Responsible Gambling in the US
Gambling is exciting regardless of the shape it comes in. Some find it more appealing than others, which can be seen as a threat. It is a form of entertainment and should always be considered as such.
In short, do not spend more than you can afford on entertainment. Sports betting is not an investment and there are no guaranteed wins.
Why Responsible Gambling Measures are Necessary?
Both operators and regulators are working together to ensure all gambling facilities offer a safe environment. Responsible gambling tools, procedures and raising awareness among sports betting enthusiasts are only a few of the ways online sportsbooks and betting shops are kept safe.
If you have ever placed a bet, or played a casino game, you know how thrilling gambling can be. Because of this almost primal notion, it’s of paramount importance to make gamblers aware of how it works.
In addition, as it’s perceived as fun and exciting, sometimes even the younger generations find it attractive. They, more than anyone, should be kept away from sportsbooks until they are mature enough to make this decision on their own, and can afford it themselves.
These form the fundamentals of responsible gambling prevention. The efforts manifest in:
- Age verification
- Marketing and advertising rules
- Proof of income
- Identity verification
- Responsible gambling tools
- Tips on how to control gambling urges
- Professional help
It is not only fair for sportsbooks and casinos to provide this, it’s necessary and it’s their duty.
Tips on Controlling Your Betting Habit
If you’ve had trouble in the past, and want to make sure you will not end up in the same place, follow these tips.
- Set a budget – Set a weekly/monthly amount you are comfortable gambling. Most importantly, try to stick to this budget without any amendments!
- Use responsible gambling tools – The tools provided, if used adequately, almost guarantee no customer has any problems with gambling. Use them, and bet with no concerns.
- Be aware of the feedback you get – Friends and family sometimes see things clearer. Listen to the feedback you get on your gambling habits. They might know better than you.
- Take breaks if feel you need them – If you ever feel like you’re losing grips of how much you’re spending on gambling, take a break! It will make it easier to reevaluate your recent and future actions.
- Don’t bet when upset – If you’re emotional, it’s best to skip gambling until you feel better. It will cloud your judgement and make you a worse bettor. In addition, you don’t want placing amounts that might not fit your preset budget.
- Gambling is not a way of making money – You cannot consider your past betting an investment that is going to repay itself back. It’s also not a job or a professional occupation.
- Don’t bet when under the influence – It can lead to making impulsive decisions, including bets that you wouldn’t necessarily stand behind if sober.
Gambling Control Tools
- Deposit limit – The first to ever hit the operators, enables you to set a straightforward limit to how much you can deposit during a period. You cannot change the limit at your own discretion. You will need customer support assistance.
- Loss limit – As long as you’re winning, a loss limit will not affect you in any way. This is the tool of choice of many beginners.
- Wager limit – In our opinion the least useful one, wager limits simply limit the amount you place in bets. Regardless of the outcome of your bets, you won’t be allowed to place more than the limit allows.
- Session limit – If money is not an object, a session limit prevents you from spending too much time at the sportsbook. It doesn’t matter if you place a bet or not.
- Reality check – Reality checks are simple pop-up notifications that show up on the screen after a period. In most cases, it’s set to one hour, but you can customize this. It will not stop you from betting even past the reality check message.
- Self-exclusion – The most extreme and the only sure shot at stopping one from gambling is self-exclusion. Once you request to be excluded, you will not receive any promotions messages, and you will not be allowed to bet at the online sportsbook.
It’s important to note that this works only with legal and licensed US online sportsbooks. We cannot say the same thing about offshore betting sites which have only profit maximizing on their agenda.
What Happens if You Self-exclude?
Upon submitting a request to be self-excluded the casino restricts all access to the odds. It’s up to you to choose how long this cool-off period will be. In most cases, it’s recommended to go for 6 months. By then, you will have a clear picture of what you’ve done. Moreover, even after this cool-off period, it’s recommended to stay away from gambling. If you want to give it another shot, please use the responsible gambling tools accordingly. Set limits for a long period, and stick to them.
Symptoms of Gambling Problems
Problem gambling affects your life in many ways. If you are doing any of these, it’s worth to stop and evaluate if you need to take a break.
- Lying to friends and family about it – Shame is probably the first emotion that comes to mind that can overwhelm a person with even mild gambling problems.
- Unsuccessfully reducing the amount spent gambling – If you are attempting to put your gambling habits in control, and you’re failing, seek help immediately. It’s a vicious cycle and many cannot get out of it without help.
- Chasing losses – If you feel that you are constantly behind and trying to recuperate for past losses
- Hiding your passion for betting altogether – If you’ve reached this point, you should confide to a friend at least, and take things from there. Making the first step is the hardest.
- Saving on other expenses so you can bet more – Cutting on groceries, bills, shopping of any kind so you can gamble more is a serious symptom that requires immediate attention.
- Feeling overly stressed when betting – If you are not enjoying it, stop it immediately. We said on several occasions that gambling is a form of entertainment. Stressing over it doesn’t sound fun at all.
Gambling Assistance Organizations in the US
Each state has its own authorized responsible gambling organization that offers support on a local level. We recommend contacting your state organization if you need help. By going for a local organization, you will be enabled to meet gamblers who are in the same position like you.
Self-help Resources
If you would rather try get yourself back on your feet, and away from gambling, you can use the following resources. All of them have dedicated resources to problem gambling for the US. You can start with as little as a little live chat, or call them and somebody will talk to you. They also offer a variety of different step by step guides that all lead to prevention of irresponsible gambling.
Make the Right Choice
Sports betting is exciting and can certainly make any sports event much more memorable even if you don’t place the right bet. Nevertheless, the “right choice” is not about backing the winning side, rather to make the right choice when it’s time to stop. All things are better in moderation. Don’t jeopardize long-term