Responsible Gambling

We love gambling as much as the next person. That’s why we run this website. However, we would be fools not to recognize the negative impacts that gambling can have, on families, on lives, on livelihoods. This page might be the single most important page on our website – and responsible gambling is one of the most important things that you, the person reading it, can do. We are committed to the readership of LegalGamblingUSA, and we want to make it clear to all of you that problem gambling is just that, a problem. A serious one. It is incredibly important to recognize if you are displaying problematic gambling behavior and seek help if you are, because help IS out there, and you both deserve and should get it.

How To Gamble Responsibly

The biggest thing you can do, the number one thing, is to not allow gambling to consume a large part of your income. We get what it’s like to be on a losing streak and chase further, but the most important thing you can do when that happens is STOP. Maintaining bankroll discipline is so critical to being a normal, occasional gambler, and it is the gap between someone who is gambling for fun and someone whose hobby has consumed their life. The vast majority of problem gamblers aren’t high rollers – they’re the lower-income people who spend their paychecks at the slot machines, a couple of times a week.

Here are a few tips you can follow to make sure you’re being responsible:

Do not wager more money than you have, under any circumstances. This is rule number one, and it is self-explanatory. The key part here is “under any circumstances”. Humans tend to cut ourselves slack, and it’s important to stick to this.
Do not chase losses! Everyone knows the feeling of being on a bad run, and you think that as soon as you win it’ll all be ok. This is what’s known as tilt - you’re letting things other than the data and available information guide your betting habits, you’re betting emotionally, and it’s an excellent way to get in over your head and enter problem gambling status.
Do not gamble emotionally! This is something of a continuation of the previous point, but it bears stating – when gambling starts to become an emotional outlet, you have a problem. There are many healthy competitive outlets that are not this. Please take advantage of them. Gambling should be a hobby.

Signs Of Problem Gambling/Gambling Addiction

The signs below are not the be-all/end-all of problem gambling. It’s important to put them in context. That said, if you recognize more than half of these, you should seriously consider analyzing your gambling habits with a critical eye.

Have you modified your lifestyle due to your gambling desires?
Do you try to finish on a winner, or chase until you’re out of money?
Do you use gambling to escape from or cope with other problems?
How much regret do you hold after placing certain bets?
Have you ever gambled over the amount you planned?
Has the thought of stealing money to gamble more every crossed your mind?
Has borrowing money from others in order to keep you afloat ever happened?
Has gambling become an activity that causes people in your circle to notice your changing attitude?
Can you feel differences in yourself between winning a bet and losing a bet?
Have you borrowed money from your daily living expenses in order to fund your gambling
habit?
How often do you bet? What happens if you don’t?
How many bets do you place per day?
Before your last bet is graded, are you already thinking about your next bet?
Are you placing bets on games just because you want to gamble?
Have negative thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself ever entered your mind after gambling?
Are you allocating a portion of every paycheck for gambling purposes?
Have you skipped events you would normally attend in order to gamble?

Where To Get Help

Asking for help isn’t always easy. It’s important to understand that these services are set up to help you. There are a lot of places you can turn for help with your potential gambling addiction, or even help understanding if you have one. Here are some good options.

If you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, please use one or more of these resources.