Responsible Gaming: Safe and Healthy Practices

Gambling has been a part of human culture for centuries. Whether you are checking odds, creating mock slips, or navigating to legal sportsbooks, it is vital to remember that betting should always be treated as a form of entertainment, not a reliable source of income. The house always has the edge. While gambling can be fun and exciting, it carries risks. Understanding and practicing responsible gaming helps ensure it stays safe and enjoyable.

What is Responsible Gaming?

Responsible gambling is about staying within your limits, maintaining healthy habits, and not letting the act of gambling interfere with your everyday life. This means only betting what you can afford to lose, taking regular breaks, and prioritizing your daily responsibilities before gambling activities.

10 Tips for Responsible Play:

• View gaming strictly as a form of entertainment.
• Pick a spending cap for any activity and stick to it.
• Make sure you understand how the odds and games work before diving in.
• Always play with your own funds, never borrowed money.
• Keep your life balanced by engaging in a variety of other fun activities.
• Do not play when you are under the influence of alcohol or not fully sober.
• Never chase losses, do not try to win back what you have lost by betting more.
• Skip playing if you are feeling down, stressed out, or anxious.
• Pick a time limit for how long you play and make sure to follow it.
• Learn about the signs and impacts of problem gambling behaviors.

What is Problem Gambling?

The American Psychiatric Association defines problem gambling, also termed compulsive gambling or gambling disorder, as an inability to control your gambling behavior. It is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your personal, financial, and professional life.

Behavioral Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can be difficult to diagnose, but several telltale signs can indicate a developing issue:

• Preoccupation: Frequently planning gambling activities or brainstorming ways to get more money to bet.
• Rising Wagers: Increasing your betting amounts to reach the same level of excitement.
• Unsuccessful Attempts: Failing to control, cut back, or stop your gambling habits.
• Restlessness: Feeling irritable when you try to cut down on betting.
• Escapism: Gambling to relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression.
• Lying: Hiding the extent of your gambling habits from family and friends.
• Personal Losses: Risking relationships, jobs, or opportunities because of gambling.

Financial Signals of Problem Gambling

The amount of money won or lost does not strictly determine when gambling becomes a problem, but financial strain is a major indicator:

• Increasing Debt: Maxing out credit cards or taking out loans.
• Unpaid Bills: Being unable to pay for essential items like rent or utilities.
• Hiding Finances: Being secretive about bank balances, dipping into retirement savings, or showing unusual spending patterns.
• Liquidating Assets: Pawning personal items or facing property repossession.

Self-Assessment: The PGSI

The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) is a highly cited self-assessment tool. Ask yourself the following questions regarding your behavior over the past 12 months. Score your answers as Never (0), Sometimes (1), Most of the time (2), or Always (3).

• Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
• Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
• Have you gone back on another day to try to win back the money you lost?
• Have you borrowed money or sold anything to gamble?
• Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
• Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, whether or not you thought it was true?
• Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
• Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
• Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?

Managing Your Play

If you choose to use legal online sportsbooks, you should utilize the built-in tools they offer to keep your gaming safe:

• Deposit and Wager Limits: Set constraints on how much you can deposit or bet per day, week, or month.
• Time Limits: Determine exactly how much time you allow yourself to spend on an app.
• Cooling-Off Periods: Temporarily block yourself from making deposits or wagers for a predetermined time.
• Self-Exclusion: Place yourself on a state or operator exclusion list to block all access to gambling platforms.

Resources to Seek Help

If you or someone you know is showing signs of problem gambling, you are not alone. There are numerous free, confidential resources available around the clock. We are not affiliated with these organizations, but we strongly encourage utilizing them if you need support.

• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): Call 1-800-522-4700 or visit ncpgambling.org
• Gamblers Anonymous: Call 855-222-5542 or visit gamblersanonymous.org
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Call 1-800-662-4357 or visit samhsa.gov
• International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG): Call 978-338-6610 or visit icrg.org
• GamTalk: Online peer support at gamtalk.org