MINNESOTA PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 1-800-333-4673 (HOPE) • TEXT "HOPE" TO 53342 • CHAT NOW ONLINE info@mnapg.org

HEALTHY PLAY

There’s a paradigm shift emerging from thought leaders who focus on responsible gambling. For years, it was the player’s sole responsibility to protect themselves from harmful play.

There’s now a growing acknowledgement that operators and regulators can and should do more in reducing the harm a vulnerable player may experience. Both brick-and-mortar establishments and online platforms are showing signs of taking a more serious approach to implementing robust responsible gambling programs because they know it will help their businesses. 

These newer programs aim to making gambling healthier and safer for those who choose to play, focusing on: 

  • Supporting harm reduction and safer gambling through informed play and robust responsible gambling tools 
  • Reducing harms to affected others by identifying risk behaviors
  • Addressing financial harms with updated credit and cash policies 
  • Reinforcing ideal consumer behaviors
  • Ensuring staff receive thorough training

By transitioning to more inclusive language and practices, these programs seek to diminish stigma and encourage those to seek the help they need to get healthy.

Why is MNAPG encouraged by an emphasis on healthy play? 

We want to promote a fun, safe experience for the 96 percent of people without gambling problems and the 78 percent of Minnesotans who gamble at least annually. While healthy play does not remove all the risks from gambling, it acknowledges the roles regulators, operators and players have in minimizing harm while keeping the activity entertaining. This stance does not diminish our commitment to advocating for those negatively impacted by problem gambling. Totally eliminating gambling disorder is highly improbable. Movements towards a comprehensive effort around healthy play may provide greater insights to those who have a gambling problem.

HEALTHY PLAY

TIPS FOR HEALTHY PLAY

Following these tips can help you make informed decisions and play safely if you choose to gamble. Take time to understand the risks and benefits, and reflect on your personal reasons for playing. Ultimately, balancing these factors is up to you.

  • Whether it’s a casino game, lottery ticket or pull-tab, gambling is designed to generate revenue for a venue. It’s not designed to work the other way around. Over time you will give away more money than you receive! Think of gambling as an entertainment expense – just like buying a movie ticket.
  • Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
    Gamble within your weekly entertainment budget, not with your phone bill or rent budget.
  • Set a money limit in advance
    Decide how much you can afford to lose before you go to play. When it’s gone – it’s over! If you win, you’ve been lucky, but don’t be disappointed if your luck doesn’t continue.
  • Set a time limit in advance
    It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re gambling. Set a time limit or alarm, and when time’s up – quit! Odds are that the more time you spend gambling, the more money you will lose.
  • Never chase your losses
    If you’ve reached your spending limit but try to win back what you’ve lost, you’re no longer sticking to your limit. Chasing your losses will usually just lead to bigger and bigger losses.
  • Don’t gamble when you’re depressed or upset
    Decision-making can be more difficult when you’re stressed or emotionally upset. Make sure you only gamble when you’re feeling happy and clear-headed.
  • Balance gambling with other activities
    When gambling becomes your only form of entertainment, it’s unlikely that you’re still just gambling for the fun of it, and your gambling may even be a problem. Make sure gambling isn’t your only pastime.
  • Leave debit and credit cards at home
    Limiting your access to money, including using apps that prevent your phone for making payments, is a good way to safeguard your budget.
  • Take frequent breaks
    Gambling continuously can cause you to lose track of time and perspective. Step out for some air or a bite to eat at regular intervals.
  • Don’t drink or use drugs when gambling
    Drugs and alcohol cloud judgment, and good judgment stands as your main line of defense against letting gambling get out of control.
  • Remember that, while gambling can be fun, it is not a way to solve problems.

If you gamble on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to keep track of the money you spend on the activity. It will help you to keep a realistic record of your gambling expenses. Remember to put a pre-set amount (the amount you plan to spend for the day) on the first line. Then, at the end of the day, you can compare that amount with the amount you actually spent.

