Introducing Ed

Hello there, I’m Ed, the face of Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it... and the face of safer gambling.

The guys that had me built are all experts in one way or another. They have been players themselves and some have had gambling problems. They want you to stay safe when you gamble and so have developed a simple guide, a few important steps to take to make sure you do. Video one is the place for that.

For anyone visiting who is in a spot of trouble then Video Two is your destination. We are here to help you. There is a lot to take in so take your time - we know how hard it is when things go wrong.

If this is your first time we recommend you have a look at it all. You don’t need to do anything, it will automatically load itself, all you need to do is sit back and relax, and let Ed do the talking...

Getting Started

Hi if you’ve come straight through and not watched the first bit I’m Ed and in this video I’m going to talk to you about safer gambling... the things you should know before you get started, and how to stay safe and in control.

Top of my list is...

Always bet with a UK regulated gambling operator - because UK regulation gives you added protection.

...But even though the industry is regulated it is still worth doing a little homework of your own so, Check out the Company before spending your money with them. Find out what others have said about them, do they care about their customers? Are they fair to their winners and their losers?...Don’t forget it’s your money...your choice.

Once you’ve done that and are ready to open an account, what should you do about the huge numbers of exciting offers there are out there to choose from?

Well, it’s quite important to Be wary of free bets and bonuses. What looks like huge numbers of exciting offers are really just incentives and enticements. These offers often include what is known as ‘wagering requirements’, and they can be complicated and hard to understand, particularly to a newcomer, and may keep you playing for very long periods, far more than you expected, just to use it all up.

And even if they don’t... the number of free spins on offer to newcomers are there because these products are really big money earners for Companies.

So, be aware - to take care.

But being aware is only one of the ways to stay safe gambling, setting limits is another...

Limits on time, how often, as well as what you’re spending. Therefore each time you play, set a time-limit on play, especially online ... and try to stick to it because playing for too long isn’t good for your mind or your finances.

And when it comes to what you can spend, always be honest with yourself when setting financial limits. What you can afford is what you have left after all your bills are paid and all your responsibilities are met...and whatever that is - it is your limit.

Having done all that and find you are enjoying playing safely, don’t let yourself be lured into opening up more and more accounts. Don’t have multiple Accounts. You don’t need them as it can tempt you into some bad gambling habits. Keeping things simple is always the better way - so that you know in an instant what you are spending.

However well-prepared you may think you are, there are still things to watch out for and one of them is speed of play, just like when you’re driving a car, it is important when gambling to watch your speed so, Watch your speed of play - especially how fast you can win or lose.

Speed of play can make it very easy to gamble too much, too quickly, and too often. Take care when playing at speed...its another reason why setting limits makes such good sense.

We all know that winning is great fun and makes us happy. Losing on the other hand is disappointing and not much fun, but losing is a big part of gambling... so...

Be prepared to lose and when you do - just remember - the odds are stacked against you - so it’s always more likely you will lose.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to step back once in a while and take a look at your gambling. There are a couple of ways you can do it. You can ask your company for a Subject Access Request for example. It is a complete record and includes all communications as well as all the betting and gambling records they hold on you. It is your information - available on request - and well worth a read.

But hey, if you don’t want to do that you can always just Take a look at your gambling every now and then and ask yourself...

How am I doing? Am I staying within my limits? Is it fun?

Remember... Protect yourself and gamble safely. Don’t Bet YOUR LIFE on it...

Needing Help

You have come to the right place if you are worried about your gambling. Maybe you’re finding it hard to understand what on earth is going on, or not really sure you have a problem, but know deep down that the way you gamble now is not how you intended when you started... or maybe you realise you have a problem and need to explain it to a loved one. Well, that is the purpose of this video, to enable you to have that conversation with yourself...and others...

Behind this face are real people who know and understand gambling problems. There is no need to pretend or hide anything here, this is a safe space, a quiet corner to think about stuff.

But don’t underestimate it - because what you decide to do in the next few minutes could change your life!

So, please take a look at the following statements and ask yourself honestly..."is this me?"

• Have you spent more time gambling than you intended?
• Have you lost more than just money gambling?
• Is gambling a pastime or a pre-occupation?
• Is your mood badly affected by gambling?
• Are you hiding your gambling?
• Can you stop at any time...or only when you run out of money?
• Is your gambling depriving your loved ones?
• Have you spent more money than you can afford gambling?

If any of this is you then you are experiencing gambling problems which if left can seriously damage your health.

The Players Alphabet Tool which follows, is there to help identify and explain many aspects of harmful gambling, like;

• Anger
• Borrowing
• Chasing
• Speed
• Time
• Wins, and of course, Losses.

The Toolbox has been designed for you to click on a single category, or go through the entire toolbox. Each category is there to explain the feelings, emotions and behaviours so often associated with gambling problems and help you understand or face-up to what may be happening to you. The language is straightforward and clear and the information in the ‘toolbox’ includes a guide to help you make better choices, so that you can take action to prevent problems escalating further.

Please, take regular breathers though...it’s a lot to take in...