Ep. 18 - Casino Reopening: Staying Firm With Your Gambling Limits
There is a lot of excitement as COVID restrictions are lifting. For some, this includes excitement about returning to the casino. For others, who have experienced gambling problems, casino reopening is a worry.
If you or someone you care about has experienced gambling getting out of control, take a step back from the hype and listen to this episode of our podcast, Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems.
Hear a discussion with two women who have had experiences with relapse and decided to stop all gambling. Learn what they are doing to stay gambling free as casinos reopen. Margaret Sigsworth, who has spent many years talking to people on the casino floors, offers guidance for sticking to your limits.
Listen now by clicking on the green play button above.
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“Once it was in my head that I was going to gamble, it was a done deal”
“Now I put up armor to protect myself from a gambling relapse”
I have a gambling problem. How do I prevent a relapse when casinos reopen?
In this episode of Fold em, we hear from Julie and Maike. Both gambled for much of their lives and say that it was problematic for at least 10 years. Both gambled at casinos and online and had relapses as they tried to pull back. As a result, they each made a decision to stay away all forms of gambling and committed to recovery.
I think it’s fair to say that Julie and Maike know a lot about gambling issues. They share what they have learned about relapses and how to prevent them. Here’s some of their suggestions:
be aware that when there are opportunities to gamble the risk for relapse increases, e.g. driving by a casino with access to money and free time
once you start planning to gamble and justifying it to yourself, it’s really hard to turn back.
when you know you will have access to gambling, make a plan ahead of time to protect yourself from the pull of gambling, e.g. drive on a route that doesn’t pass a casino and tell people when you will be home.
put up blocks between you and gambling, e.g. self exclusion, online blocking software or making it hard to access money. These blocks will give you time to clear your head and make a different decision. They will likely also decrease thoughts and cravings to gamble.
practice being open and honest with supportive people, e.g. tell them your plans to prevent a relapse
make a list of the benefits for you of not gambling, e.g. for your health, relationships, finances.
I don’t have a gambling problem, but I’ve had a couple of experiences where I gambled more than I expected. How do I make sure this doesn’t happen again?
Margaret Sigsworth, who is a Gambling Support Outreach Worker in British Columbia, says that many people have had an experience where they spent more on gambling than planned. She offers these suggestions to help people stay within their limits:
Be honest with yourself - about how much you can afford to spend AND how much you are already spending on gambling. Make sure to include all types of gambling as you total it up, e.g. lottery, sports bets, Keno etc.
Before gambling, make a plan. Set a maximum amount you are willing to spend and a maximum amount of time. If you gamble with a spouse or family member, make this plan together.
Only use cash to gamble and keep credit and debit cards out of reach.
Be honest with yourself about your emotions. It’s more difficult to stick to your limits if stress, anxiety and excitement are revved up. Notice if you are using gambling as a way to manage your emotions and mood, e.g. to lift your spirits after a bad day or to escape boredom. If you are, there is a greater risk for it getting out of control.
What resources and tools are available to help me or a loved one manage gambling?
Margaret tells us about resources that are commonly available at casinos and on gambling websites to help keep gambling in check:
Play Planner tools are increasingly available in slot machines and for online play. These allow you to track your time and spending and remind you when you reach your limits.
Gambling support staff are typically available at casinos and online. If stress is rising and you’re going beyond your limits, pause and have a conversation or web chat with one of them.
Self exclusion and take a break options are available in casinos and online. These give you an opportunity to take a step back from gambling and clear your head.
If you live in British Columbia, Margaret and her Gambling Support Outreach colleagues are available throughout the province when you need a supportive person on your side - to better understand your gambling, to help resolve problems caused by gambling, e.g. money issues or risk of eviction, and to connect with other community supports.
To reach your local Gambling Support Outreach worker, go to the Gambling Support BC website or call the Gambling Support Line at 1-888-795-6111. Or, click on the Contact Us button below.
Free, confidential services are available to residents of British Columbia who are concerned about their own or a loved one’s gambling.
To hear more from Maike, Julie and Margaret and learn about how to stay on track with your gambling limits, listen to Episode 18 of Fold em.
Listen now to this episode by clicking on the green play button at the top of this blog. Or, tune in directly from Apple or Google podcasts by clicking on the red button below.
Check out the other episodes and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out when new ones are released.
Fold em is a podcast hosted by Adrienne Cossom and her colleagues at Gambling Support BC. Whether you are looking at stopping or scaling back your own gambling or supporting a family member with a problem, this podcast will help you take back control. Hear from gamblers who have been through it and get tips from counsellors.
To learn more about gambling concerns and how to access resources and support, go to the home page of this website, click on the red “Learn More” button below, or connect with us through Facebook.