Sports betting and Dependency betting

Updated on November 2024

Betting online should always be fun, and never become a source of danger. That's why Wincomparator makes it a point of honour to fight against gambling addiction. We do so in collaboration with experienced organizations. On this page, you will find all the information you need to protect yourself.

What is addiction?

According to the official definition, addiction "is a state characterized by the need to achieve something, to increase its frequency, or even to prolong its effects". In the context of sports betting, this dependency is characterized, for example, by continually placing bets that are not consistent with your monetary budget. or by a willingness to place bets after suffering losses in an attempt to improve your financial position. When this happens betting is no longer a pleasure or an extension of sporting passion. Instead it becomes something that you feel you have to do and this can be dangerous..

How do you know if you are addicted to gambling?

To recognize a state of addiction to sports betting, it is important to take stock of your gambling practices. Are you a recreational bettor, a fun bettor, or unfortunately an excessive bettor?

In the case of the "recreational bettor", online betting remains something that you enjoy doing and get pleasure from. Betting on sports events can make watching them even more enjoyable. Like the vast majority of players, there is no danger, and you know how to limit your bets according to your abilities.

In the case of the "excessive bettor", on the contrary, online betting is no longer a simple pleasure but an obligation, which leads to betting excessively. You treat betting as a way of making money and this is referred to as problem gambling.

The UK Gambling Commission has a page dedicated to the subject of problem gambling. https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/for-the-public/Safer-gambling/Getting-help-to-control-your-gambling.aspx This includes a list of the signs that someone may be having problems. There are also links to specialist groups that can help people and this is well worth visiting.

Signs that you may be developing a gambling problem include:

You bet without taking pleasure from doing so.
You are trying to solve your financial problems through sports betting
Your mood is influenced by your results
You lie to your friends and family about your bets.
You bet money that you cannot afford to lose.

If you recognize any of these behaviours in your gambling, it is possible that you may be addicted to sports betting. Don't panic, however, there are organizations available that can offer help to get you out of this negative spiral. It is important to remember that you are not alone!

I am addicted, what can I do?

In view of the above points, do you think you are addicted to sports betting? Before contacting specialized organizations, a few solutions are available to you.

Set yourself limits

On any ANJ-licensed sports betting site in France, you are required to set your own gambling limits. This may include your deposit limits, or your weekly betting limits. If when you opened your account you had pushed these limits to the maximum so as not to be restricted, don't hesitate to lower them drastically at first. This will allow you to limit the risk of making bets that do not fit in with your financial budget and can cause financial problems.

Ask for your exclusion

It may be that you believe just setting low limits won’t stop your betting irresponsibly. If this is the case then it is possible to self-exclude yourself from the site. This can be done both easily and quickly. Once done, you will not have any access to your usual bookmaker's services and continue to bet irresponsibly. Generally this you can be self-excluded for a period of three years and there will be full details of how to do this on the website, as required by law. In case of difficulty in self-exclusion, do not hesitate to contact the customer service department of your bookmaker. They will be able to guide you through the process.

Get yourself banned from the game

You no longer have any doubts about your addiction to sports betting? Before contacting the specialized organizations, you can ask for your voluntary gambling ban. To summarize the process, this voluntary gambling ban will prevent you from creating an account at online bookmakers, from accessing your already created accounts, but also from accessing the casino rooms. To proceed it is very easy, follow the government instructions present on this article. For a minimum period of three years, your voluntary gambling ban will be automatically renewed without any demonstration on your part.

Specialized organizations

If you have any questions or doubts about your potential sports betting addiction, please do not hesitate to contact the following organizations. Competent and attentive, they will be able to help you get out of your gambling addiction.

There are organizations in the UK, Australia, the USA and Canada. Do not hesitate to contact them now if you believe that help is needed.

For the UK

Addiction support groups in the UK

Begambleaware – Their postal address is Pennine Place, 2a Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HF. Their website is https://www.begambleaware.org/ and this includes a live chat service.

National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133

GamCare - https://www.gamcare.org.uk/

For South Africa

Addiction support groups in South Africa

Responsible Gambling

The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) runs the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Their aim is to deal with the challenges posed by problem gambling since the industry was legalized in 1996.

https://responsiblegambling.org.za/

Office Number: +27 11 026 7323

International Number: +27 21 674 5830

For Kenya

Addiction support groups in Kenya

GmHelp - Kenya

This is a tech-driven call center that deals with problem gambling in a number of ways. This includes e-therapy web based and mobile platforms for diagnosis and treatment. They also have toll-free phone lines for counselling services. Also offered is one-to-one therapy and other mental health services.

https://gamhelpkenya.com/

Toll Free Hotline - 0800 723 123

The leading provider of responsible gambling resources in the country is the East Africa Center for Responsible Gambling (EACRG).

Email: info@eastafricaresponsiblegambling.org

Call: +254700656284 or +254725492006