Holiday Guest and Article by My Friends of Ohio for Responsible Gambling.

Well, the holiday season has begun now that Thanksgiving has come and gone for 2018. And for those like me who maintain recovery from gambling addiction, we know this time of year can either be a Joyous time or time where Relapse can sure sneak up on us with family stress, not enough money for the holidays, or arguments with spouses or family members …

ALL of these and others can be possible Triggers for us no matter if your in early recovery, longer-term recovery, or just sitting on the fence thinking YOU may have a gambling problem. There are those WHO can gamble normally, but now with 2.9% of our population now problem gamblers? They need to know to gamble responsibly and if you can’t? See Help. But if you can NOT?

This is WHY I chose for my sixth year to be on HOLIDAY WATCH and SUPPORT as of Thanksgiving Eve through Jan 2nd, 2019 …

THEN? I begin my recovery service to my buddy ” Big Jim Downs Recovery Foundation for a whole year as he embarks on a Journey of Hope biking all around America for all Addictions Awareness and Recovery. Check out the link above and see how you can be a part of  “The Biggest Ever Addiction Awareness Event” taking place in 48 States! I am social media and sponsorship Ambassador and it is going to be Amazing to see GOD work MIRACLES through Big Jim!

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Now, back to the article of gambling which IS one of the Addictions Jim will be advocating recovery for … I hope by sharing this article helps those who have not been “touched” by this cunning disease and maybe on the fence to IF they have a problem… ~Catherine

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Posted by Ohio for Responsible Gambling.

We are in the thick of the holiday season, which often means family, food, fun, and free time. That extra time usually means more time for our hobbies and entertainment and, for those who like to gamble, it can also mean additional opportunities for betting.

 

More time to gamble can, for some, result in spending too much time and money at the casino. Online gambling can be especially tempting because it offers games running 24/7, which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home and gives gamblers a chance to try games at virtually any time.

If you’re planning to gamble this holiday season, here are seven things to keep in mind.

 

Seven Things to Remember Before You Gamble

1. Gambling should only be for fun. It is not, and never will be, a way to invest or earn money.
2. Always limit how much you are willing to lose, as well as how much time you spend gambling.
3. When you get ahead, quit. Don’t feel pressured to gamble with winnings to win more; be satisfied that you came out ahead.
4. Realize that you should be able to afford to lose any money you bet.
5. Never gamble just because you are bored or to decrease stress.
6. Maintain other interests and hobbies other than just gambling.
7. If you lose money one-time gambling, don’t gamble another time with just the intent to win the money back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with some gambling during the holidays unless you are in recovery, for those with slight or no problem remember to do so responsibly. If you feel like your gambling (or that of a loved one) is out of control, please click here for resources in your area.

Not Sure if you may have a problem with gambling? Click Here: QUIZ

And TAKE THE QUIZ

Answer the following questions about your gambling activity in the last 12 months and gauge your risk level for problem gambling.

GAMBLING PROBLEM? 1-800-589-9966

LIVE CHAT

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Have a Blessed, Safe, and Happy Holiday Season and Happy New Year 

 

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Sharing The Message of HOPE and Help From The National Council on Problem Gambling – Be Mindful This Superbowl Weekend…

Now that another SuperBowl Weekend is now upon us, my good friend Keith Whyte, who is Executive Director at The National Council on Problem Gambling and their team care about those who will be “Sports Betting” this weekend. It is one of the major weekends that gambling is very prevalent, and sorry guys, especially among MEN.

And just like my buddies from the NFL, Randy Grimes who played for Tampa Bay and Vance Johnson who played for the Denver Broncos who both are at the Superbowl this year advocating and attending SoberBowl, yes, those of us in recovery CAN have a great time “Bet Free, Clean, and Sober!

They are sharing their stories and message of HOPE to all who come by. And the same can be done for gambling addiction. So? How much money will be GAMBLED AWAY this SuperBowl? Well, I came across this article courtesy of The Business Insider  and they said;

Gamblers expected to bet a whopping $4.8 billion on the Super Bowl and only about 3% will happen in Nevada…

 

Erik Kabik Photography/MediaPunch/IPX

“The American Gaming Association estimates that approximately $4.76 billion will be bet on the Super Bowl this year.

• Of all that money, just 3% of it is expected to be wagered legally in Nevada, with the rest of the bets being made through offshore books and local bookies.
• Still, Las Vegas bookmakers are doing just fine — 2017 was their most profitable year on record and the Super Bowl is looking like it will easily pass last year’s record.”

This is why I am sharing my new email newsletter from my friends of the National Council on Problem Gambling. If end up getting in over your head sports betting this Superbowl weekend? Make sure you visit them. There is HOPE & HELP available for Problem and Addicted Gambling. You may also visit my Recovery Resources page while you are here. I have many resources for help listed, suggested books to read and more. Here now is the message from NCPG…

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Super Bowl Weekend & Gambling: Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Help & Hope are available

Super Bowl weekend can be a difficult time. Sometimes fans may feel desperate after a losing game or season if they have gambled more than they could afford. The Super Bowl can be especially hard for people who suffer from a gambling addiction. Research shows that people with gambling disorder, like substance use disorder, may have a genetic predisposition that drives their need to bet more and more money to achieve the same excitement or “high.” These urges run deep and symptoms include: Inability to set and stick to a limit of time and money spent gambling; Viewing wagering as an investment; and/or Betting to escape feelings of anxiety, stress or depression Each of these is a potential warning sign of a gambling problem or challenge to recovery. NCPG urges people who are at risk or experiencing problem gambling to contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline.

