Gambling is fun entertainment. Sports betting, casino gambling, lottery picks… they give you a little thrill while you’re waiting for the results, and if you win, you feel great. Losers, not so much, but at least you had a little excitement and had something to talk about with your friends. The key word in the first sentence is “entertainment.” You don’t go to a movie and expect to come out with more money than you went in with. You come out hopefully grateful for the experience you just enjoyed. And that’s exactly what gambling should be—an experience that you enjoyed, win or lose. And that’s how most people approach gambling, but for some, it can be stressful.
Problem gambling is not a joke. It can impact people’s lives in so many ways—finances, relationships, jobs and more. It’s something that no casino, sports book or any company offering gambling options wants. Entertainment and experiences are their goal but sometimes there are guests that can’t handle the pressure.
There’s a great slogan that many responsible gaming programs use: When the fun stops. If you’re no longer having fun or enjoying that act of gambling you could have at least the beginnings of a problem. Here’s five things to look for if you feel you’re not quite right when gambling.
- Are you preoccupied with gambling? Do you think about it all the time? Do you contemplate your next bet even before the first one is resolved?
- Do you have to increase your bets when you lose? Do you believe that if you’ll win you’ll erase previous losses? This is called “chasing” your money and is a very bad sign.
- Do you realize that you have a problem and try to cut back on your gambling? But does that make you irritable and on edge and eventually fails?
- Are you using money you can’t afford to lose? Mortgage money? Food budget? Emergency savings? Do you borrow money to gamble? All responsible gamblers use money that they have budgeted specifically for gambling and if they lose it, it doesn’t impact their lives negatively. If that’s not the case with you, there is definitely a problem.
- Do you lie to friends, family and colleagues about how much money you are gambling? Do you brush off concern from others when they suspect that you’re having a gambling problem?
There are many resources if you believe you’ve got a problem or starting to get one. The national resource is the 1-800-GAMBLER help line. It’s easy to access and they can refer you to specialists in your area.
If you can’t stop by yourself, you can self-exclude. All land-based and online casinos and sports books have programs where you can ask to be blocked from gambling at those sites. You can have yourself blocked permanently or for a limited about of time. It’s not fool proof—some people have figured out how to get around it—but it’s a start and if you can stick with it, you can control your gambling or eliminate it all together. That’s your choice and your responsibility.
800-GAMBLER (New Jersey)
National Council on Problem Gambling (National)
Take a Break with GameSense
