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Gambling Responsibly in the United States

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What Does Responsible Gambling Mean?

Responsible gambling is betting for entertainment’s sake. In short, it’s gambling for fun. When it becomes gambling for money, it begins to become a problem and a risk. When it’s for fun, the entertainment factor is euphoric. When you gamble in a responsible way, you are enjoying a form of entertainment or fun. It’s not a job. It’s not a quick way to make money. It’s a shot in the dark that could win you some money, but most likely won’t.

Gambling becomes a problem when people use it as a means to earn income. Instead, gambling responsibly means taking breaks from wagering, knowing how much you can afford to bet, and setting strict limits for yourself. When this happens, you can have fun gambling, and it becomes more of an enjoyable social activity you can partake in with friends and family. That’s what USA Legal Betting is here for: to teach you about responsible gambling in the US.

Let’s look at a few simple steps of what responsible gambling is:

  • Set limits for yourself
  • Don’t gamble with money you can’t lose
  • Don’t borrow money to gamble
  • Take breaks
  • Set a loss limit
  • Balance gambling with other activities
  • Expect to lose
  • When it stops being fun, stop gambling

With these steps to responsible gaming, you should feel far more confident making a choice as to if you want to gamble and, if so, what to gamble on. Regardless of your choice, your bets will most likely be placed through a bookmaker.

The Bookmakers’ Responsibility

Many people don’t know this, but bookmakers have a huge responsibility to provide bettors with the proper resources for gambling problems and addictions. Keep this in mind when choosing a bookmaker, as some do not accept this responsibility nearly as much as others.

For instance, every major bookmaker will have a gambling addiction number and website displayed on their home page. For any bookmaker that does not, we suggest looking elsewhere. Again, all bookmakers have an obligation to provide resources for problem gambling. If they do not, they’re being irresponsible. Simple as that.

Part of responsible gambling is also knowing which betting site site to pick. Below is a list of legitimate bookmakers that comply with the responsibilities of the industry:

  • BetMGM
  • BetRivers
  • FanDuel
  • DraftKings
  • Caesar’s
  • Borgata

What the aforementioned bookmakers have that many other books don’t is an “RG” logo clearly visible somewhere on their homepage. This is crucial as the RG stands for Responsible Gaming and is compliant with industry regulations.

When you finally choose the right bookmaker for you, you will then have to decide what kind of betting piques your interest. As mentioned before, there are card games like Poker or Blackjack.

If you’re not much of a card player, there are slot machines, thousands of different kinds, from 3-line slot machines to 10-20-30-line slots. There is a multitude of different slot machines, both in-person and online, some that take as little as one cent to play and others that have a minimum of $1 or higher. When playing slots, it’s best to set a dollar limit and walk away once you lose it.

Perhaps you’re someone that feels they would do well betting on sports. Just like card games and slot machines, sports betting can be done both in-person and online. With team events, there is usually a spread, showing that one team is favored over the other. There will most likely be a total amount scored as well. Either way, just as you would with slot machines, set a dollar limit and walk away when it’s over. 

How Do I Know if I Have a Gambling Problem?

Gambling, like consuming alcohol or cigarettes, can become an incredibly stifling addiction, which is why responsible gaming is so critical in the United States (US) and worldwide. It can tear apart families and deplete one’s life savings, all due to chasing money you’ve already lost in hopes you’ll recover it. 

That’s not how gambling works, nor should it be the way you pursue it. It’s a life choice, an adult choice, that one should weigh with every possible detail provided. On that note, gambling should be an entertaining activity in which you should enjoy the process whether you win or lose. Yes, even if you lose, gambling should be enjoyable. We’ll get to that in a minute.

Keep in mind also that gambling, both at a casino or online, is highly addictive and, therefore, dangerous. It doesn’t matter whether it’s slot machines, card games, or sports betting; it can be a risky venture if you’re not careful. Here is a list of symptoms that signal a gambling problem:

  • An increasing preoccupation with gambling
  • The need to bet more money, more frequently
  • Restlessness or irritability when trying to stop gambling
  • Chasing your losses (betting more and more to recover your lost money)
  • A loss of control
  • Risking relationships due to gambling
  • Asking family and friends to bail you out financially due to gambling losses

Obviously, some of these symptoms are far more severe than others, but always be aware of them as they affect you and everyone around you.

Where Can You Get Help for Problem Gambling?

Never believe that there isn’t help out there for gambling problems. There are a lot of options available for all players. Every state has resources for gambling, even if it’s Gambler’s Anonymous or the National Council on Problem’s national hotline, which is available in every single state: 1-800-522-4700. Help is available 24 hours a day and is 100% confidential.

Conclusion

Gambling should always be a fun activity. When it turns into more of a job, you’re not gambling responsibly anymore. Fortunately, there are several ways you can gamble responsibly without making it reckless such as setting limits, taking breaks, and balancing gambling with other activities. Make it enjoyable, not stressful, and remember not to bet money you can’t lose. Good luck!

Below are resources available in all 50 states in the US, including the District of Columbia

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado 

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

  • Resources for Problem Gambling: North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming