Having an addiction to gambling is very common in Ireland so here are some tips to help you minimise the risk of harm when engaging with gambling.
Some tips to help you stay safe are:
Set a money limit and stick to it no matter what – make a budget of what you are allowed to spend before it interferes with your other responsibilities
Expect to lose and treat winning as a bonus – don’t expect to get money or make money from it.
Don’t gamble alone – try to find someone who you can gamble with and that is not afraid to tell you when you are over stepping the mark
Don’t borrow money for gambling – again like the first time set aside money that you can afford to gamble with.
Avoid gambling apps and websites – Avoid downloading apps onto your smart devices as the temptation to gamble will be with you everywhere you go.
Be open and honest about your gambling habits – when you start to be dishonest and hide your gambling habits from your loved ones you may need to seek help and support
Only gamble with cash – this is a good strategy to help you stay in budget.
Gamble only when in a positive mind frame – poor decision making and judgement can be made when feeling down or depressed.
How to stop gambling:
There is support available for you or a loved one who may have a problem with gambling.
Support:
If you feel that your gambling is affecting your mental health know that there are many support options available to you.
Seek advice from your local GP who will talk you through your options to help get you the support and guidance you need. Below are some local and national services available to you.
Aiseiri, Roxborough, Co. Wexford, Co Wexford - 056-8833777 - aiseiri.ie
Aiséirí provides community and residential services to help young people, adults and families overcome addiction and lead meaningful lives in recovery.
Their services include residential services, family programmes, recovery retreats, and outreach to individuals, communities, schools and businesses who would like to learn more about addiction. Their Adolescent Addiction Treatment Centre, Aiséirí Aislinn (located Kilkenny), provides treatment for young people between the ages of 15 and 21 years living with the destructive impact of alcohol, drugs and/ or gambling.
Gambler Anonymous, Meeting Friday 8pm - Gaelscoil Moshíológ, Kilnahue, Carnew Road, Gorey, Co. Wexford - gamblersanonymous.ie Call: 01 8721133 E- info@gamblersanonymous.ie
Gamblers Anonymous are a group of people who support each other and help each other recover from their gambling problem. There are regular meetings around the country where you can talk about your problems with gambling in confidence. Find a full list of meetings here. Find contact details for different regions here.