We’re obviously here to deliver information on all aspects of gaming subscriptions (and you’re most likely here to read about them). It’s generally a fun subject without too many negative aspects to consider. In most circumstances playing games (in any form other than gambling games) is good fun and mainly harmless. Provided you’re at the legal age to play any specific game, live in a jurisdiction which allows it, and have the spare time and cash to afford to play it, then in most cases you’re going to find that it’s very easy to find video games to play online or a console or mobile on which to play them.

But for some of us, there is a risk of addition. Of becoming compulsively obsessed with playing…..

……and addiction can impact your life in harmful ways – and the lives of others around you – if you don’t recognize it and take appropriate steps to control it.

Playing any form of games can and should be great fun, provided you stay in control. This ability to stay in control is known as responsible gaming. It’s a term which is widely used in the gambling industry and can be relevant to any form of gaming in certain circumstances. 

The potential for this form of compulsive activity looks set to affect more and more of us as the accessibility to video gaming grows through either advances in technology or the increasingly widening numbers of ways to play.

On this page we’re going to take a look at some of the aspects of gaming addiction that it may pay to be aware of. Please read this responsible gaming page of SubscriptionGames.com carefully – ideally before you make any attempt to spend your money on any form of game or subscription service, and certainly if you already recognize any compulsiveness in your game-playing behaviours. 

It’ll touch on some of the risks you face with gaming, what to watch out for, and where to get help if any problems catch you unawares.

6 Golden Rules Of Responsible Gaming

Don’t let gaming control you – you control it
If you’re gaming for money, it’s more than just a game
Know when to walk away – when it’s no longer fun, then stop
Set a limit on how much time you spend in any gaming session – don’t go over it
Do not play any games where restricted by the jurisdiction in which you reside

Don’t allow gaming to take over your life, or have negative impacts either on your health, or the health of others.  

Gaming Addiction

With any form of gaming there is a risk of becoming addicted, and that can have many negative consequences.To avoid that risk, you should recognize whether you are the type of person for which it may be a problem. 

If you’re not sure whether addiction could be a problem, or believe it would never happen to you, there are a number of personality traits which will give you a clue as to whether you’re in danger.

Equally there are ways to limit the extent of any potential addiction, and get help in cases of problems. For example there are ways to deal with gaming addiction like visiting a therapist or joining a support group. 

The Types Of Addiction

We all know the common perception of addiction – the drug taker, the alcoholic, the gambler. It’s defined as ‘ the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.’ You can read here for an in depth study of addiction.

In our case ‘activity’ being the key word. But it’s not just the action of gaming itself, it’s the feelings you get from it. 

So we can become addicted to the pursuit of wins, addicted to the rush of winning, the recognition of others for our achievements, or a whole list of other human emotions. 

What You Can Do – Protection From The Harms Of Compulsive Gaming

There’s little doubt that at some point in your life you’ll have got involved with an activity which is bad for you, but very hard to stop. It feels like you’re almost forced to continue, right? It’s compulsive. It’s obsessive.

Compulsive gaming sits firmly in this category, and 99% of the time benefits no one. In order to help you keep control, remember the following: 

Be Cautious

Play for fun and limit your gaming time. Don’t overspend on games or subscriptions or any gaming merchandise. Only spend what you can safely afford – and remember that what you can afford will vary from time to time and from person to person. The key is not to play in such a way as to spend excessive amounts of money or let losing (or indeed the playing of games for lengthy periods) affect you psychologically or physically. In fact, in any way that has a negative impact on those around you (yourself, family, friends, work colleagues). 

Be Aware

Keep a mental record of how long you spend playing games and/or how much it costs you. Sometimes keeping a written record is useful – seeing amounts of time/money written down in cold black and white will help you recognize what you’re actually doing.
It’s very easy to lose track. Time and money is valuable to everyone. 

Recognize Your Problem

One of the key ways of protecting yourself from harm of any type is to recognize the danger, and once you’re in danger you didn’t see coming then to know that you’re in it.

The following list of questions are ones you can ask yourself at any point to check that you have your video gaming under control. It’s not hard to see the ‘wrong’ answers, those that mean you’re in trouble.

Most problem gamers are able to truthfully answer yes to a handful of these questions.

 Has gaming ever made affected your home life, making you or your family members unhappy in any way?

Has gaming had any impact on your reputation at home or work?
Have you ever played games to win money with which to pay debts or solve other financial problems?
Has gaming been the cause of any decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
Have you lost time from work or education due to gaming?
After winning have you ever had the urge to try and win more?
Have you ever borrowed money to allow you to game more?
Have you ever sold anything to finance your gaming?
Have you ever reserved money for gaming which was intended for other expenditures?
Has gaming ever made you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
If you set a time or limit for your gambling, have you ever played longer? 
Have you ever played to escape worries or other problems in your life?
Have you ever committed, or thought of committing, an illegal act to finance or buy time for more gaming?
Has gaming caused you to have sleeping difficulties? Has a gaming session ever resulted in you feeling unwell in any way?
Have you ever missed an important event through gaming?  

Have you ever reacted angrily when someone has confronted you about any aspect of your game-playing?

Do you experience any withdrawal symptoms when you abstain from playing for a period of time?

Do you ever feel the need to lie about – or hide – the amount of time you spend on video games? 

 

Seek Help

If you hit a point where you believe you’re no longer in control of your gaming (and ideally before you hit that point) then get help. There are plenty of gaming help websites. Many are listed further below. 

Where To Get Help

CGAA or Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous is a valuable site to start with. It’s a ”a fellowship of people who support each other in recovering from the problems resulting from excessive game playing”.  Formed by former gaming addicts, its ” single purpose is to abstain from video gaming and to help others find freedom from compulsive gaming”.

The Priory is a well known UK establishment that helps people with addition problems, and can focus on gaming addictions and help. 

American Addiction Centers is the largest network of rehab facilities nationwide across the US, with programs in California, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. They use ”research-based treatments to help clients with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and mental and behavioral health issues”. 

WebMD is a well known and highly rated general health website, and has sections dedicated to recognizing and dealing with computer gaming addiction. 

More Resources

There are plenty of other resources which can easily be found online with a simple Google search, along with a number of Youtube videos.

For UK use, the NHS has a dedicated focus on addictive gaming.

There is a Wikipedia page dedicated to the problems.