Whether betting on horses, sports or slot machines, gambling can easily become an addictive activity that consumes your life. Unaddressed, it can lead to considerable financial harm and strain or break relationships. Fortunately, there are ways to stop gambling on online slots and regain control of your life.
Accepting that you have a gambling problem is an important first step. It takes strength and courage, especially if you have lost significant amounts of money and strained or broken relationships as a result of your habit. It is also vital to seek help from a professional addiction therapist or counselor. These experts can help you gain a better understanding of your condition and teach you effective methods for managing it.
A big part of your success in stopping gambling on online slots will depend on avoiding triggers. For example, if you find that driving by casinos or TABs after work makes you want to gamble, try taking another route home. If watching sports entices you to place bets, try switching to other television shows or even a different sport. Similarly, if you find that socializing with people who gamble fuels your urge to do so, try spending time with other friends or family members who don’t share your interest in gambling.
Gambling triggers are often difficult to identify, but you can work on identifying your own triggers by paying attention to the thoughts and feelings that occur when you feel the urge to gamble. Then you can find ways to counter those urges with positive and healthy habits such as exercise, meditation or deep breathing. It is also useful to find new hobbies and interests that replace risk-taking activities like gambling with friends or playing online casino games. For instance, you could try volunteering for a charity or start writing a gratitude journal to reduce stress and increase happiness.
While it’s true that the outcome of any online slot game is completely random, it’s possible to improve your chances of winning by choosing games with higher payout odds. This will ensure that you’re more likely to win larger jackpots, which are easier to cash out when you have a sufficient amount of funds.
It’s also a good idea to play high volatility slots, as these games are more likely to pay out large sums of money more frequently. Conversely, low-volatility slots tend to offer smaller wins that may not be worth the time and effort to withdraw.
In addition, you can use self-exclusion tools to block gambling websites and social media accounts that may tempt you. This will make it much harder to access the sites and relapse into your gambling habit. In some cases, you may need to move out of your home if it’s near a gambling establishment. In the most severe cases, you may need to seek treatment for a gambling addiction at an inpatient or residential facility. This will give you round-the-clock support and a safe space to learn how to manage your gambling addiction.