ByWhy You Should Stop Gambling and Where You Can Start Recovery
If you want to stop gambling, you are not alone!
Gambling addiction is a problem that impacts between 2 to 12 percent of regular gamblers. Addiction is always a difficult issue to face, but the most important thing is to have allies on your side. Think about and then take action based on those thoughts, rather than your impulses.
One of the resources you have in your wheelhouse if you want to quit gambling is DoNotPay, which can help you get banned from any casino or betting app. Learn why you should stop gambling and how to make it easier to quit using DoNotPay.
Gambling Addiction Can Lead to Financial Ruin
If you have a gambling addiction, it's much easier to stop before your financial circumstances force the matter. Even if you've been on a hot streak, the risk of problem gambling is greater than the reward. Unfortunately, if you are addicted to gambling, the risk is the point.
One study has shown that 22.8 percent of people with gaming addictions eventually declare bankruptcy, with an average debt of more than $50,000. It's best to stop gambling before you hit that point of no return.
Gambling Addiction Can Tear Families Apart
The consequences of gambling addiction aren't just financial.
- Having a loved one who is a gambling addict can damage family relationships and friendships, especially if the gambler borrows (or steals) money to finance their addiction.
- Studies have shown that domestic violence is more common in the homes of problem gamblers and the stress of living with a gambling addict can itself cause trauma.
- Because gambling addiction provides a "hit" even when you lose, family members of gambling addicts often don't understand the psychology of gambling addiction
Is Recovery from Gambling Addiction Possible?
Yes, it's possible to recover from a gambling addiction. The odds may not be the most encouraging, especially since many states have made it possible to bet on sports from your phone, but it is possible to lead a happy, productive life after hitting your rock bottom.
Some factors that make it easier to quit gambling are:
| Have a support system | Having family and friends who know about your struggles and are willing to help you is a big deal. If you are alone, you can try calling a crisis line such as the National Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700). You can also consider finding a therapist who specializes in addiction psychology. |
| Stay away from triggers | Avoiding known triggers, which can be as clear-cut as staying out of the bar you used to gamble in, or as complex as seeking treatment for underlying depression or anxiety. |
| Forgive yourself | Having understanding with yourself that your recovery may not be one hundred percent right away, and forgiving yourself if you backslide. |
What Are Some Ways to Avoid Problem Gambling?
Quitting gambling isn't just a matter of willpower. If it were always so easy for everybody to stop gambling, nobody would have a gambling addiction. Recovery is a long road, and the most important way to recover from a gambling addiction is to admit you need help and that you can't quit gambling alone.
One step anyone can take to stop gambling is to place a from their local casinos and betting apps or websites. This is the equivalent of an alcoholic person removing all the drinks from their house: it reduces the temptation greatly and prevents you from gambling out of habit or on a whim. More information on how to do that quickly and easily is later in this post.
Many problem gamblers have also found it useful to take up other hobbies, especially ones that provide an adrenaline rush. In the moment you feel the urge to gamble, find some other thing you can do, such as calling a friend or creating art.
How Can DoNotPay Help You Stop Gambling?
If you want to but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 6 easy steps:
- Search Gambling Protection on DoNotPay
- Enter the name of the casino and indicate whether it's online or in-person.
- Tell us which state the casino is located in, or the state you're accessing the online casino from. DoNotPay will then find your state's self-exclusion laws and reference them in your request.
- Select how long you want to be banned for (you can choose anywhere from 1 year to a lifetime!)
- Answer a few of our chatbot questions so we can help the casino identify you or your online account. If you want to be banned from an in-person casino, it helps to provide information about your height, weight, race, and other identifying features.
- Choose whether you want us to email the request to the casino on your behalf. You can also choose to notarize your document to legally verify your identity.
And that's it! DoNotPay will prepare a letter requesting you to be placed on the self-exclusion list. You can bring this letter to the casino yourself. DoNotPay can also email for you and you will receive confirmation via email.
Why You Should Use DoNotPay to Help You Stop Gambling
DoNotPay is the fastest, easiest way to help you set up your self-ban request with casinos and betting apps. You don't have to visit the casinos and be exposed to potential triggers, and you can do it entirely by email. Because DoNotPay works in every state, you can also be assured that your request follows the laws of the state you're in.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do for You?
DoNotPay can do much more than . With the click of a button in the app, you can:
- Notarize any document
- Apply for a tourist visa
- Apply for or renew a pet license
- Fight mail and text spam
- Appeal parking tickets
And many more things besides. Find out what DoNotPay can do to improve your life today.