Graeme Rodway’s Safer Gambling tip
The gambling industry has changed beyond recognition since I started playing more than 20 years ago and, with the advent of online wagering, the temptation to bet is constantly there.
If that temptation is proving difficult to resist then there is one simple solution: remove it altogether by closing all your online accounts and returning to the betting shop with cash.
It’s far harder to make time to go to the shop and hand over the money than it is to click a button online, and you’ll only do it if you really think the bet is worth having. I’m a more selective, better disciplined punter as a result and that is the key to being a successful one too.
Robbie Wilders’ Safer Gambling tip
On a busy day in Britain, there’s a race to bet on every ten minutes for the best part of nine hours. Ours is an all-absorbing sport and it can be tough to get any respite.
This won’t be for everyone, and I take plenty of stick in the office for being overly health-obsessed, but I find it useful to distance myself from racing when I’m not working and particularly in the evening, even if I’ve had a wager on a horse.
A replay of that race can wait until tomorrow as far as I’m concerned. It’s nice to get away and do something different as this game can consume so much of your day.
Having a bet is naturally going to increase your heart-rate and activate your brain. That’s the last thing I want anywhere near bedtime.
Richard Birch’s Safer Gambling tip
It’s Safer Gambling Week, which is obviously an important time for the entire betting industry in getting the message across.
The most common way in which punters get into financial trouble is by chasing losses. Remember: there is always another race, another day, another week.
Every bet I place is written down in a notebook. It helps me focus on keeping bets to a minimum and not making desperate decisions at the end of a long, losing day.
I write the winners in red biro; the losers in blue biro. Obviously, I want to see more of my notes in red biro, which acts as a strong deterrent to chase losses on bets which haven’t been properly researched.
Different things work for different people. Keeping notes works for me, but we’re not all the same.
Find a method which works best for you and stick to it.
Adrian Wall’s Safer Gambling tip
I’ve never suffered from gambling addiction but at one point in my late teenage years the buzz of having a bet was daily. Standing outside a betting shop at 9.55am waiting for the doors to open is, thankfully, now something I haven’t done in years.
When I enter a betting shop, it’s for a small, affordable bet and a chat with the friendly locals over some of the free tea on offer. Betting is meant to be occasional, responsible and, most of all, fun.
Before you place a bet, think about what matters most in life. It’s your family and friends, it’s your mental and physical health, it’s dealing with the never-ending conveyor belt of bills that must be paid. If you need help and support, please reach out.
Conor Fennelly’s Safer Gambling tip
Gambling is a recreational activity irrespective of whether you think you have an edge or not and it should not have a material impact on your life or relationships. Don’t put at risk any amount you will sorely regret losing.
Punting is a rollercoaster of emotions and most of those who bet regularly have had their nose bloodied at some stage. If you lose more than you should have put on, or suffer a particularly bad beat, then there should be no hitting the panic button which can lead to reckless impulses and chasing.
Learn from it, admonish yourself if necessary and move on. If you slip into bad habits and are not learning from mistakes, seek help before it has the potential to cause serious damage.