Online gambling activities like聽bingo, poker,聽betting, or more specific types of gambling, have聽seen a huge increase聽in popularity as access is now easily available. Gambling carries the risk of criminal activity and can聽especially be an issue for vulnerable people. It can also be addictive, and you need to know when to stop.
, 19-25 November,聽aims to provide聽awareness of聽how to gamble more safely,聽the tools that are available to help people gamble safely all year round, along with sources of more advice and support.
is the leading source of information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. They聽run the National Gambling Helpline and provide聽nationwide counselling support for problem gamblers and their families. Along with聽online services such as which has some really useful information聽to help you , social gaming, eSports and skins betting, the risk factors, signs and symptoms of problem gambling. For up to date information you can follow @BigDealUK on social media. We're also partnering with GamCare and running a聽Gambling Awareness Workshop聽on Thursday 26 November.
Our Student Financial Support Team have put together the following guidance to聽raise awareness of responsible gambling, with tips on what you can do to protect yourself, and assistance聽if you聽feel that you're in need of聽additional support.:
Finding support
The Gambling Commission regulates the gambling industry and聽ensures that operators provide responsible gambling; their website has some useful information on gambling and how to聽.
If you've been affected by gambling and wish to speak to聽someone, there are a number of free services which you can access on our gambling awareness聽page as well as our looking after your online wellbeing page. There is a wealth of information on the聽聽regarding gambling and where to find help.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a way to聽limit聽the amount of online gambling you're able to do聽by asking the gambling provider to exclude you from gambling with them for a set length of time. You can find out more on聽our聽gambling awareness听辫补驳别.
Gambling Awareness Workshop
In support of聽,聽GamCare are running a session聽covering聽the difference between gambling and problem gambling, gaming and gambling, how to recognise whether you or someone you care about is gambling too much and how you or they can access some free help. You can聽join this free workshop on Thursday 26 November at聽10am and find out more about the support GamCare can offer.
EROGamb
BU has聽teamed up with聽聽to deliver聽. The project helps聽gambling subscribers to visualise their gambling history聽to聽inform decisions on their gambling behaviour. Along with behaviour change mechanisms to try and reduce problem gambling, they also enable gamblers to manage their gambling by goal-setting and self-monitoring.听You can find out more about the project on the聽.听
If you feel that you need to talk to someone at BU find out more about聽our聽聽on campus.