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Thereā€™s nothing more important when betting online than responsible gambling ā€” it stands as the cornerstone of a safe and enjoyable bettišŸ§”ng experience. And the good news is that responsible online gambling is both easy tošŸ’« understand and to put into practice thanks to the variety of tools and resources provided. Read on!

Responsible gambling is simply about engaging in healthy gaming behaviors and mitigating potenź¦…tial harms associated with the activity.

On an individual and practical level, it is simply about making a consciź§…ous effort to maintain control over oneā€™s gambling activities. This might mean ensuring you stick to a budget, avoiding betting more than you can afford to lose, never chasing losses, and never betting emšŸ·otionally or compulsively.

šŸƒ From an industry perspective, it involves implementing poā™”licies and practices that would encourage safe behavior, and prioritizing the well-being of customers, including the use of responsible gambling tools.

If you think you could use some additional help maintaining responsible gaming behaviors, then most US sportsbooks offer a broad selection of tools to hš’…Œelp you stay in control. We recommend tā€aking advantage of the following:

Deposit Limits

This limits how much you can deposit over various periods of time, often ranging between daily, weekly and monthlyšŸ‘ deposit limits. Choose whatever best suits your budget.

Time Out Sessions

This tool allows you to voluntarily self-exclude from making bets or accessing gambling websites for a set pešŸŒ¼riod ā€” typically over 24 hošŸ’Æurs, with your account being automatically restored. Ideal if you think youā€™d benefit from a cooling off period.

Self-Exclusion

Think of self-exclusion as a more extended version of a time-out, which can range from months and years, toą²ž permanent exclusion. ź§‹

The rather fragmented nature of online gambling in the United States means that self-exclusion typically only impacts one specific operator. But for this to work optimally (as weā€™ve seen be successful through the likes of GAMCARE in the UK), a broader self-exclusion option that would prevent useā™‘rs from accessing as many operators as possible would be optimal for responsible gambling.

This doesnā€™t exist right now in the US. However, with seven operators (FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Penn Entertainment, Fantastic Betting & Gaming, bet365, and Hard Rock ź¦«Digital) coming together to form a responsible gambling council of sorts, such advancements seem likely in the future.

Right now, our only advice is that if you do feel the need ļ·½to self-exclude, do so across as many gambling sites as possible, and seek help if you find yourself teā™mpted to sign up to an alternative.

Wagering Limits

This is just like deposit limits except it limits how much you can wager over a set period of time. Therefore, it is especially useful if you have plenty of cash in your accšŸŽ‰ount and a deposit limit wouldnā€™t necessarily be that effective in encouraging responsible gaming.

Loss Limits

This prevents you from gambling once a certain amount of money has been lost over a set period. Importantš“€ both for responsible gambling and a useful tool for smart betting strategiesšŸŒ¼.

Reality Checks

The way this works is very simple, the site notifies you when youā€™ve been playing for a certain amount of time, often an hour or every few hours. You can generally set a custom time based on how you like to play. This prevents you from betting compulsively by putting into perspective the amount of time youā€™ve spent gambling. As the Draftkings responsible gambling tagline goes, ā€œItā€™s More Fun When Itā€™s for Funā€, aš”nd reality checks are ašŸ¦¹ great way of keeping it that way!

Session Limits

Just like reality checks, but instead of simply being reminded of how much time you've spent gambling, session limits automatically log you off when the limit is met, and youā€™re only allowed bšŸ·ack on once a cool-down period is completed.

Unsure of whether you might need help? One of the simplest ways to determine if you have a šŸ¦¹problem is by seeing if you fall into any of the common signs of problem gambling. Remember that having issues with any one of the below is enough for us to recommend seeking help with how you bet online.

A preoccupation with gambling

In other words, constantly thinking about upcominā™ˆg bets.

Worrying about gambling

If you are worried you have a gambling problem, you most likely do. People with healšŸ’œthy relationships with gambling generally donļ·½ā€™t have feelings of guilt or shame when betting online.

Gambling when youā€™re not having fun

If youā€™re betting online but not enjšŸ’oying it, thatā€™s a sign your behavior has become compulsive.

Difficulty sticking to limits

Whether they are limits you set yourself or those set by responsible gambling tools, a failure to adhere to lšŸŒ±imits is usually the sign of a problem.

Chasing losses

You should never chase losses, and you ouš“‚ƒght to take the desire to do so seriously ā€” it indicates an issue with respā™•onsible gambling.

Lying about gambling

If you conceal your gambling from those close to you, thatā€™s a serious signšŸƒ that your gambling ź¦has spiraled out of control.

Borrowing money to gamble

This is one of the most dangerous things you could do when ā™‘betting online. Seek help immediately if you are borrowing money to fund your betting activities.

