Responsible Gambling

Coinciding with the meteoric rise of legal single-game sports betting in Canada following the passage of Bill C-218, finding a healthy medium between indulging in the excitement and maintaining responsible boundaries is imperative for bettors. This is where responsible gambling practices come into play.

With Canadians just a few clicks away from accessing legalized sports betting, the allure of countless sports betting ads featuring beloved players like Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, and Auston Matthews promoting legal sports betting sites can be irresistible. While sports gambling can be a fun adult activity for adults who have established clear boundaries, it can quickly become problematic if approached recklessly or without sufficient understanding of the risks involved. 

On this page, we’ll provide information and advice about how to practise responsible gambling as well as some tips for recognising signs of problem gambling. We also provide links to resources for problem gambling treatment.

Bet smart, bet responsibly

Here at The Sporting News, we report on various aspects of legal gambling, especially legal sports betting. Making a wager at a physical brick-and-mortar casino or on countless online sites should add a layer of excitement to the sporting event. Those who take their sports betting process more seriously and enjoy researching statistical data to boost their knowledge base and potentially their chance at winning a bet should have fun predicting the outcome of sporting events.

While not every sports bettor has the same process for generating their "thesis" for making a bet, understanding the risk involved with each wager you make is critical. However much thought you put into your sports bets, it's vital to grasp that any time you gamble, there is always a chance you will lose.

"Locks" and "sure things" -- common jargon tossed around in today's sports betting-centric society -- don't exist. Upsets happen, big favourites lose games, and bad beats are inevitable. Anything's possible in sports, that's why our society loves them. Therefore, never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

Responsible gambling involves being informed about these risks and always understanding the chances of losing your stake. There are more steps bettors can take to ensure they gamble responsibly. Meanwhile, those who provide betting opportunities, such as sportsbook operators, can follow guidelines to make it easier for their customers to be smart about their wagering and avoid the pitfalls of problem gambling.

Let’s consider some of the tips and recommendations bettors can follow to gamble responsibly as well as some of those best practises that can help gambling providers create a safe and positive gambling environment. 

10 responsible gambling tips for bettors

Gambling only with money you can afford to lose is crucial, but that’s not the only thing bettors can do to make sure they are gambling responsibly.

If you keep these 10 recommendations in mind every time you gamble, you'll put yourself in a favourable position to bet responsibly and enjoy your sports betting journey. 

1. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. Set aside “discretionary” funds with which to gamble and restrict yourself to using only that money.
2. Furthermore, never gamble with money you need for food, bills, rent, mortgage payments, healthcare, savings, or any other expenses of a stable life.
3. Never borrow money with which to gamble, and don’t gamble on credit.  
4. Keep track of your spending when gambling, including chronicling your wins and losses. This can help for tax purposes but can also help you remain mindful of how much you are betting. There's several apps available that help bettors track their wagers and ROI, so bettors don't get lost in the shuffle.
5. Self-impose limits, if needed, on your gambling, both in terms of the money you spend and the time you spend gambling. Be aware that many online sites have tools allowing you to limit your deposits, betting, time spent on the site, and so on. 
6. Be aware of the odds and probabilities when you gamble. Understand exactly how much you need to spend to place a bet and what the potential payouts are should you win. You cannot weigh risk versus reward without educating yourself about the particulars of your bet. 
7. If you win, don’t automatically “let it ride” and bet your winnings (or bet more going forward than you normally would have). For those betting with a bankroll, try to risk 1-3% of your bankroll per bet, which will deter you from depleting your bankroll.
8. If you lose, don’t “chase your losses” and try to win back what you’ve lost. There's always another game that will present a betting opportunity, don't force a bet to try to win your money back. Chances are, you'll put yourself in a bigger hole.
9. Don’t gamble when you are less than alert from tiredness, stress, anxiety, or other distractions. It is important to be able to think clearly when you gamble. 
10. Relatedly, don’t gamble if you are intoxicated or otherwise impaired. You wouldn’t drive if under the influence as you could hurt yourself or others. You can also cause harm if you gamble in such a state. 

Following all 10 of those recommendations is a great start toward making certain you are being responsible when you gamble. 

10 responsible gambling recommendations for providers

Entities that provide legal gambling opportunities have to secure licences in the jurisdictions where they operate. For example, in a particular province that allows online sports betting, operators have to apply for and receive licences from regulators before they can launch their sites and start accepting bets. Then, they have to abide by the province’s rules or risk losing their licences. 

