Responsible Gambling

Your safety and wellbeing are our top priority. Find resources, tools, and support for safe gambling practices

🚨 Need Help Right Now?

Crisis Hotlines:

  • National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700 (24/7)
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • Gamblers Anonymous: Find local meetings
  • BeGambleAware (UK): Visit website

Understanding Problem Gambling

What is Problem Gambling?

Problem gambling, also known as gambling disorder or gambling addiction, is the urge to gamble continuously despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. It affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels.

Key characteristics include:

  • Loss of control over gambling behavior
  • Continued gambling despite negative consequences
  • Preoccupation with gambling activities
  • Using gambling to escape problems or negative emotions
  • Lying about gambling activities
  • Jeopardizing relationships, work, or finances due to gambling

Important: Problem gambling is a recognized mental health condition that can be treated with professional help.

Warning Signs

🚩 Behavioral Warning Signs

  • Gambling with money you can't afford to lose
  • Chasing losses with bigger bets
  • Gambling for longer periods than planned
  • Lying about gambling activities or losses
  • Neglecting work, family, or social responsibilities
  • Borrowing money to gamble
  • Selling possessions to fund gambling
  • Gambling to escape stress or depression

🧠 Emotional Warning Signs

  • Feeling anxious when not gambling
  • Mood swings related to wins and losses
  • Depression or suicidal thoughts
  • Guilt or shame about gambling
  • Irritability when unable to gamble
  • Loss of interest in other activities
  • Feeling helpless or out of control
  • Using gambling as the primary coping mechanism

💰 Financial Warning Signs

  • Unexplained financial difficulties
  • Maxed out credit cards or loans
  • Hiding financial statements
  • Unpaid bills despite adequate income
  • Asking for money frequently
  • Stealing money to gamble
  • Cashing in investments or retirement funds
  • Financial secrets from family members

🔄 Tolerance and Withdrawal

  • Needing to bet more money to feel excitement
  • Gambling for longer periods to feel satisfied
  • Restlessness when trying to stop gambling
  • Multiple failed attempts to quit
  • Returning to gambling after periods of abstinence
  • Physical symptoms when unable to gamble
  • Increasing frequency of gambling sessions
  • Taking bigger risks for the same thrill

Self-Assessment Tools

Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)

Answer these questions honestly about your gambling in the past 12 months:

Rate each question: Never (0), Sometimes (1), Most of the time (2), Almost always (3)

  1. Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
  2. Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
  3. Have you gone back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
  4. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
  5. Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
  6. Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
  7. Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem?
  8. Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
  9. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

Scoring:

  • 0 points: No problem gambling
  • 1-2 points: Low level of problems with few or no identified negative consequences
  • 3-7 points: Moderate level of problems leading to some negative consequences
  • 8+ points: Problem gambling with negative consequences and possible loss of control

Important: This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If you scored 3 or higher, consider seeking professional help.

Quick Self-Check Questions

If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, you may need help:

  • Do you gamble to escape from personal problems?
  • Have you ever lied to hide your gambling?
  • Do you feel restless or irritable when trying to stop gambling?
  • Have you jeopardized a relationship, job, or opportunity because of gambling?
  • Do you rely on others to provide money to relieve financial situations caused by gambling?
  • After losing money gambling, do you return another day to get even?
  • Do you gamble longer than you originally planned?
  • Have you committed or considered committing an illegal act to finance gambling?

Self-Help Strategies

🛡️ Prevention Strategies

  • Set strict limits: Time and money limits before you start
  • Use casino tools: Deposit limits, session timers, reality checks
  • Avoid triggers: Identify and avoid situations that trigger urges
  • Find alternatives: Develop healthy hobbies and activities
  • Manage stress: Learn healthy coping mechanisms
  • Stay connected: Maintain social relationships
  • Financial planning: Budget gambling money separately
  • Regular self-assessment: Monitor your gambling behavior

🚨 Managing Urges

  • Delay action: Wait 30 minutes before acting on urges
  • Call someone: Reach out to a friend or family member
  • Physical activity: Go for a walk or exercise
  • Distraction: Engage in another activity
  • Remove access: Block gambling sites or apps
  • Visualization: Think about consequences of gambling
  • Breathing exercises: Practice deep breathing or meditation
  • Write it down: Journal about your feelings

💪 Building Resilience

  • Identify triggers: Know what situations lead to gambling
  • Develop routines: Create structure in your daily life
  • Stress management: Learn healthy ways to cope with stress
  • Financial recovery: Work on repairing financial damage
  • Rebuild relationships: Repair trust with family and friends
  • Set new goals: Focus on personal and professional objectives
  • Celebrate progress: Acknowledge small victories
  • Learn from setbacks: View lapses as learning opportunities

