We cover online and casino gambling from every angle at The Press of Atlantic City. Every article and review aims to deliver clear information and recommendations to players, helping facilitate positive gambling experiences. That means highlighting responsible gambling.
Keep reading for an honest discussion about gambling responsibly and what that means for you. We’ll include tips to help you gamble responsibly when you bet on sports, play casino games, wager on a horse race, or even buy a lottery ticket. Plus, read on for a list of problem gambling resources and prevention techniques.
Responsible gambling begins with being informed
When shopping for almost anything, you ask the price before buying. This should include gambling. Know what you’re spending your money on before you place a bet. In other words, take the time to learn about the odds and probabilities whenever you bet on sports or play casino games. Knowing the risks and potential rewards will allow you to make informed decisions.
Successful sports bettors and daily fantasy sports players do a lot of research before placing a bet or entering a contest. For casino games, you should familiarize yourself with house edges, return to player rates (RTP), potential payouts, and other information that impacts winning and losing.
However, research is just a small part of responsible gambling. Understanding your gambling habits and setting limits is arguably more important. Losing is a real possibility any time you gamble. Your research will tell you that. Understanding it should help you set limits and lead to more responsible gambling.
Defining responsible gambling
It’s up to you to gamble responsibly, but you don't have to do it alone. Casinos, race tracks, sportsbooks, and lottery retailers all have a role in responsible play.
For you, responsible gambling should start with an awareness of the risks and a mandate to keep your gambling positive. Think of it like driving. When you get behind the wheel, you should be cautious and always drive in a responsible way, considering your safety and the safety of others on the road with every move you make. Similarly, responsible gambling involves protecting you and your loved ones.
Licensed casinos, sportsbooks, race tracks, and lottery retailers are also obligated to encourage responsible gambling. That means they must provide you with risk and reward data about the games you play and other things you might bet on. Plus, they must provide you with the tools you may need to help you gamble responsibly.
Responsible gambling tips for gamblers
Here are some specific tips to help you gamble responsibly. Think of them as guidelines for practicing responsible gambling.
- Keep track of your wins and losses. An accurate record will help you see the truth about your gambling.
- Set limits for how much money and time you spend gambling. Quit when you hit your win or loss limit.
- Never gamble with money you need for any other part of life.
- Don’t borrow money for gambling.
- Gamble with a clear head, act rationally, and avoid letting your emotions cloud your logic and judgment.
- Avoid reckless bets when you’re up and chasing your losses when you’re down.
- Don’t gamble tired, stressed, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired.
Responsible gambling tips for providers
As we said before, casinos, race tracks, sportsbooks, and lottery retailers are also responsible for ensuring you can gamble responsibly. Your safety should be a priority above profit. Here’s a list of guidelines casinos, race tracks, sportsbooks, and lottery retailers must follow to promote responsible gambling.
- Odds and potential payouts should be posted publicly so that players can clearly see and understand them.
- All rules or restrictions for games and bet types should be completely transparent, including those surrounding any bonuses or promotions.
- Never obscure the risk of gambling or suggest winning is expected in any advertising.
- Never promote reckless gambling.
- Never treat problem gambling as anything less than a serious issue.
- Work to prevent underage and illegal gambling.
- Allow players to self-impose limits on how much money and time they spend gambling, including voluntarily self-exclusion programs.
- Teach staff how to recognize the signs of problem gambling and promote prevention.
- Teach players how to gamble responsibly.
- Actively promote responsible gambling by providing information about problem gambling resources and help.
Signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling isn't just dramatic tales of people losing their life savings or incurring insurmountable debt as a consequence of a gambling addiction. It includes a wide range of behaviors and actions associated with gambling that might seem like small or innocuous missteps at first. Molehills can quickly become mountains when it comes to problem gambling. That’s why any instance of problem gambling, no matter how small, needs to be treated seriously.
Problem gambling is often simply the absence of responsible gambling. In other words, failing to gamble responsibly is in and of itself problematic. Ignore the basic principles of responsible gambling, and you’re putting yourself and the people you care about at risk.
Most people try to hide problem gambling, which only makes it worse. Some even try to hide it from themselves, rationalizing their actions, compounding the problem, and putting up barriers to help.
Here’s a list of the most common signs of problem gambling. While some might seem insignificant at first, all have the potential to grow into real problems.
- Ignoring the limits you set for yourself
- Developing a gambling obsession, where gambling is all you talk or think about
- Displaying anti-social behavior when you’re not gambling or avoiding social events that do not involve gambling
- Displaying extreme emotions when gambling
- Remorse or guilt surrounding your gambling
- Gambling to escape stress
- Lying about your gambling
- Borrowing money for gambling
- Selling possessions to raise money for gambling
- Paying bills late or not at all
- Showing up late or missing work or school to gamble
- Declining work or school performance
- Ignoring health or hygiene issues
Look for these signs in yourself or others. Be aware that anyone can be dealing with a problem gambling issue at any time.
National resources for problem gambling
If you or someone you know needs help with problem gambling, resources are available. The following national organizations provide support, and most are free.
National Council on Problem Gambling
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is an excellent place to start. It provides self-help tools and links to treatment programs and problem gambling professionals. Contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network toll-free and 24 hours a day at 800-522-4700 or via live chat at ncpgambling.org/chat.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous(GA) is like Alcoholics Anonymous for gambling. The national organization employs a fellowship model connecting problem gamblers with others to provide support and pathways to recovery. GA has its own 12-step program and hosts regular meetings. Contact GA toll-free at 855-222-5542.
Gam-Anon
Similar to Gamblers Anonymous,Gam-Anon helps people impacted by problem gambling connect to provide support. Its focus is on friends and family of problem gamblers.
GamTalk
GamTalk is a forum where people connect to provide support for problem gambling to one another. The GamTalk website also features links to local problem gambling organizations.
Responsible Play
ResponsiblePlay.org provides resources for problem gambling help, prevention, and treatment. The NCPG and the National Football League Foundation partially fund it.
Problem gambling resources for New Jersey
The following state-level problem gambling resources are available right here in New Jersey.
Council On Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey
Based just outside of Trenton, the Council On Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey runs various problem gambling services to assist New Jersey residents. Program topics include:
- Public Awareness and Information
- Prevention Programs
- Intervention & Outreach
- Training for Professionals
- Treatment
- Advocacy
New Jersey Self-Exclusion Program
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) runs a self-exclusion program. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey works with the DGE to offer a program covering online and land-based gambling. Consultations are free and available by calling the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, the self-exclusion hotline at 1-833-788-4DGE, or visiting www.800.gambler.org website. The Division of Gaming Enforcement's Self-Exclusion Program page contains more information on the program.
Keep the focus on responsible gambling
Gambling can be fun and a great source of entertainment for responsible adults. Betting on a game might make it more exciting, and it’s hard to beat the rush of success playing casino games, betting on a winning horse, or winning the lottery.
Some people find it easy to enjoy gambling in moderation. Others have trouble setting limits and sticking to them. Unfortunately, those who fail to gamble responsibly can harm themselves and the people who care about them.
Gambling is always a risk, but those who gamble without practicing responsible gambling habits increase the risk to themselves and others. Whenever you bet, stay focused on gambling responsibly. Then, if you or someone you know shows signs of problem gambling, reach out for help.
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