Responsible gambling
hile online gambling should always be fun, there are sides of it that can become problematic. Responsible gambling is essential to ensure that gambling remains an enjoyable form of entertainment and doesn’t lead to negative consequences.
What can I do to protect myself when gambling?
Here are some tips and information in order to play responsibly:
- Never consider gambling as a realistic source of income: casinos are in business because they earn money through player’s bets and do not give it away easily.
- Set limits: decide in advance how much money and time you are willing to spend on gambling and stick to those limits.
- Take breaks: it’s crucial to take breaks from gambling, especially if you start feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
- Do not try to win back lost money: if you are on a losing streak, avoid the temptation to try to win back lost money. Gambling involves risk, and sometimes losses are inevitable.
- Play only amounts that you can afford to lose: set a budget and when the amounts are gone, do not input more money to gamble.
- Avoid gambling when emotional or under the Influence of alcohol, drugs or medication: emotional imbalance and substances can impair your judgment and lead to poor decisions.
- Do not be afraid to seek help: if you find it challenging to control your gambling or it is causing problems in your life, seek assistance from a qualified mental health professional.
How do I recognize that I might have a gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling or pathological gambling, is an impulse-control disorder characterized by an inability to resist the urge to gamble, even when it leads to negative consequences. People with gambling addiction may become preoccupied with gambling and resort to borrowing money or stealing to support their habits.
Find below a table of the most frequent signs of gambling addiction.
| Psychological changes | Behavioural changes |
|---|---|
| Fixation/obsessive thinking about gambling. | Borrowing or stealing money to gamble. |
| Loss of control when thinking about gambling. | Lying about gambling habits. |
| Gambling is the primary source of happiness and excitement. | Neglecting other responsibilities such as family, finances and work. |
| Inability to quit gambling despite your desire to do so. | Escalation of gambling to maintain excitement. |
| Withdrawal symptoms when not gambling. | Financial losses which affect your livelihood and the livelihood of your family. |
How can I get help for gambling addiction?
Problem gambling is not a sign of weakness, and it can happen to anyone. Ignoring the problem is not the solution; seek help and support to address it. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling issues, there are resources and support available.
Self exclusion
Self exclusion is one of the best tools to limit yourself from gambling. Most casinos offer the possibility for players to register themselves in a list where they are prohibited/banned from gambling for a certain amount of time in a jurisdiction. Such lists are almost always kept by governmental agencies and impose rigid consequences should you try to bypass the ban.
Self exclusion rules change from State to State and each online casino operator implements them differently.
Michigan self exclusion
The programs are managed by the local tribal casinos which seat in each tribal state. You may visit the self-exclusion pages of each casino. The Michigan Department of Health has a 24-hour toll-free helpline 1-800-270-7117 to call if you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
Pennsylvania self exclusion
The program falls under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. You may decide to self-exclude for periods of one year, five years or for life. In addition to the self-exclusion program gamblers suffering from addiction may seek help from Gamblers Anonymous of PA by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or reaching out to the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700.
New Jersey self exclusion
The program falls under the supervision of the Division of Gaming Enforcement which offers several self-exclusion options to help struggling players. The DGE is also contactable by phone at the following numbers: DGE Self-Exclusion hotline 1-833-788-4DGE and 1-800-GAMBLER.
In addition to self-exclusion, there are other tools that you may access to play responsibly and keep yourself safe such as setting limits to deposits, bets/wagers and to the time you spend on gambling websites.
Support Groups
There are several groups looking out for people and families struggling for gambling addiction. Independently from the State in which you live the following organizations can support you or your family when gambling does not look like fun any longer:
- Gamblers Anonymous offers community meetings for those who desire to overcome addiction and stop gambling.
- National Council on Problem Gambling is non profit organization that acts as a hub for other non profit organizations that operate on a State level.
- Gam-Anon provides emotional support and financial information for families who are affected by a gambler’s addiction.
Admitting that you have a problem with gambling is not shameful and it is the first step in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from gambling addiction.