🔧 Practical Tools

  • Gambling diary: Track urges, triggers, and emotions
  • Financial controls: Limit access to money and credit
  • Technology blocks: Use apps to block gambling sites
  • Alternative activities: List of things to do instead of gambling
  • Support network: List of people to call for help
  • Emergency plan: Steps to take during strong urges
  • Recovery reminders: Notes about why you want to stop
  • Professional contacts: Therapist, counselor, or support group info

Professional Help & Support

🏥 Professional Treatment Options

Individual Therapy:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Addiction counseling
  • Family therapy

Group Therapy:

  • Structured group programs
  • Peer support groups
  • Educational workshops
  • Relapse prevention groups

Intensive Programs:

  • Outpatient treatment programs
  • Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
  • Residential treatment centers
  • Day treatment programs

🤝 Support Organizations

Gamblers Anonymous:

  • Free 12-step recovery program
  • In-person and online meetings
  • Peer support and sponsorship
  • Website: gamblersanonymous.org

National Council on Problem Gambling:

  • 24/7 helpline: 1-800-522-4700
  • Treatment provider directory
  • Educational resources
  • Website: ncpgambling.org

GamCare (UK):

  • Free counseling and support
  • Live chat and phone support
  • Treatment finder
  • Website: gamcare.org.uk

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Support for Families

Gam-Anon:

  • Support groups for family members
  • Understanding gambling addiction
  • Coping strategies for families
  • Website: gam-anon.org

Family Resources:

  • Family therapy options
  • Educational materials
  • Financial counseling
  • Legal advice resources

Children and Teens:

  • Age-appropriate counseling
  • Educational programs
  • Prevention strategies
  • Support groups for teens

🌐 Online Resources

Self-Help Apps:

  • Gambling addiction recovery apps
  • Urge tracking tools
  • Meditation and mindfulness apps
  • Financial planning tools

Website Blockers:

  • Gamban - Gambling site blocker
  • BetBlocker - Free blocking software
  • Browser extensions
  • Router-level blocking

Educational Websites:

  • Recovery stories and testimonials
  • Research and statistics
  • Self-assessment tools
  • Treatment directories

Casino Self-Exclusion Tools

Understanding Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a tool that allows you to voluntarily ban yourself from gambling activities for a specified period. This can be done at individual casinos or through centralized programs.

Types of Self-Exclusion:

  • Individual casino: Exclude yourself from specific operators
  • Multi-operator: Exclude from multiple casinos at once
  • State/national programs: Comprehensive exclusion systems
  • Software-based: Blocking software for all gambling sites

Exclusion Periods:

  • 24 hours to 30 days (cooling-off periods)
  • 6 months to 1 year (standard exclusions)
  • Permanent exclusion (can often be reversed after waiting period)
  • Custom periods based on personal needs

How to Self-Exclude

  1. Contact the casino: Use live chat, email, or phone
  2. Complete forms: Fill out self-exclusion request forms
  3. Provide identification: Verify your identity
  4. Choose duration: Select exclusion period
  5. Confirm details: Review and confirm your request
  6. Keep records: Save confirmation of your exclusion

Important: During exclusion, casinos should:

  • Block access to your account
  • Stop all marketing communications
  • Prevent you from reopening accounts
  • Return any deposited funds

Recovery Resources

📚 Educational Materials

  • Books: "Overcoming Gambling Addiction" by Alex Blaszczynski
  • Workbooks: Self-help gambling recovery workbooks
  • Research: Latest studies on gambling addiction
  • Articles: Recovery stories and expert advice
  • Podcasts: Addiction recovery and mental health shows
  • Videos: Educational and motivational content

💰 Financial Recovery

  • Credit counseling: Professional financial advice
  • Debt management: Plans to handle gambling-related debt
  • Budgeting tools: Apps and systems for financial control
  • Banking controls: Account restrictions and monitoring
  • Legal advice: For serious financial situations
  • Financial planning: Long-term recovery planning

🎯 Remember: Recovery is Possible

Millions of people have successfully overcome gambling problems with the right support and treatment. Recovery is a journey, not a destination, and every step forward counts. Whether you're just recognizing a problem or have been working on recovery for years, help is available.

You are not alone. Help is available. Recovery is possible.

Crisis Support: Call or Text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
Gambling Help: 1-800-522-4700 (National Problem Gambling Helpline)