Vernon’s Responsible Gambling Awareness Week will officially take place this month.
The week, which raises awareness about responsible gambling practices, will take place from January 14 to 20.
Gambling can become an addiction and affect a person’s life.
According to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, some symptoms of problem gambling include feeling guilty about gambling, spending more than intended on gambling, placing large and more frequent bets, loss of interest and participation in normal activities with friends and family, not having enough money for food, rents or bills after gambling and being secretive about the time and money spent on gambling.
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Here are some tips from BCLC about how to gamble safely and responsibly:
• Play for fun, not for income: Look at gambling as entertainment and not a source of income. Losing is always a possibility.
• Set a budget and stick to it: Play within your means. Do not spend money you do not have and do not gamble with your next mortgage payment, car payment or rent.
• Set a time limit: Make a plan for how much time you can afford to spend gambling and ensure you stick to it.
• Take frequent breaks: Walking away from the game and taking a break every once a while helps you make smarter decisions.
• Don’t chase losses: If you lose, just accept it and do not try to win it back. Chasing losses will almost always lead to bigger losses.
• Balance gambling with other leisure activities: Do not make gambling your sole source of entertainment. Mix it up so you enjoy other activities in addition to gambling. Do not make it too big a part of your life.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health also suggests leaving extra cash, bank cards and credit cards at home, gambling with others who play responsibly and only gambling when you are sober.
Fore more information about Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, check out their website here: www.responsiblegamblingweek.ca
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