Responsible gambling guidelines, tips and resources

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Legal gambling can provide great fun and entertainment to those who use moderation and fully understand the risks involved. However, some have difficulty gambling responsibly or aren’t aware of how to do so.

On this page, we’ll explain what responsible gambling entails and offer responsible gambling tips. We’ll also define problem gambling, list its signs and symptoms, and offer advice about where to get help with prevention and treatment.

What is responsible gambling? In many ways, responsible gambling is largely focused on preventing gambling from becoming problematic and detrimental. Both those who gamble and those who provide opportunities to gamble need to be conscientious about responsible gambling and helping gamblers avoid potential pitfalls.

For individuals who gamble, responsible gambling means being mindful when participating in gambling activities. That can include keeping track of how much you are spending and not exceeding a prescribed limit. It can also refer to staying aware of the problems that can result if you are careless or inattentive when gambling.

Within the gambling industry, “responsible gambling” has a specific connotation. Responsible gambling serves as an umbrella term or concept that governs many best practices or guidelines that casinos, sportsbooks, lotteries, horse racetracks, and other providers of legal gambling must follow to keep their licenses.

Here is some advice to follow whenever you gamble that can help ensure you are indeed practicing responsible gambling.

• Keep records when you gamble, noting wins and losses and accurately recording how much you are spending.
• Establish limits beforehand on how much money you plan to bet when gambling and how much time you intend to spend. Stick to those limits.
• Be informed when you gamble and educate yourself beforehand about the costs and potential payouts, as well as about relevant odds and probabilities. There’s no way to guarantee a winner, but you can be knowledgeable when comparing risks and possible rewards.
• Gamble only with money you can afford to lose, preferably using “discretionary” funds not earmarked for any other purpose.
• Relatedly, never gamble with money needed for essentials like rent, mortgage payments, utilities, food, and the like.
• Don’t borrow money with which to gamble, and don’t gamble on credit.
• If you are tired, stressed, anxious, or in any way less than 100%, don’t gamble. Always have a clear head when gambling.
• Never gamble when intoxicated or impaired.
• When you win from gambling, don’t automatically play your “rush” and bet again (or bet more).
• When you lose from gambling, don’t automatically “chase” your losses and bet again (or bet more).

Gambling providers can do a lot to protect gamblers as well. In fact, when it comes to legal gambling, providers have to follow the rules and guidelines given to them by regulators to retain their licenses. That means casinos and sportsbooks (both retail and online), state-run lotteries, and horse racetracks with pari-mutuel wagering have to be diligent about how they present and run their games.

Here are some of the guidelines gambling providers often follow in order to help their customers gamble responsibly:

• Clearly define how games are played, including posting all odds, payouts, and other relevant information for players.
• Don’t misrepresent players’ actual chances of winning or the amounts they can win.
• Make sure all advertising and promotions are clear about how games work and/or what bonuses or promotions are actually worth. For example, online casinos should be clear and transparent about any wagering requirements attached to deposit bonuses.
• Avoid promoting “degenerate” gambling or even joking about not being responsible when gambling in ads or on social media.
• Be vigilant when policing against illegal or underage gambling.
• Train staff to recognize signs of problem gambling and to take action when needed by limiting or prohibiting a customer’s gambling.
• Never allow those who are drunk or otherwise impaired to gamble.
• Provide responsible gambling tools to players. For example, many online sportsbooks have ways for users to set betting limits, deposit limits, time limits, and the like.
• Allow gamblers to voluntarily self-exclude for a given period or permanently.
• Connect customers with resources where they can learn about responsible gambling and get help with problem gambling.

“Problem gambling” is sometimes used as a catch-all term to cover more specific ailments, such as compulsive gambling or gambling addiction. In truth, any gambling activity that leads to negative consequences in a person’s life or the lives of others qualifies as problem gambling. That is to say, problem gambling need not always refer to a chronic condition or an ongoing pattern of behavior. The term can also apply to individual examples of someone not being responsible when gambling.

Problem gambling can be like other forms of addiction in that an impacted person might try to hide their actions from others. That can make it all the more difficult to help those in need. It can also create a shroud under which small, undetected problems grow much more serious.

Problem gambling can cause a person to lose their savings or accumulate insurmountable debt. It can also destroy relationships and lead to serious harm to a person’s mental or physical health.

What follows is a list of problem gambling signs. If you notice a friend or family member exhibiting any of these signs, you should intervene to try and prevent the problem from continuing or growing into something worse. You can also think about the following telltale signs when assessing your own gambling activities.

