When enjoyed in moderation and with a set budget in mind, gambling can be a fun and exciting way to pass the time. It’s vital for all players to familiarize themselves with the importance of responsible gambling, as well as how to become responsible gamblers themselves.
In light of the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), taking place from September 19 – September 25, 2021, we at BetMGM have put together a guide outlining some tips and strategies to help you keep gambling a fun and safe experience.
Read on for safe gambling tips and guidelines, as well as a breakdown of how BetMGM supports and promotes safe gambling through all of our products and services..
What it means to be a responsible gambler
Are there specific “limits” in place that dictate whether or not a person is a “safe” gambler? Are there different “levels” of gambling safety against which a person can measure themselves?
Unfortunately not – especially considering how one person might be able to afford to lose a much higher amount than another. Ultimately, it’s not how much you spend (or don’t spend) that makes you a responsible gambler – it’s how you approach the act of gambling in general.
A responsible gambler:
- Gambles for entertainment purposes only
- Doesn’t rely on gambling as a source of income
- Takes regular breaks in between gaming sessions
- Sets a specific budget on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis – and sticks to it
- Sets a specific time limit for gambling on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis – and sticks to it
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose and treats any money lost as the cost of entertainment
Tips for gambling responsibly
If you’re dedicated to keeping your gambling fun and safe, here are some tips to keep in mind at all times:
- Only gamble when you’re in a good mood and in search of some entertainment. Avoid turning to your favorite online casino when you’re feeling sad, angry, or lonely or with the intention of making money.
- Base the success of a gambling session on how much fun you had, as opposed to how much money you walked away with.
- Surround yourself with other responsible gamblers. It’s amazing how “contagious” unhealthy gambling habits and attitudes can become when you’re around them for extended periods of time.
- Manage your expectations. It’s wise to enter into a new session with the expectation of losing to avoid disappointment or any temptation to continue playing despite exceeding your budget.
- Always work on finding and maintaining balance in your life. If other aspects of your lifestyle are well-balanced, i.e., you’re happy at work, you’re nurturing healthy relationships, and you’re dedicating time to self-improvement, you’re less likely to feel the need to develop gambling habits that could have unfortunate consequences.
- Only play at land-based and/or digital casinos that promote safe gambling and provide you with the tools and support necessary to adopt such an approach.
- Be aware of the many gambling myths that could delude you into thinking it’s safe to continue playing despite exceeding your limits. The belief that your luck will change if you carry on playing after a losing streak is an example of one of these myths. Playing multiple games at the same time to increase your chances of winning big is another.
- Educate yourself and know what signs to watch out for in terms of problem gambling. It’s time to seek help when:
- You’re constantly going over your limits, either by spending too much time or too much money on your gambling sessions.
- You find that the idea of gambling is starting to take over your thoughts and beginning to negatively impact your job or relationships.
- You feel a strong urge to “win back” your losses, and fast.
- You are spending more money than you can afford to lose and are selling your assets, borrowing money, or getting hold of cash through illegal means to continue gambling.
- You make up lies regarding how much time or money you’re spending gambling when approached or confronted by your loved ones, colleagues, or boss.
- You let other responsibilities slide, such as going to work or caring for your family, so you can spend more time gambling.
- You find yourself experiencing feelings of guilt or remorse as a result of your gambling habits.
Safe gambling at BetMGM
According to the results of a recent survey, almost 70% of Americans believe the gaming industry “behaves responsibly in the communities where it operates.” This is good news as it shows the vast majority of land-based and online casinos are focused on making it easier to play online casino games and to take part in online sports betting with a safe, responsible approach top of mind.
As part of the American Gaming Association’s campaign to promote responsible gaming and prevent problem gambling, we at BetMGM actively supply our gamblers with resources for safer gambling. We ensure that we speak openly about the warning signs of problem gambling, and make sure that all of our gamblers have access to the details necessary should they feel the need to seek help.
Over the years, we’ve reached out to respected research institutes, associations, and counseling providers for advice regarding the development and implementation of well-researched measures to help us create an online gaming portal that is responsible, safe, and reliable. As such, we’ve taken on the responsibility of molding a gaming environment that operates on three basic principles, namely real fairness, real security and real prevention.
Speaking of problem gambling prevention, we make it possible for you, as an online gambler, to set your own personal limits regarding your deposits and spending. These can be limits for daily, weekly or monthly play. You can effortlessly request to decrease these limits at any time. However, requests for limit increases only become valid after a delayed period (one day for daily limits, seven days for weekly limits and 30 days for monthly limits).
In the event that you feel your gambling practices are no longer in the “safe” zone, BetMGM makes it easy for you to take a timeout for any period of time between three and 180 days.
Don’t hesitate to call the national problem gambling helpline 1-800-522-4700 for assistance with problem gambling.
Find balance. Set limits. Have fun. Play safe.
