I feel it is very important that as a webmaster of a reputable online casino portal that we provide relevant information to our visitors who may have a gambling problem. This is a resource I have been wanting to provide for a long time now on Online Casino Reviewer and thus feel it is right that I start this thread in the forum now, whereby it is accessible to all our visitors. Whether players, webmasters or casino operators.

Unfortunately like many forms of entertainment there will always be a minority who succumb to darker sides of gambling, especially online where the ability to spend vast quantities of money online is only a couple of clicks away.

The purpose of this thread is to provide links to websites and information to help you if you yourself and a problem gambler or you know someone close to you who has a gambling addiction.

Part of the criteria we set on Online Casino Reviewer before listing an online casino or gambling site is that the operator fully 100% supports and promotes responsible gambling.

Do I have a gambling problem?

You may have a gambling problem if you:

• Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won’t understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.
• Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?
• Gamble even when you don’t have the money. A red flag is when you are getting more and more desperate to recoup your losses. You may gamble until you’ve spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don’t have- money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell or even steal things for gambling money. It’s a vicious cycle. You may sincerely believe that gambling more money is the only way to win lost money back. But it only puts you further and further in the hole.
• Family and friends are worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. Take a hard look at how gambling is affecting your life. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help.

Does my loved one have a gambling problem?

If your loved one has a gambling problem, he or she might:

• Become increasingly defensive about his or her gambling. The more a problem gambler is in the hole, the more the need to defend gambling as a way to get money. Your loved one may get secretive, defensive or even blame you for the need to gamble, telling you that it is all for you and you need to trust in the “big win someday”.
• Suddenly become secretive over money and finances. Your loved one might show a new desire to control household finances, or there might increasingly be a lack of money despite the same income and expenses. Savings and assets might mysteriously dwindle, or there may be unexplained loans or cash advances.
• Become increasingly desperate for money to fund the gambling. Credit card bills may increase, or your loved one may ask friends and family for money. Jewelry or other items easily pawned for money may mysteriously disappear.

Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling: Signs, Help, and Treatment

Useful Links:

GamCare, gambling addiction, gambling problems help, support and advice
Gamble Aware
Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page

If any of our forum members have an experience of anyone with a gambling problem or indeed have been affected themselves, feel free to post your comments and your experiences in this thread.

Please also name and shame any Online Casinos that you know that do not immediately upon request close your account with them, should you have informed them you have a gambling problem.

In the next few days I will also be setting up a dedicated page on Online Casino Reviewer with further information and resources on how to deal with problem gambling.

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Online Casino Reviewer - Responsible Gambling

Page is now up on the main site and linked to from every page.

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I love to gamble though it hasn't affected my bearings. It's just for the fun and camaraderie, for me it is. You see before teeing off at the fairway our group place bets.

After the game of golf we eat, drink and gamble in a private room. Much of it anyway are centered on stories and drinking and the card game just comes in second and after 10pm we all go home. This happens every Friday. But we bet on our golf scores every other day.

I find gambling to be one of those addictions that is totally up to the individual.

I smoke and am addicted, if I want to give up I will look for it. Gambling is one of those that can be highly addictive and the good portals will always offer a link or guide to help those that find it hard to steer clear. It's always good if you don't have to look too far.

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Gamcare and gamble aware are great sites...

If only USA got legalized they could help setup more foundations like this with the tax money earned from online gambling

Agree with you FreeBet. There is plenty of help for people with gambling problems already, but regulation in the US would help even more. This is why I have kept this thread a sticky as it is very important.

I am also going to introduce a self exclusion facility to the forum here on OCR, for those members who have a problem.

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I have to say that I disagree that regulation would be at all effective in re problem gambling. The twelve-step 'tradition' is systemic in the 'helping professions' in the US; we live in the dark ages when it comes to addiction treatment in any respect.

A brief look at the efficacy of 12-step programs in treating addiction.
Even though 12-step programs have been around since the 1930's there have been no double blind studies, the one study that was 'scientific' showed a remission rate of 6%. It's interesting to note that 'spontaneous remission' accounts for 7%, so 12-step programs are worse than no treatment at all!

GA=AA=NA=130 other "A" programs and they are all the same. They will preach a spiritual disease that must be cured by confession and absolution. Sure, everyone knows someone who has been helped by a 12 step program, but you also know 9x more silent people who were not.

Regulation is coming. So I guess I'll get in touch with some people in the scientific community so they can get some effective programs integrated. It's worth a try and at least then I'll be able to bitch about it lol. If not we'll have nothing of any worth.

Good call on the self exclusion Dave.

cites with more precise numbers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler...mous#Attrition
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html

Remember this program was created in re alcohol so it's probably safe to assune that it is more effective in 'treatment' of that addiction.

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Hey very useful information. Thanks! It might help a lot of people.

great info! thanks a lot for sharing..

I think that problem always occur but we have to deal with it. The next time that we are into gambling, we have to deal with certain facts that we might encounter problems along the way. I am very glad that I read this thread. So thankful..