Responsible Gambling
Here at 24/7 Bets, we endorse responsible gambling and sports betting. Visitors to online sports betting sites are encouraged to gamble responsibly. To help you do this, we offer the following information and guidance:
- Don’t risk more than you are prepared to lose or more than you can afford
- Never gamble with money that is earmarked for other expenses
- Before you even get started on betting websites, set limits, including how many Rands you’re prepared to wager and how many hours you’ll spend betting
- Take advantage of self-help resources and tools
- Cut your losses, never “chase” them
- Don’t gamble as a way of escaping life’s problems
- Don’t gamble when you’re feeling depressed or sad
- Don’t click on those betting sites when you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Keep in mind that sports betting is a leisure activity that you should practice in moderation
Compulsive Sports Betting and Red Flags
Using online sports betting sites can be fun in moderation, but there is the potential for betting to become addictive. This can have a negative impact on your life.
Indications that you have a betting problem include:
- Missing work due to betting
- Betting has negatively affected your reputation
- You feel remorseful after placing bets
- You borrow money or sell possessions to fund your betting habits
- Betting has led to a loss of motivation for most other endeavours
- You always try to win back your losses
- You are urged to bet even more after a win
- You keep betting until you’re out of cash
- Betting is an escapism for you
- Betting has in some way negatively impacted you and your family’s welfare
- You spend longer than you intended on betting websites and making wagers
- Sports betting impacts your ability to sleep or function
- You have the urge to place bets as a way of celebrating other milestones, successes, and achievements
- Life’s day-to-day ups and downs leave you with a need to gamble
- Gambling or betting has led to suicidal or self-harm urges
If you found yourself answering yes to any of the above points, it’s time to seek help.
Seeking Help for a Gambling Addiction
If you think you have an online gambling addiction, you should seek help right away. There are numerous programs and organizations that have been developed to help you conquer an addiction to betting.
The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) offers confidential and free treatment and counselling to anyone who has been affected by problem betting and gambling as well as their immediate family. SARG has been around for more than a decade now and has treated thousands of people, while also endeavouring to educate South Africans about the harmful effects of addictive betting and gambling and responsible behaviour.
24/7 Bets is committed to ensuring that all visitors to our sites gamble responsibly. Further, we ensure that our site visitors keep placing their sports bets as a fun and exciting pastime by avoiding the issues associated with compulsive and excessive behaviours.
