One thing there is absolutely no shortage of on the net is opportunities to gamble. We have been spoilt for choice, whether your fancy is for betting on sports, playing virtual card games or bingo. One of the items that makes internet gambling so potentially dangerous is that it is easily available for 24 hours a day.
The real danger comes when you combine this factor with the truth that it is so easy to feel detached from the reality of money spent online. Gradually racking up a debt online will not feel the same as handing over money from our wallet, so it is that much easier to lose track of how your web spending is mounting up.
Therefore, debt problems from internet gambling are on the increase. On this page I hope to clarify some of the legalities around online gambling, and also providing some advice on dealing with the underlying problem and the debts that derive from it.
LEGALITIES Around Gambling Debts
When we discuss debt from online gambling it is very i mpo rtant be clear about the nature of your debt, because who the money is owed to does change lives. People are often unsure concerning the legality of debts from online gambling. In the UK it is possible to gamble legally on credit and incur a debt, but this debt is not then enforceable through the law.
However, there is a significant point to make here, which is that this only applies if you are using credit extended by the business offering the gambling (casino, bookie, etc). If you use a credit card company to cover internet gambling, that is clearly a legally enforceable debt exactly like it would be in virtually any other circumstance, as you have borrowed money from the charge card company, not the casino. It really is now against the law in america to use a charge card to pay for online gambling.
You will find that many bank cards will regard a payment to an internet gambling website as a advance loan. That is then clearly borrowing money from the card company and the debt you incur could be pursued through legal action. If you do use a credit card to pay for online gambling this way, you ought to know that cash advances on credit cards are nearly always charged at a higher interest than normal credit for purchases.
HOW TO APPROACH Debts Caused By Gambling
In dealing with gambling debts, there are two separate issues to tackle. One is the debt itself, and another may be the habit of gambling that led to the debt. Even if the debt is dealt with, chances are to develop again if the primary cause is not tackled too. Why don’t we first consider the issue of paying off the debt.
The principles for tackling debt are often the same, irrespective of the sources of the debt. To permanently deal with debt you should not be turning over borrowing additional money or paying anyone to cope with your debt for you. These courses of action will probably deepen your debt in the long run.
With a little advice, you can deal with your debts yourself, by contacting creditors and agreeing terms for repayment that you can afford. There’s clearly more to it than that, but it is beyond the scope of the particular article. The process is easy and allows you to take back control of your finances.