Responsible Gambling
Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be a fun recreational activity when done responsibly. However, for some, it can become problematic and lead to financial and personal issues. This page outlines tips and resources for gambling responsibly.
Set a Budget and Stick to It
The first key to responsible gambling is setting a strict budget of how much money and time you want to spend. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, rather than dipping into savings, investments, or funds allocated for bills or essentials.
Once your gambling budget is used up for a specific period, stop gambling, even if you still have the urge to continue. Sticking rigidly to your predetermined budget is vital for controlling spending.
Take Regular Breaks
Gambling for long stretches can lead you to make rash decisions as fatigue sets in. Ensure you take regular 10-15 minute breaks every 45-60 minutes. Breaks provide mental reset periods so you don’t just keep gambling due to inertia.
Use breaks to hydrate, stretch your legs, or do something else unrelated to gambling. This allows you to return to gambling with a fresh perspective, helping you make sensible choices.
Set Time Limits and Loss Limits
Along with monetary budgets, consider setting time limits on gambling sessions, such as one hour. Use alarm reminders on your phone or watch to alert you when time is up.
You can also establish loss limits to stop gambling after losing a set amount of money during any session. These self-imposed restrictions make you more aware of how much you are actually gambling.
Avoid Using Gambling as an Income Source
Treating gambling as a potential source of income rather than entertainment is a risky approach. The math is always skewed in favor of the house. Chasing losses by gambling even more trying to win lost money back is also inadvisable.
Accept losses as the cost of being entertained and stick to your predetermined budgets instead of attempting to recoup losses. Losses should only ever come from your allocated gambling funds.
Stay Informed of Risks
Spend some time educating yourself on the statistical house advantages in various casino games and the risks involved. Knowledge reduces the chances you establishes unrealistic expectations that could lead to irresponsible overspending.
Use Available Tools and Resources
Reputable gambling sites provide tools to support responsible gambling, including deposit limits, wager limits, timeout facilities, and player activity statements. Make use of these to control your gambling.
If you are struggling with gambling responsibly, useful resources include hotlines like the National Problem Gambling Helpline. Speaking with an advisor can help you devise a plan to gamble more responsibly going forward.