1. Can You Stop Gambling On Your Own
2. What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Winnings
3. What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Money
4. What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Addiction

No matter how insistent, no gambler will stop playing if he does not want to do it, just as no drug addict will stop consuming if he does not propose it. Relate the game to problems If from the previous section we find that the person suffering from gambling does not identify gambling as a problem, we should make it look skillful. Limit your husband's access to credit cards, your bank account and the Internet. If he has money in his hands or the ability to gamble at the click of a mouse, he may not have the strength to stop himself. Step 8 Separate from or leave your husband if he absolutely refuses to get help. I'm telling you, it takes courage to cut your losses and stop gambling. To quote from another recovery program - this is pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. I have quit drinking and smoking - but I can't quit gambling. I'm writing this today because I went to the casino and won big last night and I can't stop thinking about going back.

What Tools Do Banks Provide Their Users?

Can banks block gambling transactions? We run through the major UK high street banks and outline what services they provide to their at-risk customers.

Many banks are now working on plans to help customers restrict their spending on gambling, offering gambling blocking solutions, with some banks allowing customers to 'turn off' payments to certain types of retailer, including gambling services.

What is the Gambling Block?

While each scheme operates in their own way, fundamentally they all work the same. The gambling block is a feature that allows you to block your bank account/bank card/credit card from being used for gambling transactions.

Which banks offer a Gambling Blocking Services?

Royal Bank of Scotland

Offers a card locking feature to customers which include a blocker specifically for gambling transactions.

Learn more about the Royal Bank of Scotland's services below.

Lloyds Bank

A feature within their banking app, which lets customers quickly freeze and unfreeze different types of transactions on their debit or credit cards. As well as offering their customers access to Gamban.

Learn more about Lloyds Bank's services below.

Halifax

Offers customers various useful tools and support such as; financial tracking, personal support and advice and access to Gamban licences to block online gambling.

Learn more about Halifax's services below.

Bank of Scotland

Offers a card freezing feature, which, include a blocker specifically for gambling transactions.

Learn more about the Bank of Scotland's services below.

mbna

Allows customers to keep track of their bills and spending by using their Online Card Services.

Learn more about mbna's services below.

HSBC

Allows customers to voluntarily add or remove gambling restrictions on their debit cards or credit cards (including Pay by Bank app). HSBC also offers a 'Cool Off Period', this means that customers can opt to lift the gambling restriction, but transactions will still be declined until the 'Cool Off Period' has completed.

Learn more about HSBC's services below.

Monzo

Allows customers to block gambling transactions on their Monzo account, straight from the app. To turn off the block, customers will need to talk to Monzo's customer support team. Where they'll ask questions to see if their situation has changed since first switching on the restrictions.

Learn more about Monzo's services below.

Starling Bank

Allows customers to block online payments, including gambling transactions, easily from their banking app.

Learn more about Starling Bank's services below.

Natwest

Offers customers a card locking feature, which includes a gambling transactions blocker, within the banking app.

Learn more about Natwest's services below.

Barclays

Allows customers to block debit card payments to certain types of merchants, including gambling websites and apps, within their banking app.

Learn more about Barclays' services below.

Santander

Allows customers to block specific transaction types without freezing their Mastercard entirely (iOS devices only, coming soon for Android).

Learn more about Santander's services below.

Can You Stop Gambling On Your Own

Why are banks doing this?

People who have gambling problems and decide to stop can choose to self-exclude from gambling, use software to block online gambling sites and self-exclude physically from betting shops and casinos. While these are all helpful ways for people to get support, many banks believe they can do more to support self-exclusion too.

Gambling has become more and more prominent in our society andaccess to gambling is very present, especially in Oregon. I have agreat deal of experience treating problem gamblers and theirfamilies. I have included here a short article that I wrote aboutproblem gambling and recovery.

Nobody wakes up one day and decides to become a gamblingaddict. Gambling usually begins as a recreational activity - it's away to spend time with friends while enjoying the game and theexcitement of the chance to win a few bucks. Recreational gamblersgenerally stick to a time and money budget. When they reach theirlimit, they stop and move on to the next activity.