A simple two-question self-test can help indicate whether someone has a gambling problem.

1. Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money? 2. Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled? If the answer is “yes” to either question, it is likely there may be a gambling problem.

If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) is a toll-free, confidential, single point of access for problem gambling help via phone, text, and chat. Visit www.ncpgambling.org for extensive referral resources and materials, including an anonymous self-test, an online directory of certified gambling counselors and a list of treatment centers with gambling-specific programs. The Problem Gambling Helpline offers hope and help without judgment or shame. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call now. Super Bowl weekend and Gambling. Keep Your On The Ball!

“Shining a light on “Sports Betting” through Superbowl Weekend!” 

Author/Advocate, Catherine Townsend-Lyon

So Refreshing To See Online Gambling Sites Being Aware of the Dangers of Addicted Gambling. . .

Hello Recovery Friends and Welcome New Visitors too!

I happen to be on my recovery Twitter today, and I was sent this awesome info-graphic by none other than an online gambling website!

Now at first I was a little suspicious, WHY?

Because I have gotten other things sent and shared with me from other gambling casino sites that were, lets say, not so very nice in the past. And even though I have always been clear that I harbor no ill will towards these sites, nor to people who can gamble responsibly. Nor do I think gambling should be banned, that wouldn’t be fair to those who can gamble like normal people.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were sharing a graph that they have on their site. It shows graphics and facts about problem and addicted gambling, and has good stats on it as well. I was SO taken aback, and shared my feelings to the website on Twitter, “it was very refreshing to see an online gambling site actually share well-balanced info about problem & addicted gambling, SO much so, that I decided to share this with all of my recovery pals and visitors here on my recovery blog.

And, . . . since March is  ~ “Raising Awareness of Problem Gambling” Month, I thought it would be very appropriate to do so. I will mention that this is courtesy of “Vegas Slots Online,” but won’t give out the link address as we are recovering addicted gamblers. 🙂

I’m sure Vegas Slots will understand. So here is the graph they shared, and I hope it gives a wee bit more info about problem and addicted gambling. It seems maybe Advocacy is Working?
Here is what Vegas Slots had to share with me!

Psychology Of Gambling [Info-graphic]

 

Over the decades, many doctors have spent a lot of time and money trying to figure out why people like to gamble, whether it be on sports betting, casino games or lottery.

We here at Vegas Slots have compiled the following info-graphic to help explain the gambling industry as a whole, as well as why people gamble. Some of the interesting tidbits to be pulled out regarding gambling psychology are shown below and discussed further.

Access to gambling has never been as easy as it is in this current technological era with people playing casino games on their PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets, both at home and while on the move. With this we feel it is important to take a step back and try understand more how it affects us.

There are nearly eight times more land casinos in the United States than there are in France (the country with the second highest number of casinos in the world). This is due to the fact that gambling is a huge industry in the States, with casinos generating more than $37.83 billion in revenue during 2013.

More than half of the states in the country have commercial gaming businesses in operation, whether they are casinos, card rooms, or state sponsored lotteries. There are only two states in the union where gambling is completely outlawed: Utah and Hawaii.

The prevalence of gambling in the United States begs the question: “Why do we like it so much?” There are several answers to this, including the excitement that gambling presents, the high amount of optimism that Americans carry compared to most of the other countries in the world, the illusion of control, and the chance of winning (or reward).

Even though we like our gambling, there are some who have a hard time with the activity. Problem gambling is an issue that is prominent in all 50 states, but the issue is generally not well understood by the public. There are a series of myths attached to this disease, including what causes a problem gambler to play games of risk, how it affects their behavior, and that the disease isn’t even real at all. The attached info-graphic addresses these myths and explains the psychology behind problem gambling and how players can be helped.

The psychology of problem gambling is a very deep matter, which could be studied infinitely without completely understanding the whole issue. Still, we hope that the attached graphic helps to provide some insight as to some of the reasons why we gamble, and how it impacts a portion of our society. . . .
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Well, . . .OK the link is on there, my bad! I do want to ‘Thank’ again Vegas Slots for sharing this with us, and to thank them for being informed about problem & addicted gambling, and sharing it! It happens, and that many of us out here are in recovery from this addiction and disease. So they get 5 Stars from me! 🙂  *****
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“Until next time recovery friends!”

God Bless and Stay BET FREE.
Catherine Townsend-Lyon, Author of Addicted To Dimes ~ My Story
http://www.amazon.com/dp/Addicted-Dimes-Confessions-Liar-Cheat/dp/B00CSUJI3A