While we hope that all of our viewers treat online gambling as an entertaining diversion to be enjoyed in moderation, we understand that some are better off either restricting their play or excluding themselves from gambling altogether. Fortunately, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has taken a proactive approach to the issue and required that all state-regulated gaming sites offer users the ability to easily limit different aspects of their play.
Online Gaming Site Restrictions
Patrons have access to the following options through their accounts at each of New Jersey’s online casino sites:
- Account cool-off: this option allows you to block access to your account for a specified amount of time, giving you a chance to take a step back and think things through before continuing.
- Deposit limits: allows you to set a deposit limit during a specified period of time of your choosing.
- Wager limits: defines the maximum bet amount you are allowed to wager over a set period of time.
- Session time limits: this option will restrict the amount of time you are allowed to play during a single day.
- Loss limits: adjust this setting to limit the amount of money you can lose over a period of days, weeks or months.
- Self-exclusion: choose this option and the DGE will instruct all state-regulated online casinos to bar you from playing on their sites for period of one or five years.
More Responsible Gambling Resources
A wide variety of options are available in the Garden State for those struggling with gambling addiction. The following is a list of local organizations that can help:
- Gamblers Anonymous NJ: here you’ll find a listing of dozens of GA meetings in the New Jersey area.
- Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ: this private, nonprofit group works to educate and assist compulsive gamblers. See if you are at risk by answering these 20 questions and call 1-800-Gambler 24/7 if you need immediate help.
- DGE self-exclusion: fill out the DGE self-exclusion form to block yourself from gaming at any regulated site online.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: the NCPG develops policy and programs to combat and treat compulsive gambling. They offer a national responsible gambling helpline, and provide links to moderated support forums and groups.
- Gam-Anon: Gam-Anon is a self help organization for spouses, family, or friends of those with a gambling problem.
- GamTalk: GamTalk is a 24/7, moderated, online peer support forum.
Signs of Problem Gambling
There are a few notable signs and symptoms of problem gambling behavior: knowing and avoiding them can be the difference between developing a gambling problem or having a healthy relationship with this form of entertainment. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Do you need to bet more money to get the same feeling of thrill?
- Have you ever taken out money from personal accounts to gamble? Did you plan on spending that money on gambling?
- Can you stop gambling if you want to or when asked to?
- Have you engaged in illegal behavior to fund gambling or to gamble?
- Have you ever borrowed money to bet, or had to spend more money just to “cover your losses”? (ie: chasing losses)
If your gambling has ever created problems for you or your loved ones, that’s a sure sign of problem gambling. The resources above can help– don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals if you’re seeing the above signs of a gambling problem.