Screenshot of Borgata Responsible Gaming Page
(Source: Borgata)

Taking advantage of the responsible gambling efforts of bookmakers is simple. Tools are generally made as accessible and as easš“”y to use as possible, so you can stay in control of your online bš“”etting by following these three straightforward steps:

  1. Consider what tools would be most helpful to you

    You donā€™t need to have a serious gambling problem to utilise such tools. In fact, many of these, such as loss limits, can help everyone focus on the fun while staying in control. Other people may need more serious help depending on the issues they are facing. Thąµ©e first step towards better responsible gambling in any case is to consider your habits, and then the tools available that canšŸ½ best aid in your safety when betting online.

  2. Find a bookmaker which has the tools you need

    Most good US bookmakers nowadays will provide most, if not all, of the tools listed on this page. So, once youā€™ve figured out which of them you need, pick a reputable bookmaker available in your state and ensure they offer that specific tool.

  3. Go through the process to utilize those tools

    How specifically tools work does depend on which one weā€™re talking about and the individual operator. Often, itā€™s a case of setting them up through your profile, and betting limits are often part of the registration process. You may need to contact customer servicź¦¦e for certain services such as self-exclusion or if youā€™re coną¼ŗfused about how anything works,

Whią²žle there are differences in state law, and the way responsible online gambling is handled varies per jurisdiction, there are also plenty of national resources worthy of your responsible gambling trust.

The following are š’…Œgreat starting points regardless of where in the USA you call home.

  1. 1.

  2. 2.

  3. 3.

  4. 4.

Thereā€™s also state-specific responsible gambling help if youā€™re looking for more regional assistance. The table below includes all the states that currently offer legal gambling, and the relevantź¦æ resources.

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What to do if there are no hotlines in your area

Some jurisdiā€ctions do not appear to have any sort of regiąµ²onal hotline for problem gambling. For such cases, weā€™ve put in the national hotline 1-800-GAMBLER so everyone reading this has access to help should they need it.

StateHotline Problem GamblingResponsible Gambling Site
Arizona1-800-NEXT-STEP
Colorado1-800-GAMBLER
Connecticut1-888-789-7777
Delaware888-850-8888
Illinois1-800-GAMBLER
Indiana1-800-9-WITH-IT
Kansas1-800-522-4700
Kentucky513-322-5998 (Lexington G.A) 855-222-5542 (Louisville G.A plus Cincinnati G.A)
Louisiana1-877-770-7867
Maryland1-800-GAMBLER
Massachusetts1-800-GAMBLER
Michigan1-800-270-7117
New Jersey1-800-GAMBLER
New York1-877-846-7369
North Carolina877-718-5543
Ohio1-800-589-9966
Oregon1-877-MYLIMIT
Pennsylvania1-800-GAMBLER
Virginia1-888-532-3500

 Compared to many European countries, being able to šŸŒ legally bet online is relatively new to the United States. Thatā€™sšŸŽ why we're thrilled to see responsible gambling taken so seriously on both a state and national level.

Licenses are given out very strictly, with strong rules and regulations on what operators must do to encourage players to bet safely. Wherever you are, there are tons of resources to help you gamble responsibly. We strongly encourage ą¹„everyone who can benefit from them in any capacity to take advantage of ź©µthese opportunities.

Responsible gambling is about staying safe when betting online. It rź§Ÿefers to both individual responsibility and corporate/state responsibility to provide you with all the tools, help, and resources required to maximize your chances of betting safely. All of this is vital to maintaining your financial and psychological well-being.

Self-exclusion can refer to you personally deciding to step away from gambling, as well as the tools provided by betting sites to help facilitate such a decision. The way it works is simple: you request to be excluded from a site either permanently or for a certain period, and the operaą·“tor blocks your account from that point on. You may need to contact customer service to impose self-exclusion on your account.

These are tools provided by a betting site or another third party, which ešŸ²ną½§courage responsible gambling. Common examples include deposit limits, loss limits, spending limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, and reality checks. These are provided alongside helplines and self-assessment tools on virtually all reputable US betting sites.

There are various levels of risk when it comes to gambling. For instance, if someone was betting a small amount that they could easily afford to lose for fun, this would be lower risk than someone betting a large amount compulsively. Safer gambling is all about reducing the risks of gambling behaā™›vior.

Author Avatar
WRITTEN BY Ben Gibson šŸ„‚    View all poź¦†sts by Ben Gibson ź§‚

Ben has been writing professionally for over a dā™ecade. His articles are a great outlet for his inexhaustible supply of sporting facts and enthusiasm. He resides in Yorkshire, where his work is powered by the ever-present sound of a kettle.

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