THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF GAMING BEING IGNORED DURING “SAFER GAMBLING WEEK?”

Thursday marked the start of “Safer Gambling Week” across the UK, an initiative run via the NHS and fully supported by all on the gaming community including us here at #ReelWorldSlots. We have long preached the messages promoted by initiatives such as “Gamble Aware” and our very own #HairySlotters practice what they preach by gaming within their limits and when the fun stops, they stop. Indeed the witty banter between the bearded buddies shows you the power of responsible gaming and their videos bring joy to all their loyal #Slotters. Never miss a premier by subscribing to Reel World Slots YouTube channel and turning on those notifications.

Of course there’s a small minority of gamers who have serious addiction problems. “Safer Gambling Week” promotes healthy gaming habits and outlines the support available for those people who can’t stop. If you are feeling like it’s not a game anymore then https://safergamblinguk.org/sgw has some amazing links to the many different support programmes open to you.

As far as the NHS, the leader of “Safer Gambling Week”, there are only negative effects of all forms of gaming. Read any of their information and you would believe every gamer is being harmed by their experiences. Interestingly they do not take this stance with alcohol. When you compare alcohol and gambling health issues and indeed addiction rates, alcohol wins hands down. Roughly 1.5% of the adult population in the UK has an alcohol addiction issue, compared to 0.5% connected to gaming* Yet the NHS readily encourage us to have a glass of wine with our meal, siting beneficial health effects such as reduced blood pressure and positive mental health benefits from the relaxant properties of this depressant.

Can this really be true? Is there no enjoyment from gaming? No beneficial mental health effects? Is it simply something that we should remove from society? The NHS would. There indignant approach to gaming brings up,the question. Are they really the right people to lead on “Safer Gambling Week?”

What do you think? Have you got any stories about how gaming has benefitted you in the past? Have you sought help for a gambling issue in the past? Share your stories in the comments below.

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*information on alcohol and gambling addictions gathered from https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics and https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/Statistics-and-research/Levels-of-participation-and-problem-gambling/Gambling-participation-and-problem-gambling.aspx