount of time you spend on online betting sites is a worthwhile task. This will reduce the risk you face of becoming addicted to online betting.
- Take regular breaks: Taking regular breaks from gambling is an advisable move. This will make sure you are making sensible decisions and allow yourself time to regroup before logging back into your betting site.
- Only gamble when you are in the right headspace: Gambling when you are stressed, upset or intoxicated is ill-advised. This is because not being in the right headspace can cloud your judgement and lead you to make rash gambling decisions.
- When the fun stops, stop: All bettors must remember that gambling is a form of entertainment, not an avenue to generate money. This is why when gambling stops being fun and entertaining, you must log out of your betting account.
Responsible gambling services you can use
If you have taken the above tips on board and are still concerned about the amount of time and money you are spending then there are some responsible gambling services you can utilise. Many of these can be actioned via your betting account.
- Deposit limit - A deposit limit is a feature that allows bettors to establish a deposit limit for themselves, allowing them to only gamble a specific amount of their own money that they are comfortable with. This restriction can be set on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
- Loss limit - By establishing a loss limit, you are telling your betting site how much money you are willing to lose. As a result, the amount of actual money you may lose from deposits is limited to a predetermined amount.
- Time-Out - By making use of your gambling site’s Time Out feature you can lock yourself out of your account for a certain amount of time, restricting your access to betting products completely.
- Self-exclusion - Self-exclusion is a feature whereby gamblers can exclude themselves from gambling activities on all betting sites for at least 6 months. This can usually be found on the ‘responsible gambling’ page of a website. Players can also enforce Self Exclusion via GamStop.
Leading safe gambling charities and organisations
In the UK, we boast an incredible support network when it comes to gambling-related harm. If you are seeking professional help, the below organisations are there to aid you back to health and support you emotionally.
- Gamblers Anonymous - Gamblers Anonymous refers to itself as a "fellowship" dedicated to assisting compulsive gamblers in their recovery. Users can access details of local meetings on the Gamblers Anonymous website; gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
- GamStop - GamStop gives consumers the option to join the National Self Exclusion Program, which allows them to exclude themselves from all online gambling activities for six months, one year or five years.
- GamCare - GamCare is a national organisation that helps those who have been harmed by gambling. It offers both free telephone counselling and face-to-face group sessions. GamCare can be contacted via phone - 0808 8020 133.
- The Samaritans - The Samaritans provide a wide range of services to people who have been affected by gambling. These include counselling, mentoring and emotional support. The well-known charity works closely with the UK Gambling Commission to educate people about the dangers of gambling. Gamblers have the option to talk to a Samaritan on live chat at samaritans.org.
This responsible gambling guide has been created by betting.bet; a UK online betting sites portal. Betting.bet has a number of sister brands, including freebets.ltd.uk and casinosites.ltd.uk.