Keep in mind that, despite all the above responsible gambling tips, for some people, any gambling can put them at risk. For these people, the only safe gambling may be no gambling at all.

HEALTHY PLAY

In late 2019, MNAPG commissioned Dr. Richard Wood to conduct a positive play study (PPS) in Minnesota. The survey included 1,000 self-identified gamblers, 80% of whom indicated they had gambled at least once in the previous 12 months. The purpose of the PPS is to measure whether an individual is playing responsibly by examining the following four dimensions of positive play behaviors and beliefs:

  • Honesty and Control: The extent to which players are honest about their play and feel in control.
  • Pre-Commitment: Setting up time and money limits before playing.
  • Personal Responsibility: The extent to which a player believes they should take ownership of their gambling behavior.
  • Gambling Literacy: A player’s accurate understanding about the rules, odds and payouts of games.

Positive Play Scale focuses on better understanding and meeting the needs of all players, not just those with gambling disorder. It provides an objective benchmark for measuring and optimizing healthy play practices.

Minnesota survey results highlight a need to improve pre-commitment and gambling literacy among 18-34-year-olds. This means more prevention work should emphasize the games this group plays and offer informational resources to increase their understanding of odds and risks.

The full report is here.

The Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGG) were produced by the first large-scale, comprehensive project in the world to develop lower-risk gambling guidelines. Published in the fall 2021, the guidelines provide a set of quantitative limits and a summary of information about special risk populations, contextual factors and other health messages that should be included when educating the public about how to gamble in a lower-risk manner. These guidelines are the result of:

• Collaboration with an international group of experts made up of the some of the top gambling researchers in the world;

• Risk curve analyses of over 60,000 people who gamble from eight different countries;

• Feedback from over 10,000 Canadians collected via an online gambling survey administered twice;

• A series of interviews and focus groups with over 50 people who gamble from across Canada;

• Two comprehensive literature reviews; and

• Consultation with a pan-Canadian, multi-sectoral advisory committee of over 20 members.

This work was funded by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and are making these guidelines open and available for use around the world.

When gambling, what you play matters.

Fast-paced games involving quick and repeated betting, like slot machines or online gambling games, can more quickly and easily lead to problems. People can spend large amounts of money in a short time.

LRGG aren’t for everyone.

Edit text: If you experience problems from substance use, experience anxiety or depression, or have a personal or family history of gambling problems, consider gambling less than these guidelines suggest or not at all.

  • Remove Safer Gambling Tips and Harms of Gambling in this section as the tips have been incorporated in the Tips for Healthy Play above.

Change Compare your gambling with the LRGG > See how your gambling habits stack up with the LRGG

 

The Responsible Gambling Council in Canada has created RGCheck, an accredited responsible gambling program recognized as the industry’s gold standard. It offers operators a complete roadmap to implement healthy play practices, protect players and foster a sustainable player base.

Benefits of applying these standards include:

  • Recognizing gambling venues and iGaming sites with outstanding responsible gambling programs
  • Providing operators an objective evaluation of their current responsible gambling policies
  • Identifying strengths and areas for improvements in these efforts
  • Providing operators with effective tools to improve and sustain responsible gambling programs and services
  • Assuring players that operators prioritize their safety
  • Boosting public confidence in gambling operators

The National Council on Problem Gambling has also developed a series of responsible gambling recommendations and best practices for internet gambling, sports wagering and fantasy sports. See more on the Research page.

Back to the tab

“Future proofing the industry” is an aspirational goal where operators refuse revenue from those showing signs of a gambling problem. While it may seem idealistic, some countries are using technology to better identify at-risk patrons and engage them in conversations about the risks and potential financial harm. The aim is to provide safeguards and prevention measures that alert individuals to negative behavior changes.

Update link to Resources: Gambling Trends and have it direct to anchor link on Research page: https://mnapg.org/professionals/research/

Translate »