When the fun stops. Stop.
Well done you. You’ve stuck to the rules of self-isolation, leaving the house only for permitted reasons. You have cleaned the house from top-to-bottom, called your friend that you’ve been meaning to call for ages and you’ve watched your favourite boxsets from season 1 to season 8 all week long.
You’ve been keen to avoid retail therapy since most shops are delivering essential goods only but boredom may be starting to creep in, it’s only natural.
Now you’ve received an email, or seen an ad online offering you a welcome bonus for an online casino. Free spins on the roulette. Virtual horse racing with £100 free bets.
Where’s the harm in signing up and killing some time while you wait for the latest episode of EastEnders or Coronation Street to start!
If you’re used to a flutter in sports betting shops, or online – chances are you are familiar with the ‘When the fun stops. stop’ slogan created as part of the campaign created by the Senet Group, to promote responsible gambling standards.
The key messages of the When The Fun Stops campaign.
Set your limits at the start
Only bet what you can afford
Never chase your losses
Don’t bet if you’re getting angry
Never put betting before your mates
Gambling Debt Warning
Could you end up with Gambling Debts?
Gamblers could struggle during the Coronavirus crisis as isolation leads them into addiction and debt, The NHS Northern Gambling Service has reported.
Matthew Gaskell is a Consultant Psychologist and Clinical Lead for addiction services with the Leeds & York Partnership Foundation Trust and speaking to the BBC on the potential dangers of an increase in online gambling debts and addiction during the Covid-19 crisis, he advised: “There are a range of risk factors in place at the moment: social isolation, boredom, stress, financial and job insecurity and the opportunity to gamble online.
“While a lot of sports betting has stopped, we are expecting a rise in referrals further down the line. It takes time for gambling harm to spread across someone’s life and for them to realise they have a problem.
“We are concerned that the next wave of gambling addiction will happen under these circumstances and that customers are not being adequately protected.”
The Guardian further reported that online gambling websites had seen increased online casino activity during the Coronavirus lockdown.
Trust Deed Scotland® recently wrote about Coronavirus Debt And Mental Wellbeing and gave some advice for many of the people respecting the rules of social distancing and self-isolation.
While mental health issues and debt have strong ties with one another, the same is, unfortunately, true for gambling addictions and debt.
Trust Deed Scotland® recommends reading our guide to find alternative ways to keep your mind and body activity during lockdown conditions created as a result of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Online Shopping Debt Warning
As well as depression, anxiety and boredom leading to gambling debts and addiction, there is a further danger than Coronavirus lockdown boredom could lead to an increase in compulsive non-essential online shopping.
Under normal circumstances, researchers have said that compulsive online shopping itself should be treated as an addiction and mental health disorder
The further fear during the Coronavirus outbreak is that credit card debt and buy now pay later schemes may lead to further problems down the line, long after the eventual lifting of the Coronavirus restrictions.
Home shopping catalogues too may seem more appealing as we look for ways to cheer ourselves up and pass some time while we stay at home with fewer options to keep ourselves occupied.
Gambling Debt Advice In Scotland
If you feat that you have a gambling addiction that has caused debts due to gambling, the first, and most obvious step is to completely stop your gambling.
GamCare – GamCare offers support and information for partners, friends and family of people who gamble compulsively.
Gamblers Anonymous Scotland – Local support groups for anyone in Scotland affected by their own, or someone else’s gambling problem – find your nearest group there.
If you’re struggling with unaffordable debts you may be finding it difficult to cope already and with the current conditions, this may be causing you to worry further about how you will afford to repay your unsecured debt.
Don’t worry, every year we help thousands of Scottish residents enjoy a debt free future.
To get started, call us on 0141 221 0999 or try our online Trust Deed Wizard tool.