Gambling involves risking finances or valuable assets on unpredictable events, hoping to secure extra funds or possessions. This activity spans sports wagering, casino play, slot machines, lottery tickets, bingo and various other betting formats.
Responsible gambling is about controlling gambling and making sure it doesn’t cause problems with your money, work, relationships or day-to-day life.
It means knowing that gambling is a gamble. There is no sure way to win. Gambling is not a way to make money, nor is it a way to solve money problems.
Responsible gambling is mostly about knowing your limits, setting yourself clear boundaries and knowing when to stop.
Why Is Responsible Gambling Important?
For some, gambling might be a form of entertainment. Although it can also cause serious damage when a person starts to lose control over how much they gamble or how often they gamble.
Gambling can cause financial problems, relationship issues, mental health problems and other serious harms, the World Health Organization says. It also points out that harm from gambling can affect people even if they do not meet the full criteria for gambling disorder.
The WHO estimates that around 1.2% of adults have a gambling disorder globally (although there are limited global estimates).
That is why responsible gambling is important. The goal is not to discover a method to win more. The aim is to keep gambling within limits that a person can afford and control.
What Does Responsible Gambling Mean?
Responsible gambling means making decisions before you begin gambling rather than making decisions after you’ve already lost money.
You can determine how much money you want to spend on a bet before you make it. You may also set how much time you are willing to gamble.
You hit your limit and then you stop.
Responsible gambling means understanding that losses are part of gambling too. A player should not feel that they have to keep playing because a win is due.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Set a Gambling Budget
One of the easiest ways to gamble responsibly is to set a budget.
Only use money that you can afford to lose. Gambling money should not come from money needed for rent, food, bills, education or other important expenses.
For example, if you decide that you can afford to spend $200 on gambling in a month, that should be your limit. If you lose that amount, you should not add more money simply because you want to keep playing.
A gambling budget can help you separate entertainment spending from money needed for everyday life.
It can also make it easier to notice when gambling is starting to cost more than you expected.
Never Chase Your Losses
Chasing losses is one of the biggest issues with unhealthy gambling.
It happens when someone loses money and then starts gambling more to win that money back.
Say you lose a bet of 50 euros. You can think a big bet will win back the lost. If that bet loses too, then you can increase the amount again.
That can set up a vicious cycle of ever-larger losses.
The next bet might not be a winning bet. A past loss does not make a future win more likely.
If you hit the amount you intended to lose then stopping is usually the safer option.
Don’t play games with borrowed money
Gambling is a poor way to make money.
Taking out a loan, borrowing from friends, or using credit cards to continue gambling can make financial problems a lot worse.
Gambling is also not a good way to make money or get out of debt.
If you are already having financial difficulties, gambling can make a bad situation worse.
Responsible gambling involves not exposing gambling to your core financial responsibilities.
Set a Time Limit
It’s not money alone that must be rationed. The time is important too.
Online gambling can be done almost any time using a phone or computer. This can make it easier for someone to gamble more than they intended.
The WHO notes that the growing availability and accessibility of online gambling can increase the risk of harm.
Decide in advance how much time you are willing to spend gambling.
For example, you may decide to gamble for 30 minutes and then stop yourself. Taking breaks can also help you get away from the activity and think about how much time and money you are spending.
Gambling should not replace sleep, work, studies, family time, exercise or other important activities.
Do Not Think Gambling Is a Way to Make Money
This is one of the most important parts of responsible gambling.
Gambling should not be seen as a regular source of income.
A person can win sometimes, but there is no guarantee of winning consistently. Even if someone has a good understanding of a sport, the result of an individual match can still be uncertain.
The same applies to casino games and other forms of gambling.
Responsible gambling means accepting the possibility of losing the money you choose to spend.
If the main reason for gambling is to make money or solve financial problems, it may be time to step back and reconsider the behavior.
Understand the Warning Signs
Recognising warning signs early can help prevent a gambling problem from becoming more serious.
Some possible signs include:
- Spending more money than planned
- Gambling for longer than planned
- Thinking about gambling throughout the day
- Trying to hide gambling from family or friends
- Borrowing money to gamble
- Feeling stressed because of gambling
- Missing work or other responsibilities because of gambling
- Trying to stop gambling but being unable to do so
- Continuing to gamble even after it causes problems
The WHO describes gambling disorder through three main areas. These are reduced control over gambling, giving gambling greater importance than other areas of life and continuing to gamble despite negative consequences.
A person does not have to wait until gambling causes serious damage before asking for help.
What Are Responsible Gambling Tools?
Many regulated gambling operators provide tools to help customers manage their gambling.
The specific tools will vary depending on the country and the operator but could include:
Limits on Deposits
The deposit limit enables a customer to restrict the amount of money they are allowed to deposit into a gambling account over a defined period of time.
This can help a person from pouring in more money than he/she intended.
Time Limits:
Some gambling sites provide tools to help customers control their time spent gambling.
These can be reminders or constraints on sessions.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion is a process where a person can ask a gambling operator to exclude them from gambling for a set period.
This may be useful for someone who feels that they need a more substantial break from gambling.
The WHO also refers to self-exclusion and limits on time and money as tools to help people to better control gambling.
The tools available and the rules around them vary from country to country, so users should check the responsible gambling options available to them by their licensed operator or local regulator.
Gambling Less
A break is a simple way to review your gambling behavior.
If you are gambling more than you want to or spending more money than you want to, taking a break can help you understand why you are gambling and how it affects your daily life.
Use the time for other things such as exercise, hobbies, family time, friends or other interests.
If you find it difficult to take a break even when you want to, it can be a sign that you need more support.
When Should You Ask for Help?
There is nothing shameful in asking for help with gambling.
If gambling is affecting your money, relationships, work, studies or mental health, talk to someone you trust or get help from a professional support service.
The WHO classifies gambling disorder as a disorder of addictive behavior and says treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
Getting support early can make it easier to regain control.
People should also remember that gambling laws and support services differ between countries. Anyone looking for help should use a trusted local health service, gambling support organisation or regulator.
Responsible Gambling FAQs
What is responsible gambling?
Responsible gambling is gambling in a way that you can afford and control. Includes setting time and money limits, accepting losses and not gambling when gambling is causing problems in your life.
How can I gamble responsibly?
Have a budget set before you start, use only money you can afford to lose, set a time limit and avoid chasing losses. Use the gambling control tools available and regularly take time out when you need to.
Can gambling become addictive?
Yes. Gambling disorder is recognized as a disorder due to addictive behaviors in the WHO’s ICD 11. Warning signs include loss of control, gambling taking precedence over other areas of life and continuing to gamble despite negative consequences.
Should I gamble with borrowed money?
No. Borrowing money to gamble can increase financial problems. Gambling should not be used as a way to pay bills, clear debt or create regular income.
What is self-exclusion?
Self-exclusion is a tool that allows a person to ask a gambling operator to stop them from gambling for a chosen period. Availability and rules vary by country and operator.
What should I do if I cannot control my gambling?
Consider stopping gambling and speaking with someone you trust. You can also contact a professional gambling support service or a local health service for help.
