morten
185
2016/05/01 12:30
#318791
Manne wrote:
1. Admit you have a problem
"Like any addiction, the first step on the road to recovery is accepting that you have a problem," says Karter. "You need to face up to the fact that your gambling habit has got out of control and, by realising that you need to return to some sense of normality, you will be better prepared to put in the work and effort to get there.
"Emotional confusion is very common at this point – with one side of your personality acting rationally and acknowledging that gambling is destroying your life whilst the other is craving the practice with an increased intensity.
"The next step is to rally the right support around you that will help reinforce and strengthen the rational part of you and ease your cravings."
2. Confide in a trusted individual
"Next, you should confide in a supportive friend or family member," advises the addiction therapist. "This tends to be one of the first steps before seeking professional support, as they will likely encourage you to capitalise on your rationality. However, the act of telling a friend or family member is often the most worrying part of the entire process.
"Unlike other addictions, such as with drugs or alcohol, there are no immediate physical signs that an individual may be suffering. Because of this, it is an addiction that is easily hidden and your confidant may have not picked up on your problem. Instead, the indications will have been subtler – you may have started withdrawing from social interactions, been exhibiting mood swings or been unenthused by previously enjoyable activities.
"The general behaviour of a gambling addict is such that partners frequently believe them to be having an affair," reveals Karter.
"But both you and your confidant will feel better once the problem is out in the open," she adds. "It is likely that they suspected something was wrong due to your changing behaviour, and this way they will be relieved that you have finally revealed what it is – despite still being worried for you."
3. Block your access to gambling
"The third step is to block your access to the type of gambling you are addicted to. Then, to all and any forms of gambling.
"This will put an end to your habit and – with the help of your confidant – you will be more likely to stay away from the gambling websites and apps than had you attempted to quit by yourself. This way, you will be letting someone down if you relapse into your gambling ways.
"This step will allow you to realise that gambling is not the escape you believed it to be," says the addiction expert. "People use online gambling as an escape – something to distract them from the stresses and pressure of juggling what they feel are overwhelming work and home commitments. However, eventually, you will realise that it is not a solution, and that the inevitable losses begin a cycle of problems, and the issues from which you were initially trying to run are intensified."
4. Relinquish control of your finances
"Another common problem that only serves to exacerbate the secrecy of the habit is that the gambler is afraid that their addiction will be misunderstood and viewed as greed," Karter reveals. "Many also simply can’t comprehend the actual odds of them winning, and this drives the problem deeper underground.
"Therefore, the next step is to overcome this shame and embarrassment, realise that your confidant will not think that it is greed, and ask them if they will help you manage your finances for a short period of time – four weeks is a good start.
"By giving someone else control of your money," Karter continues, "be this a bank account or credit cards, you will have the burden lifted from your shoulders momentarily, and this will make it easier to move on. During this time, it is advisable to seek debt management – as unmanageable debt simply drives the addictive cycle of loss chasing. Loss chasing, when you keep gambling to win back money you've already lost, is one of the hardest habits to break."
5. Stay busy to overcome withdrawal
"Taking away your access to gambling will not take away your cravings to gamble," warns the addiction therapist. "So – as is the case with beating any addiction – you will experience a withdrawal period. This tends to feel the worst for the first week or so after quitting gambling, so it is imperative to stay busy during this time – preferably in the company of others to distract yourself.
"It is of paramount importance that you don’t think about how one more gamble could give you the big win that would sort out all of your problems – this is a fantasy. When you are addicted to gambling you are in a no win situation.
"But, if this withdrawal becomes unbearable and you begin to feel stressed, depressed or anxious, talk to your GP."
6. Look to others who have successfully stopped
"After four weeks free from gambling, you should begin to feel better," Karter forecasts. "The cravings should have lessened and, if you sought out a friend to help you with your debt, your finances should also be on the path to recovery. This month can also be made a lot easier if professional help is sought.
"However, this time can also be uncertain – it hasn’t been that long since you gave up the force that was driving your life. As a result, you should focus on how everyone who has successfully given up online gambling and is now leading a rewarding and wholesome life once felt as you do now. Simply keep telling yourself that you are not the first person to be going through this process, and that it is entirely possible for you - like others have before - to free yourself of addictive online gambling."
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2016/02/05
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185
Both proposals originate in the Greek economic crisis which shows little sign of abating.
They were submitted to the Troika of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Central Bank (EC😎 and EU as part of a budget deal to trigger further loans.
Changes in taxation rules then created an almost untenable situation for online poker. Income taxes are now calculated on the amount won in any 24 hour period—losses the following day cannot be offset against winnings.
PokerStars.gr attempted to provide players with a way around the law, scheduling tournaments that began in one tax day and ending in another, but this was soon disallowed.
Tax revenues from online poker are now tiny, and players are financially incentivized to play at offshore sites not licensed in Greece.
An amendment to the way that income taxes are calculated on winnings would be one the online poker industry would welcome.
The new law aims to raise as much tax revenue as possible, however, the blatant cash grab is unlikely to reach the amounts that the government originally forecast. Its prospects have already been derailed by OPAP.
Substantial tax revenues were expected from permitting the deployment of video lottery terminals (VLTs), but OPAP simply told the government that it would cancel its VLT business since it would not be commercially viable under the government’s tax proposals.
OPAP’s concerns are likely to be taken into account in the new legislation, after several meetings between the company and the government. This gives some hope that the online poker industry will also be able to get the government to rethink the income tax calculations.
A restoration of commercial viability in the Greek online poker market would not only increase government tax revenues, but also boost revenues at the major operators like Amaya.
New Online Gambling Legislation In Greece To Be Aimed At Reaping Tax Benefits