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Responsible gambling is the most important skill which all players need to know. That’s why the LegitGamblingSites.com team is committed to ensuring you have the tools to gamble safely online. Gambling can be an entertaining hobby, but irrational decisions can lead to real-life problems.
This guide will help you avoid developing bad habits by teaching you how to gamble responsibly. We’ll discuss the habits of responsible players and how to adopt them, teach you the signs of problem gambling, and walk you through the resources available if you, or someone you know, may need help.
Responsible gambling means adhering to a set of good habits which make playing safer and reduces the chances of developing gambling problems or even an addiction. Responsible players understand that gambling is a form of entertainment. They stick to a budget of money that they can comfortably afford to lose without the expectation of winning anything back. They also understand the financial risks associated with gambling and make conscious decisions to minimize them.
Many of these decisions revolve around how and when to play. For example, staying calm, sober, and mindful of the time passing can help you stay rational when gambling. Making an effort to develop these good habits will serve you well in the long term.
When players do not control their gambling, it can become problematic. Players may struggle to stop, overspend their budget, or begin to neglect other aspects of their lives. In extreme situations, problem gambling can develop into addiction (commonly known as compulsive gambling). Both can have detrimental effects on the player’s finances, relationships, and physical/mental health.
To reduce the risk of having issues, we encourage all players to be aware of the early signs of problem gambling. Adopting tips and techniques to help you stay in control of your play will also help maintain a healthy relationship with gambling.
Whether you’re a gambling rookie or a seasoned pro, learning how to gamble responsibly should be a top priority. Following these tips can help keep gambling fun for everyone.
Like most hobbies, you should see gambling as a form of leisure. Just like buying a ticket to the big game or investing in a new fishing pole, the money you gamble should be treated as an expense. Only ever bet with disposable income, which you can comfortably afford to lose.
Think carefully about your income and decide how much you’d like to allocate to gambling. Keep track of your profit and loss through each session, and stop playing when your bankroll runs out. The media often glamorizes the idea of going ‘all in’ on gambling and risking your full bankroll, but the reality is that this high-risk strategy has ruined many lives. Managing your bankroll is an invaluable skill, so we recommend finding the best strategy for you and your budget. We have dedicated guides to developing sound casino bankroll management and sports betting bankroll management.
Pay close attention to how you feel when gambling. Monitoring your mental state is important because playing when feeling strong emotions (whether positive or negative) can affect the rationality of your gameplay. Only play when you feel calm and level-headed; one easy way would be to stop for a while when you start losing it.
It can be easy to lose track of time when you’re having fun, but taking regular breaks away from each gambling session is important. Breaks will help ease the pressure, clear your mind, and allow you to check in and evaluate your feelings.
It’s no secret that using drugs and alcohol can lower inhibitions and impair judgment. Never gamble under the influence.
Each casino game has a built-in house edge which gives the casino an advantage in the long term. Similarly, in poker, the casino’s built-in advantage is the rake which ensures the cardroom receives a commission no matter who wins. In sports betting, all bets have a built-in vigorish (also called margin) to guarantee the sportsbooks will make money regardless of the outcome. For this reason, gambling should never be seen as a reliable money maker.
While we’ve already covered the negative effects of playing when upset or angry, people often overlook the effects of playing when riding high. A few big wins can give you a false sense of confidence that you are on a ‘lucky streak,’ which can also lead to irrational decisions. Again, the key is to stay calm when gambling.
Even the greatest gamblers in the world lose sometimes. In a way, long-term gambling is similar to boxing: you will get hit, sometimes pretty hard. To stay in the game, you must learn to roll with the punches and respond accordingly. In gambling, this means accepting that when you lose money, it is gone. Playing on and attempting to recoup your losses is not a sensible way to gamble and can lead to serious financial problems.
Many people ignore the early signs of problem gambling and underestimate the developing issue. However, further down the road, this often leads to major problems and even addiction. The vast majority of gambling sites and commissions offer the option to self-exclude, meaning you can request to be barred from gambling.
While this is an extreme action, it can offer peace of mind if you have any doubts about your gambling habits. There are other ways to tackle the problem, and we address them later in this guide.
Before we get there, let’s focus on the signs of problem gambling.
Many online gambling resources offer tools to help you determine how healthy your relationship with gambling is. The test by GambleAware is eight questions long and will only take two minutes to complete. Beyond regularly taking these quizzes, knowing the signs of problem gambling is useful.
If one or more of these signs resonates with you, it is time to seek help. There are a number of free resources available to US players and gamblers from other regions to help gain control over your gambling.
Seeking help for problem gambling can provide invaluable guidance and help explore the best treatment options. Remember, you do not have to tackle problem gambling alone. There are many people, organizations, and resources ready to support you.
In the first instance, accepting that there is an issue and talking about it with loved ones can alleviate the pressure and anxiety surrounding the issue. Some players may find self-excluding from gambling sites to be helpful in preventing them from playing.
It’s also worth researching if there are local support groups that offer in-person assistance and accountability. Many of them offer complete confidentiality. Moreover, seeking professional help from qualified therapists is one of the biggest steps in moving towards a healthier and more sustainable relationship with gambling.
You’ll find a list of free resources below. These organizations, hotlines, and support groups can help you choose the best course of action and provide a community of people facing similar challenges.
Below you’ll find a list of resources available to players from all over the globe, plus a few specifically for US residents. All are completely free to use, and many are available around the clock. The vast majority are also completely confidential.
Gamblers Anonymous: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship in which those who wish to stop gambling can meet in person, virtually, or by telephone. Meetings run all across the US on various days of the week.
Gambling Therapy: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/
Gambling Therapy support groups accept gamblers as well as their family and friends. All meetings happen online. Additionally, Gambling Therapy operates a live-chat text service that can connect you to an experienced advisor privately.
Gamtalk Live Chat: https://www.gamtalk.org/
Gamtalk has a group support chat room available 24 hours a day. You will need to register and log in to your account to access the chat.
NCPG State Resources
Many states have facilities dedicated to the treatment of gambling addiction. You can find a list of facilities where you live on the NCPG website.
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
Operated by The National Council on Problem Gambling, the helpline supports those in all 50 states as well as US territories. It is available 24/7, completely confidential, and can also be used as a text/chat service.
Gamblers Anonymous Local Hotlines
Gamblers Anonymous operate local hotlines in a number of US states. To find the right number for your location, look here.
Self-exclusion is an excellent option for those looking to take a break from gambling. By self-excluding, you are voluntarily barring yourself from casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms. Exclusion programs are run on a state-by-state basis. You can often sign up online via your state’s gambling commission page or else through the dedicated problem gambling resources where you live.
For sites that operate outside of the USA, contact customer support to self-exclude. You can also contact bodies that regulate casinos (such as the Curaçao eGaming Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority) to self-exclude from all the sites licensed by them.
It is possible to gamble responsibly. Treat gambling solely as a means of entertainment, never as a way to make money. Stick to a budget and avoid betting when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, upset, angry, or in an attempt to recoup past losses. Take regular breaks and continue to participate in other hobbies.
In the ‘account’ section of your gambling site, you’ll be able to see how much you’ve won and lost. If you use multiple gambling sites, you’ll have to keep track of profit and loss yourself.
The frequency of your gambling does not determine whether you have a problem. Though frequent gambling is a symptom of problem gambling, not all gamblers will play every day.
