Signs You Need to Take a Break from Online Slots
For the most part, playing online slots is enormous fun. Gambling has existed as an enjoyable pastime for centuries, and for some, it’s more than a hobby, as they take the activity more seriously and become known as professional gamblers.
Within the past few decades, gambling activity has increased enormously in popularity thanks to a large proportion of slots making the transition to online platforms. This has resulted in online casino games being more accessible than ever before, with the unveiling of thousands of new online casinos and the possibility of playing casino games privately from the comfort of home. This is great news for many; there is an immense number of virtual casinos to choose from, each offering their own lucrative welcome bonuses, promotions and deals. Furthermore, all you need is a computer or mobile device, plus internet access, to connect to them and play brilliant games.
Since their invention in the late 19th Century, slot machines have always been successful in enticing players, and are now in fact the most popular type of casino game within the online sector. New games are released frequently, with even more sophisticated gameplay, features, graphics and themes; and so, the industry is not expecting the slots industry to wane in the near future.
Again, this is good news for many casual players and professional gamblers alike. But what if your gambling habits begin to feel a little less enjoyable and start to have a negative effect on your life?
Signs & Symptoms
Within a society awash with temptations such as alcohol, smoking, drugs and shopping, it’s not altogether difficult to lose control a little. Gambling is another temptation; a pastime that is thoroughly enjoyable when experienced in a controlled manner, but can lead to more serious problems if abused.
Casino players experience a chemical high from gambling – especially when winning – and while playing slots online, each reel spin results in a greater adrenaline rush and sense of anticipation. These are short-lived, however, and the resulting mood afterwards, in the more extreme cases, can be feelings of stress and depression. In a bid to quickly ‘fix’ these moods, a gambler may turn to online casino games yet again, and so the cycle continues, potentially worsening as time goes on as financial or social problems also occur.
These are extreme examples, but it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms while you’re playing your favourite casino slots and brand new slots. These can vary from person to person, of course, but be aware of the following common signs:
- Thinking of gambling more frequently than before, including methods in which you can get hold of money so that your next gambling activity can ensue.
- Irritability and restlessness when not gambling.
- Spending hours gambling, and continuing in the activity even after losing significant amounts of cash.
- Choosing gambling over seeing your family and friends, and/or lying about your gambling pastime.
- Giving in to the temptation to gamble even greater amounts of cash each time you play.
- Negative feelings such as stress, depression or anxiety in relation to online slots and casino games.
Help Available
If this sounds familiar, the good news is: you’re at the halfway point to a solution by recognising the issue. The next step is help, which is easy to acquire. All reputable online casinos offer responsible gambling features such as deposit limits and activity time reminders. Gamble Aware is a brilliant charity set up to offer help to individuals who fear they may have developed an addiction, while software programmes such as Gamstop can be downloaded to block gambling sites from your IP address.