Problem Gambling

It's more than likely that if you play in an online casino, you're doing so for its entertainment value. Let's face it; it's fun to gamble, especially if you're doing in a healthy way. How do you know you're doing in a healthy way? Well, are you having fun? If you are, you're doing it in a healthy way.

For some people, however, this is not the case. For them, gambling becomes part of a certain compulsion; something that can't be avoided, and they continue to engage in, whatever the result, because they simply can't stop. One of the things that is essential about learning to gamble responsibly is that you know when to quit. The fact is, there are people who don't know when to quit, but that is not what prevents the games from being "fun" for them. Rather, it's the other way around; gambling isn't fun to begin with – it is part of an addiction.

If you don't know how to play responsibly; how to manage your money correctly, or when to stop when your bankroll or emotional capacity cannot handle it anymore, then you can consider yourself to be a "problem gambler." You want to play with money you really can't afford to lose, and in fact, you don't even have a concept of money at that point. You become a very dangerous person, and the unfortunate thing is that it has its effect on other individuals.

There is really no sense in us telling you to address your problem if (a) you don't realize you have a problem, or (b) you don't want to correct it. If you do, however, there are some places we can direct you:

Gamblers Anonymous (http://www.gamblersanonymous.org) is readily available in Canada. There are meetings all over the country, where you have the opportunity to talk to other gambling addicts, and in that way, find a helping hand. Click the link to find out about meeting near you.

Problem Gambling (http://www.problemgambling.ca) - If your life is being affected greatly by a family member, partner or friend who has a gambling addiction, this is a place to turn in order to help yourself or a loved one.

Responsible Gambling Council (http://www.responsiblegambling.org/) - This is a valuable resource for information about problem gambling and what can be done about it. Many people do not understand that it is a disorder that can be just as bad, if not worse, then drug or alcohol addiction, and education is often a great place to start.

As we said, no one can stop unless they really want to. Keep that in mind!