Responsible Gambling

How to identify if gambling is becoming a problem

The majority of people who gamble do so responsibly. It may help you to keep your gambling under control by remembering the following:

  • You’re taking part for fun – not as a means of investing your money
  • Before playing, set strict limits on how much time and money you’re going to spend
  • Quit while you’re ahead
  • Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
  • Don’t spend more money on gambling, hoping to win back money that you’ve lost
  • Keep up other interests and hobbies – don’t let gambling take over your life
  • Don’t gamble in order to escape from stress or boredom
  • Gambling in moderation is okay

For some however gambling can become a problem. If you are concerned about the amount you are gambling, and feel it is taking over your life – or you are concerned for a friend or relative – then the following questions may help you.

Have others ever criticised your gambling?

  • Have you lied to cover up the amount you have gambled or the time you have spent doing it?
  • Do arguments, frustrations or disappointments make you want to gamble?
  • Do you gamble alone for long periods?
  • Do you stay away from work or college to gamble?
  • Do you gamble to escape from a boring or unhappy life?
  • Are you reluctant to spend ‘gambling money’ on anything else?
  • Have you lost interest in your family, friends or pastimes due to gambling?
  • After losing, do you feel you must try to win back your losses as soon as possible?
  • When gambling and you run out of money, do you feel lost and in despair, and need to gamble again as soon as possible?
  • Do you gamble until your last penny is gone?
  • Have you lied, stolen or borrowed just to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts?
  • Do you feel depressed or even suicidal because of your gambling?

If you are answering ‘yes’ to some of these questions, then it is likely that a gambling problem exists. For friendly and helpful advice from trained counsellors, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. The helpline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Calls outside of these hours will be taken by a message taking service.

Sometimes just telling someone about your problem can be a relief and it is the first step towards dealing with your problem. You can also visit the GambleAware website (www.gambleaware.co.uk) for more information and advice.

Self-exclusion policy

Introduction

Whilst most raffle players are able to enjoy their participation in such activity, we recognise that for a very small number of people this form of gambling activity may cease to be fun. For those players who wish to restrict their gambling, we provide a self-exclusion facility. Self-exclusion allows a player to exclude themselves from future lottery draws to accommodate their particular circumstances. When they request to be excluded from future draws Children with Cancer UK will ensure that they are not allowed to enter for a period of their choosing, the initial period is 6 months and may be extended up to 5 years in increments of 6 months.

Things to understand about self-exclusion:

  • Players must consider the consequences of self-exclusion, that they may not be entered into any future draws for the period they choose to exclude which must be at least 6 months.
  • The minimum period a player can exclude themselves for is 6 months; however, it can be extended for any period (in 6 month increments) up to 5 years.
  • Self-exclusion is irrevocable once actioned until the end of the chosen period.
  • At the end of the period chosen, the self-exclusion will remain in place for up to a further 3 years for players who originally signed up face to face or via a paper application form through the post or up to a further 7 years for players who originally signed up online, by telephone or by using other electronic devices such as tablets or phones until the player takes positive action by phone or in person to gamble again.
  • If the player wishes to gamble again after the end of the chosen period and within the first 3 or 7 (as applicable) years afterwards, then they will be given a 1 day cooling off period before being allowed to gamble again.
  • Even if a player chooses to gamble again after the end of the period or within the next 3 or 7 years, no marketing material will be sent to them unless they request it specifically.
  • The player can exclude from all lotteries and draws operated by Children with Cancer UK if they so wish
  • Players should also consider self-excluding from other websites used to gamble and facilities they may use locally in their area.
  • The player should contact Gamcare for further support and counselling; – https://www.gamcare.org.uk/        
  • There is software available from Gamcare to prevent a person from accessing gambling websites –https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/blocking-software
  • A player can either self-exclude immediately or consider further and send the self-exclusion form in later.
  • The player’s name and address will be removed from our databases within 2 days of their application being received, marketing material related to gambling will be stopped and their customer account (if applicable) will be closed. If Children with Cancer UK holds any of the player’s money designated for gambling then this will be returned to them.
  • The player’s name and details will be held on a register and any debit card numbers used for previous gambling will be recorded.
  • The self-exclusion form can be downloaded online at https://lottery.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/responsible-gambling/ or sent from the office if requested. It must be completed, signed and returned to the office before self-exclusion can commence.

When Self Exclusion Expires

When / if a player wants to end their self-exclusion:

  • They must contact the office by post or in person
  • The end date of the period of self-exclusion must have been equalled or past.
  • Players must be subject to the one-day cooling off period..

For any further information or to discuss self-exclusion confidentially please contact the Children with Cancer UK office.

Children with Cancer is licensed and regulated in Great Britain
 by the Gambling Commission under account number 4700  https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/.