Play Responsible Poker
Anyone who’s played even a little bit of poker will know how exciting and thrilling the game can be. Whether you’re playing low stakes games to blow off some steam, or high stakes game for the adrenaline rush, the reward of earning loads of cash is equally stimulating in both. Playing all kinds of poker hands, make strategic moves, placing bets, and defeating the competition gets your blood flowing. In such situations, it is easy to get carried away and become reckless with your playing habits. Thus, it is extremely important to play responsible poker.
While most people can enjoy poker games without worrying about it having a negative impact on their lives, some people tend to have problems with gambling and addiction that can hugely affect not only them, but also their family members and loved ones. If you’re worried that you might have such addictive tendencies, or even want to simply take preventative measures to ensure that you’re playing in a healthy way, then read on and you’ll find some helpful information.
However, before you can look at some tips that will lead you to a healthier lifestyle when it comes to poker, it is important for you to know some of the signs of a person dealing with an unhealthy desire to play poker. Once you understand these warning signs, it is easier to identify such behaviour within yourself or even other close ones. They are as follows:
- If you’re spending too much time playing poker, till it leaves you with little time to do other things in your life.
- If you’re spending too much of your money on poker, and the amount spent keeps increasing.
- If you’re under the belief that the way to become rich is to keep playing poker, despite not seeing such results.
- If you’re borrowing money from friends and family, and are unable to return it back because you lose it all playing poker.
- If you lose interest in other activities that used to give you pleasure before you started playing poker.
- If you keep neglecting your relationships with friends and family to keep playing poker, and don’t spend time with them.
- If you’re more concerned about your present gaming activities and have stopped thinking about your future plans.
- If you keep losing money in poker, but instead of stopping you keep playing, thinking that it will somehow help you regain the money.
- If you find yourself lying to others about what you spend your time and money on, and making up some excuses.
- If you find yourself becoming really irritable, easily upset or even fall into states of becoming unhappy and stressed.
- If you find yourself using poker as a means to escape the stressors in your life, and resorting to it as some kind of crutch.
- If you avoid responsibilities or duties, and even stop socialising in order to play poker.
All or some of these signs can be an indicator that you need to take a look at your playing habits and get some help. Now, if you require it, you can seek professional help, but if you want you can also begin by making use of some of the tips listed below. These tips are also great as a preventative measure, just to ensure that you won’t have to worry about getting caught up in worrying poker actions.
Responsible Poker Actions
Playing poker can take up a lot of your energy, which can make you tired. This can affect your ability to discern whether your behavior is healthy or not. So, it is better to play for a limited time, and not at the cost of your physical and mental wellbeing. The following actions will help you play poker more responsibly:
- Set reasonable gaming limits, regarding the amount of time and money you’ll be willing to spend. This will greatly discipline you poker playing and help you stay on the right track.
- Do not let minors or persons with a gambling addiction have access to your passwords. In such cases, keep your password strength high, and ensure that they cannot access your account.
- Keep your access to the internet limited, so you can only access online poker sites at certain times of the day. This will also control your poker playing activities.
- Instill a deep sense of value for money. This will ensure that you don’t overspend that hard earned money recklessly.
- If you make a bad poker call, learn how to walk away. Do not fall for the need to recover the losses by playing more when you’re in a bad state of mind. Playing in such situations usually leads to more losses, and makes you want to play more, thus, creating a vicious cycle.
- Realise that playing poker on the internet is not a healthy way to deal with problems, whether they are at work or with the family. Using it as a means to escape will create an unhealthy relationship between you and poker.
- Lastly, if you find yourself exhibiting any of these behaviours or having such thought patterns, then do not feel ashamed to seek professional help. Talking to a therapist or counselor can help you get back to a healthier lifestyle.
While playing poker can be fun, it is also important to regulate your behavior and make sure that this beloved activity does not turn into something that will harm your or your family members. It is better to play the game responsibly and do everything possible to ensure that your enthusiasm for playing poker does not cross a line.
Now that you know more about playing the game with responsibility and caution, you can explore the world of poker with ease. Play exciting games, learn new poker rules, and try out all the different moves in a healthy fashion. Join us at Spartan Poker, and get playing online poker!