Not so for the pathological gambler. Gambling addicts are notreally all that interested in winning or losing. Their main goal is tostay in action as long as possible. That action increases the levelsof certain chemicals in their brain, primarily dopamine andadrenaline, and those chemicals cause the gambler to feel happy andexcited. These are the same brain chemicals that are activated bycocaine use. Using modern imaging tools, we see that brain scans ofgamblers in action look practically identical to brains that are highon cocaine. Winning is good because it provides money to extend thegambling action. Money represents nothing more than the fuel to keepthe gambling going and the action keeps whatever painful thoughts andfeelings that the gambler is seeking to escape, at bay.

There are usually several distinct phases of gambling addiction:the winning phase, the losing phase and the desperation phase. As thedisease progresses from winning into losing and desperation, gamblersoften turn to criminal activity to fund their addiction. They will lieand steal from those close to them - family, friends, husbands, wives,parents and children. Some gamblers ultimately turn to suicide. Infact, gamblers attempt suicide at a rate that far exceeds that ofalmost any other clinical population. Forty-eight percent of gamblersin treatment in Oregon have had suicidal thoughts and nine percenthave made suicide attempts.

All of this occurs despite the fact that gamblers are generallybright, creative people. Many gamblers are educated and professionallyaccomplished. In this sense, gamblers' behavior is said to beego-dystonic, which means that it is incongruent with their truenature. Behaving in ways that run so counter to who they really are,gamblers generate a great deal of internal distress as they violatetheir own personal values time and time again. As they progress in theillness, they become more and more disconnected from loved ones, theirprofessional lives and themselves. Their dishonesty is not only towardothers, but also toward themselves.

Many people believe that if a gambler is losing excessive amountsof time and money gambling, they should just stop. The fact is,gambling addicts cannot 'just stop' any more than an alcoholic or drugaddict can stop using their drug of choice. Gambling addiction causeschanges in the gambler's brain in ways that require treatment andrecovery to arrest the addiction.

What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Winnings

When gambling stops (usually when there's no more money), thegambler crashes - financially, physically, mentally, emotionally andspiritually. This crash is a combination of the gambler's realizationof the money and time lost, and the decrease in dopamine levels in thebrain that can lead to desperate thoughts and behavior. This is alsowhen gamblers may realize that they need professional help.

Recovery from gambling addiction begins with the gambler making anhonest assessment of his or her situation and deciding that they wantto stop gambling. The gambler must initiate abstinence and putbarriers in place to prevent access to money. Family members andfriends may be enlisted to help the gambler manage finances and theymust understand that the gambler is incapable of handling moneyresponsibly at this time.

Once the gambler has some time away from gambling and their systembegins to regain equilibrium, the confusion and mental fog created by gamblingwill begin to ease. Therapy can then address the issues that led themto gambling in the first place. For many, gambling is not their firstaddiction. Often gamblers have had previous problems with alcoholand/or other drugs, or compulsive shopping, spending, sex oreating. It is important to note that until the core issues areaddressed and resolved, individuals disposed to addiction will simplytrade one addiction for another. It is an attempt to mask the pain intheir lives. True recovery is achieved by doing the hard work tounderstand and make peace with life's difficulties.

Recovery from gambling addiction is a marathon, not a sprint. Itrequires effort, diligence and lifestyle changes that keep one healthyand safe from the cravings to gamble that will most surelyarise. Exercise, sleeping well, eating a healthy diet and maintainingnurturing relationships are all important parts of healthyrecovery.

What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Money

The ready availability of gambling has made it possible forgambling addiction to run rampant. In Oregon, gambling is as close asthe corner deli. Gambling addiction destroys lives and familieswithout bias - it affects men and women, young and old, rich andpoor. Like all addictions, it is a disease. But there is hope. Whenaddicts and families seek and engage professional help, true recoveryis possible.

What Can You Do To Stop Gambling Addiction

© 2011 John Benassu, MA, LPC All Rights Reserved.