Gamstop or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – which is more effective?
Online casino gambling and sports betting are extremely popular pastimes in the UK. However, as we all know, real-money gambling can become addictive.
Luckily, gambling addicts up and down the UK have many different products and services available to them; to help them with their habit.
One popular method is self-exclusion programs. The most popular of which is Gamstop. However, some people like to combat the problem with a different approach. And cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for gamblers is becoming more and more popular.
But what exactly is Gamstop? And how can I see CBT help players with a gambling addiction? Finally, what are casinos not on Gamstop? And how can they help or hinder a gambler who is taking part in a self-exclusion program?
What is cognitive behavioural therapy?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) attempts to reduce the symptoms of various psychological problems via cognitive intervention.
Therapists who practise CBT approach gambling addiction by effectively reprogramming the way a player views and thinks about gambling via many different methods. And CBT aims to reconfigure a gambler’s thought process, in order to correct their gambling habits.
There are multiple ways that CBT is practised. But, in the case of gambling addiction, a CBT therapist may conduct sessions that involve exercises. Including, identifying and questioning the thoughts surrounding gambling; in order to respond to these problems in a more productive way.
Over Gamstop, CBT can be an effective alternative, as Gamstop doesn’t stop anyone from playing casino games outside the UK.
However, one of the biggest downsides of CBT is that it is usually down to the player to pay for this kind of therapy privately. So, if you want CBT for free, you might have to talk to your doctor or a nonprofit organisation. Otherwise, you could be footing the bill for expensive therapy sessions.
What is Gamstop?
Gamstop is the UK’s number 1 self-exclusion program for gamblers. Created by an NGO, and approved by the UK government, Gamstop let’s players self-exclude from all gambling sites in the UK for a period of time chosen by the player.
One of the biggest perks of Gamstop is that it’s completely free to use. And players can register an account and activate the self-exclusion period within 24 hours.
People who subscribe to Gamstop can choose a self-exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. But, it’s important to keep in mind that your Gamstop subscription cannot be cancelled. So, once your self-exclusion has started, you will not be able to access any real-money sites in the UK until your chosen time period has come to an end.
Gamstop has many different benefits. For one, it takes out the element of self-control for the player. So, without access to gambling sites, players are less likely to attempt to gamble.
Secondly, Gamstop is completely free and 100% confidential. So it helps people who don’t have the money to fund other types of support. Or who don’t want to seek help from family and friends.
Finally, with 3 self-exclusion periods to choose from, Gamstop offers players a good variety of options when it comes to selecting the correct amount of time for them to stop gambling.
What is a casino not on Gamstop?
Casinos not on Gamstop are those based outside of the UK. Any gambling operator who wants to offer its products in the UK must first obtain a UK licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). And with this licence comes the obligation to take part in the Gamstop program.
Therefore, when we talk about gambling sites not on Gamstop, what we mean is simply a site that holds a licence overseas.
These non Gamstop casinos can be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing. A number of non Gamstop casino sites welcome British players. And they offer a wealth of new and exciting games. As well as bigger bonuses than their UK counterparts. So casinos not on Gamstop are great for players seeking new gambling opportunities.
However, because they are outside of the UK, players who are part of the Gamstop program can still access these sites. Which may very well hinder their attempts to stop gambling.
So, which is better?
If you have any sort of problem or addiction, you can tackle it in many different ways. Obviously, Gamstop is designed to stop players being able to access gambling sites. But it doesn’t get to the root of the problem.
On the other hand, CBT is more focused on dealing with the primary cause of the problem. And will probably result in more beneficial long-term solutions for the player.
However, that’s not to say that Gamstop doesn’t have its own benefits. For one, it’s free. Which is a huge plus. Especially for gamblers who may have recently lost a lot of money, so can’t afford private therapy.
Also, some players don’t need such a holistic approach to their problem. So CBT might be a little much for them. When, really, all they need is a clean break from gambling for a while. In which case, Gamstop is the perfect solution.
To conclude, neither CBT nor Gamstop is categorically better than the other. It simply comes down to the individual player, and which approach works best for them.
