Responsible Gambling

igamingpa.com provides an overview of online casinos licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. While we want you to choose the best play and have fun, we are committed to making your gambling experience safe and encourage you to gamble responsibly.

Responsible gambling includes the following rules:

If you choose to gamble, do so for entertainment purposes. If your gambling is no longer an enjoyable activity, then ask yourself why you are still playing;
Treat the money you lose as the cost of your entertainment. Treat any winnings as a bonus;
Set a dollar limit and stick to it. Decide before you go not only what you can afford to lose, but how much you want to spend. Do not change your mind after losing;
Set a time limit and stick to it. Decide how much of your time you want to allocate for gambling. Leave when you reach the time limit whether you are winning or losing;
Expect to lose. The odds are that you will lose;
Make it a strict rule not to gamble on credit. Do not borrow money to gamble;
Create balance in your life. Gambling should not interfere with time for friends, family, work or other worthwhile activities;
Avoid “chasing” lost money. Chances are the more you try to recoup your losses, the larger your losses will be;
Don’t gamble as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain. Gambling for reasons other than entertainment can lead to problems;
Become educated about the warning signs of problem gambling. The more you know, the better choices you can make.

The following tips might help you to stick to these rules and be safe when you gamble:

Set strict spending limits before beginning to gamble and stick to them;
Set strict time limits before beginning to gamble and stick to them;
Avoid doubling down your winnings – gambling is for fun only and is not supposed to be a source of finance;
Stay aware of emotions and avoiding gambling if sad, upset or angry;
Monitor spending on gambling;
Take breaks from gambling to avoid it becoming a habit;
Always remember and approach gambling as an entertainment only and not a way to earn;
Gambling shall not be the only activity you like, there are many other things to do in your spare time and gambling shall not take your attention;
Never go over the budget that you have allocated for gambling, once you run out of this budget, it’s time to quit;
Avoid borrowing money for gambling;
Avoid gambling when you are stressed or depressed, in this situation you are less likely to pay attention to the most common gambling addiction signs;
Avoid alcoholic drinks when you are gambling, in this situation you are less likely to pay attention to the most common gambling addiction signs;
Address others and seek help in case gambling no longer feels fun and makes a problem.

Detecting a gambling problem

The first step to recovery is recognizing that a gambling problem exists and the second is seeking help.

Be aware that the following are a sign of problem gambling:

Being preoccupied with gambling;
Feeling restless and irritable when not gambling;
Increasing bets to increase gambling excitement;
Lying or getting defensive about gambling;
Gambling to escape problems;
Risking your job, relationships and freedom.

Please note that the following gambling behavior shall be a concern:

Playing over the limits;
Missing commitments, studies, work or parties with friends for the sake of play;
Trying to win back the funds that were lost;
Being in debt, looking for funds to gamble or sacrificing budget for a play;
Experiencing mood swings, feeling worried, anxious or angry.

When people have a problem with gambling, many times they feel like they need to bet more, feel irritated when they try to stop, and think that they can “chase” their losses to recover money. This can lead to more gambling, despite financial loss and the trust of friends and loved ones. In general, people with gambling problems usually spend a large portion of their income on gambling.

Here’s a list of questions to be asked to identify signs of problem gambling:

Have you often gambled longer than you had planned?
Have you often gambled until your last dollar was gone?
Have thoughts of gambling caused you to lose sleep?
Have you used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid?
Have you made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling?
Have you broken the law or considered breaking the law to pay for your gambling?
Have you borrowed money to pay for your gambling?
Have you felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses?
Have you been remorseful after gambling?
Have you ever gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations?
Do you ever gamble alone?
Have you ever tried to cut down on your gambling?
Are others annoyed by your gambling?
Do you ever feel guilty about your gambling?
Do you ever gamble to feel better?
Have you ever taken money out of savings, investments, or retirement accounts to gamble?
Have you ever delayed paying household bills in order to get more money for gambling?
Have you ever taken cash advances from credit cards to use for gambling?

If the answer to any of the questions is “yes,” then you may want to consider looking at your gambling more closely. Answering these questions can alert you to problems that you might not have thought about before. Many people are not aware of all the ways that gambling can affect their lives.

Resources to Seek Help

Please stay aware of the risks that gambling might pose and get familiarized with the solutions that are offered by:

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling provides assistance to individuals who are unable to keep their gambling at a responsible level.

Please find more resources to fight with gambling disorders at https://responsibleplay.pa.gov/.

Self-exclusion

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board offers self-exclusion programs to help individuals affected by problem gambling distance themselves from the temptation of gambling.

Self-exclusion allows a person to request to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos, internet-based gambling, video gaming terminals and fantasy sports wagering. Individuals who enroll in self-exclusion are prohibited from collecting any winnings, recovering any losses or accepting complimentary gifts or services or any other thing of value from a licensee or operator.

To begin the online enrollment process for Self-exclusion, visit https://responsibleplay.pa.gov/, and click on the “Sign Up for Self-Exclusion”.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS OR MAY HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM, PLEASE CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or TEXT + 1-800-522-4700 or CHAT.

Gambling Addiction Treatment Low-cost or no-cost problem gambling treatment is available through the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for individuals with a gambling addiction and their family members. For more information and for a list of participating treatment providers, visit DDAP’s website or call 1-800-GAMBLER for the contact information of a treatment professional near you.

Gamblers Anonymous of PA Share your experiences and hopes with others. The only requirement for joining is a desire to stop gambling.

Gambler’s Anonymous of PA or call 1-800-GAMBLER for a meeting near you.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA

pacouncil.com or call 1-800-GAMBLER

The National Council on Problem Gambling

ncpgambling.org or call 1-800-522-4700

GAM-ANON

Gam-Anon is a 12-step support program for individuals whose lives have been devastated by the compulsive gambling of a loved one.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling

[email protected] or call 717-346-8300.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

It might also help to try some of the following:

Attend self–help meetings such as Gamblers Anonymous;
Avoid going in or near places where gambling is available;
Spend less time with people who gamble to avoid being pressured into gambling;
Carry only the minimum amount of money that you need for the day.

Problem Gambling Related Websites

This list of Websites has been compiled to help you better understand the issue of problem gambling. Some of these sites refer to research on problem gambling, some refer to self-help groups, and others are sites of organizations that focus on raising awareness and education level of the general public around problem gambling.

Bettors Anonymous – https://www.bettors-anonymous.org/

Debtors Anonymous – https://debtorsanonymous.org/

Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders – https://www.addictiontreatmentdivision.org/

Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling- https://macgh.org/

National Center for Responsible Gaming – https://www.icrg.org/

National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/

Responsible Gambling Council – https://www.responsiblegambling.org/

The WAGER- https://www.basisonline.org/the_wager/