• Spending more money or time gambling than planned
• Experiencing feelings of guilt or anxiety about gambling
• Acting irritable or restless when not gambling or not being able to relax and enjoy activities that do not involve gambling
• Becoming overly emotional about gambling, such as acting unreasonably ecstatic after winning or depressed after losing
• Lying about gambling to friends or family (e.g., exaggerating wins, understating losses, or hiding the activity)
• Making unexpected withdrawals or selling possessions to raise money
• Approaching gambling as a way to raise money (to pay bills, etc.)
• Missing or being late with bill payments
• Being frequently absent from work or school
• Neglecting personal health or hygiene

Any of these signs could be potential harbingers for something much more serious or hidden. Watch for them in those you care about, and be aware if you start exhibiting any of these behaviors or attitudes when you gamble.

There are a number of prominent national and international organizations dedicated to providing help and resources for those affected by problem gambling. These organizations can often connect you with local groups or individuals who can provide help and assistance as well.

The best-known national organization is theNational Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), of which Alabama is an affiliate member. The NCPG website includes information about various problem gambling programs, screening tools, counselor training, treatment facilities, individual counselors, and lots more.

The NCPG also maintains a 24-hour toll-free helpline called the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 800-426-2537 (800-GAMBLER). Calling that number puts you in touch with an NCPG agent who can connect you to other resources to get the assistance either you or someone you care about needs. You can also reach an agent via live chat by visiting ncpgambling.org/chat.

Like Alcoholics Anonymous,Gamblers Anonymous provides help to problem gamblers via support groups and a similar 12-step self-help program. The organization employs a “fellowship” model to enable those beset by compulsive gambling, gambling addicts, and others affected by problem gambling to help themselves and each other on their journey to recovery.

The Gamblers Anonymous website contains a lot of information, including ways to diagnose one’s own potential problem gambling. You’ll also find links to local chapters with meeting times and locations. In addition to the website, you can get in touch with representatives from Gamblers Anonymous 24/7 at 855-222-5542.

Gam-Anon is an organization that focuses on assisting family members and friends of problem gamblers. Gam-Anon helps people find local counselors, mental health professionals, and others with experience supporting those suffering from the financial and emotional effects caused by others’ problem gambling.

Gam-Anon provides a number of ways to get help, including via literature, sponsorship, service, pressure relief, budget meetings, and more. The Gam-Anon website offers an extensive meeting directory with locations and times all over the US. You can also attend virtual meetings over Zoom (in multiple languages). The organization provides support via phone at 718-352-1671 and email at gamanonoffice@gam-anon.org. And, as the name implies, all who participate can remain anonymous if they wish.

GamTalk is another program that provides ways for those affected by problem gambling to help one another. The website hosts chat rooms where individuals can meet and discuss their efforts to recover from problem gambling. There is also a Community Wall and discussion forum providing more ways to interact.

The site also includes a number of links where individuals can find treatment and support for problem gambling not just in the US but around the world.

Those in Alabama are encouraged to consult the national organizations listed above for information and/or help. In addition, Alabama offers state-level resources for those seeking either information about responsible gambling or help with problem gambling.

TheAlabama Council on Compulsive Gambling (ALCCG) is a nonprofit organization that provides educational programs and professional resources to those seeking help with problem gambling. The group provides workshops and educational materials for individuals as well as counselors and health professionals.

The ALCCG website includes articles and other information about responsible gambling and problem gambling. The site also provides links for those interested in becoming certified gambling counselors in Alabama.

Finally, the ALCCG’s 24-hour hotline can put you in touch with counselors, support groups, and therapists. The hotline can be reached via 800-522-4700 outside of the state or by simply dialing 211 from within AL.

There are also Alabama-based hotlines for Gamblers Anonymous (described above) where you can get in touch with local branches:

• Birmingham: 205-824-2473
• Montgomery: 334-399-6918
• Mobile: 251-378-5018

Gambling can be a great recreational activity for adults who understand the risks and can avoid being reckless or overindulgent when they gamble. For those who struggle, gambling can produce a variety of negative consequences.

Spend some time learning about the games before you gamble so that you fully understand the risks and potential rewards. Limit both the money and time you spend gambling, and never gamble with money you can’t afford to lose. Follow the other advice listed above as well to ensure you always practice responsible gambling.

Meanwhile, if you or someone close to you starts to exhibit any signs of problem gambling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. For most of the resources listed above, there is no cost at all. Getting help early can prevent what might seem like small issues from snowballing into something much worse.