The importance of responsible gambling in India
Whilst gambling can be enormous fun, there is a fine line between having a good time and allowing what should be a harmless pastime to become a dangerous addiction. For all the tales of people having a big win at a casino or online, there are countless other stories, many of them which do not make the press or social media, of those who live, have been ruined by gambling, or who have suffered financially, physically or emotionally because of it.
There are some steps you can take to make sure that, if you are gambling in India, whether online or offline, that you always stay in control and you do not allow it to control you.
Begin by deciding how much you can afford to lose. The reality is that the odds will always be stacked against you, and that, the majority of times that you place a bet, it will not succeed. The odds are never going to be in your favour because casinos are there to make a profit.
Accept that and realize that, in the long run, more of your bets will fail than succeed. Instead, budget each month how much you need to meet all the necessities of life, and then, if you have some money left to spare, that is the amount you can use to gamble.
Once you have set your limit stick to it. That may mean that if you have spent your allowance for the month by the second week that you do not gamble for the rest of the month. Never be tempted to go beyond what you can afford.
Then you need to find the right casino sites in India to gamble. Make sure that they are appropriately licensed, have the appropriate policies which encourage responsible gambling, and do not forget to read the online reviews to help you identify such casinos. Bear in mind that it is not the attractiveness of their promotions that should guide your choice of casino, but the quality of their offerings, the degree of oversight they practice, and the integrity of the operator.
Responsible gambling is about controlling your behaviour. That means learning to stop, both when you are winning and when you are losing. If you are ahead then enjoy the feeling and the fact that you have won. And, if you have lost, accept it and come back another day. The worst thing you can do is chase your losses – try and win back what you have lost by staking even more or by going for a bet with even longer odds.
Always think with your head and not your heart, even if losing money can be an emotional experience. Stand back and think rationally, and be prepared to walk away at any time.
And, finally, if you think you have a problem with gambling, never be afraid to seek help. In the first place, this can mean talking to family and friends or seeking the help of an addiction counsellor. The best casinos also offer online support, whilst there are also a number of online forums in India like Gaming Therapy and Players Anonymous which can help you.
Self-awareness is key to gambling responsibly. Make sure you never let this become a habit that controls you.
