Responsible Gaming

Gaming is a fun and exciting entertainment and it provides a most thrilling experience. Gambling is an attractive option if you want take risk and try your luck. It is safe as long as the risk-taking is kept under control. Most of casino visitors enjoy this kind of entertainment without any problems, but there are a small number of people who lose any kind of control over their lives. In a winning phase they can believe that they are able to influence the results of the game, while being completely convinced in the losing phase that their luck will turn soon. While winning you may discover that you use all the money you won for more games, but when you lose you continue playing with the aim of regaining it all. In that case your gaming is no longer a fun entertainment but rather an obsession.

Play sensibly!

Gambling can be addictive and can be diagnosed as an impulse control disorder, but at the same time this kind of emotional disorder is treatable. Most people keep their gaming under control and they are not in danger of becoming compulsive gamblers. Various studies have shown that the number of compulsive gamblers is about 5-10 percent of frequent casino visitors.

Compulsive gambler

When does a player become an addict? This is the point where the private life of a compulsive gambler suffers because of the passion for gambling. There are numerous simple tests that help identify the gambling compulsion by assessing the symptoms of compulsive behaviour. Signs indicating a disorder include the person’s inability to stop gambling, borrowing money for gambling, regarding money not as means for living, but as gaming supplies; changes in the character of the player, lying and secrecy, regretting gambling and being ashamed of it, risking one’s employment, family, significant relationships etc. for the sake of gambling.

Profesional help

In order to avoid gambling addiction, it is advisable to establish clear limits on the money and time allocated to gambling and to follow them strictly. In most cases, the banning of gambling does not solve gambling-related problems but on the contrary – exacerbates them. For this reason, we encourage you to seek professional help.
 
The person who wishes to have his / her opportunity to gamble restricted and be banned from gambling establishments may submit an application to the State Gaming Authority, which will be forwarded to gaming organisers.
 
Centres for Addictive Disorders established in major Lithuanian cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys) provide consultation to pathological gamblers and the opportunity to be engaged in the groups of gamblers anonymous offering to help free of charge 
 
Help is provided by:
Gaming Control Authority
Ukmergės g. 222, Vilnius
Tel. (8-5) 233 62 46
http://lpt.lrv.lt/

Consultation on problem gambling:
http://nebenoriu-losti.lt/

Centre of Consulting Psychology
Doctor Psychiatrist Vilma Andrejauskienė

Tel.: +37065200157
E-mail: [email protected]