Wager Responsibly
Wager Responsibly
Be Smart - Bet Smart - Wager Responsibly
For many people, betting on the horses is exciting and entertaining. Most make thoughtful decisions about spending time and money. Here are some tips to follow to help wager responsibly:
- Balance playing the horses with other leisure activities.
- Play the horses for entertainment, not as a way to make money.
- Do not "chase" losses. Accept them as the cost of entertainment.
- Use extra income to wager, not money needed for everyday expenses.
- Set a dollar limit and stick with it.
- Set a time limit.
How can you tell if you or someone you know has a gambling problem?
Most people practice responsible wagering. For some, however, wagering or gambling becomes a serious problem that they are unable to control. This can lead to problem gambling. People who have gambling problems have a difficult time controlling or stopping their gambling, regardless of the harm it may cause to themselves, their jobs, families, or anything else. Here are some questions to think about if you feel your gambling has gotten out of control:
- Have you often found yourself thinking about gambling (e.g., reliving past gambling experiences, planning the next time you will play or thinking of ways to get money to gamble)?
- Have you needed to gamble with more and more money to get the amount of excitement you are looking for?
- Have you become restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling?
- Have you gambled to escape from problems or when you are feeling depressed, anxious or bad about yourself?
- After losing money gambling, have you returned another day in order to get even?
- Have you lied to your family or others to hide the extent of your gambling?
- Have you made repeated unsuccessful attempts to control, cut back or stop gambling?
- Have you risked or lost a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of gambling?
- Have you sought help from others to provide the money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling?
If you or someone you know answered yes to any of these questions, you can find resources for help by calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Help is available 24 hours a day... every day.
www.gamblersanonymous.org
www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment
Iowa Residents:
Click here for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s Self-Exclusion Program
(https://irgc.iowa.gov/self-exclusion-program)
Click here for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Enrollment Form
(https://stateofiowa.seamlessdocs.com/f/91z0022eozes)
https://yourlifeiowa.org/facility-locator
Treatment and Recovery Support Services
https://idph.iowa.gov/igtp/treatment
New York residents:
Click here for New York State’s voluntary self- exclusion program.