In a lot of cases, provinces will require providers to follow responsible gambling guidelines. Whether mandated to do so or not, sportsbooks and other providers should always strive to create conditions that make it easy for customers to practise responsible gambling. Keeping gambling a positive experience is not just good for business; it helps the community as a whole, which is also something gambling providers should be invested in supporting.

Here are 10 examples of responsible gambling guidelines providers can follow to keep their games safe for customers.

1. Be crystal clear with customers about odds, probabilities, payouts, and other details. Sportsbooks, for instance, should post the odds, lines, and payouts clearly to make sure bettors know what they are risking and what they might win. 
2. Relatedly, providers should be transparent when offering bonuses or other promotions. Online sportsbooks often offer “bonus bets” (and the like) to new customers. Operators should make sure the terms and conditions of such offers are understandable and clearly communicated. 
3. Provide tools to players to limit their spending and/or time gambling, and go ahead and impose limits for everyone in situations where it is necessary.
4. By the same token, make it easy for players to self-exclude either for a period of time or permanently.
5. Don’t advertise in ways that might encourage reckless or “degenerate” gambling. Never promote your product in a fashion that might be construed as being anything less than serious about problem gambling. 
6. Keep track of bettors’ activity, including tracking patterns and remaining alert for signs of problem gambling. Train staff to help them recognise such signs when they arise.
7. Be ready to act if needed to prevent problem gambling from occurring such as by limiting a customer’s betting or refusing to accept bets from the customer. 
8. Never allow illegal or underage gambling.
9. Refuse to allow patrons who are impaired or drunk to gamble.
10. Actively educate bettors about responsible gambling and provide information regarding where they can go to help prevent or treat problem gambling. 

Even those on the customer side can benefit from reading and being aware of these tips for providers, as they all indirectly highlight certain dangers that can befall bettors. As noted, in many cases, providers have to follow some or all of these tips as part of their licencing.

Common signs of problem gambling

Problem gambling can mean different things to different people. Indeed, when it comes to gambling, what might be genuinely problematic for one person may not be such an issue for another. 

Essentially, gambling becomes “problem gambling” whenever it introduces any sort of negative consequence into the gambler’s life and/or those who care about that person, no matter how small. Problem gambling can produce relatively insignificant irritations, only bothersome in a fleeting way. It can also cause catastrophic outcomes such as the loss of personal savings, the creation of insurmountable debt, or harm to one’s mental or physical health. Particularly grievous examples of problem gambling often affect the gambler’s loved ones as well. 

When a person fails to practise responsible gambling, there is automatically an increased risk that some form of problem gambling might occur. Gamblers should be aware of common signs of problem gambling and watch for such signals in themselves, and friends and family members of gamblers can also keep an eye out for these signs in their friends and loved ones. 

Here are some common signs of problem gambling. Some might be visible in those close to you, and some only gamblers themselves can know. Either way, clocking these signs can help prevent a slide into problem gambling. 

1. Experiencing feelings of guilt or regret about gambling.
2. Acting angry or irritable when asked about gambling, or when not gambling.
3. Misrepresenting one’s gambling, such as lying about wins or losses.
4. Being overly emotional about gambling (too high after wins, too low after losses). 
5. Having trouble enjoying any activity that doesn’t involve gambling, including socialising with others.
6. Gambling as a way of avoiding other obligations or life stressors. 
7. Spending more money gambling during a particular session than intended, or more time than intended.
8. Missing school or work or other obligations without explanation.
9. Not taking care of one’s health or hygiene. 
10. Not paying bills on time or at all. 
11. Withdrawing money unexpectedly or selling possessions to raise money.
12. Stealing or committing other crimes to raise money.

As noted, with some of these indicators, you can see them in others, but not always. As with other forms of addiction and self-destructive behaviour, the problem gambler might actively try to conceal these signs from others, making it all the more difficult to detect the problem.

When assessing your own gambling, be honest with yourself. If ever you notice any of these signs or feel any doubt whatsoever about possibly becoming a problem gambler, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. 

Canadian resources for problem gambling

Canada has several agencies that provide support to gamblers struggling with addiction. No matter which province or territory you are in, you’ll find local resources dedicated to problem and compulsive gambling. In many cases, you can receive help and treatment at no cost. 

Here are a few of the most prominent organisations that connect individuals with problem gambling services and support. 

Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) operates nationally in Canada and works with provincial and territorial gambling authorities to create a safer gambling atmosphere. The RGC's mission is to "unite people and organisations to minimise gambling's human impact, driving knowledge, dialogue, and action forward to prevent gambling harm and offer support."

The RGC assists operators, regulators, people, and communities in promoting positive behavioural change. While the RGC is not a treatment provider, it can help people find the right resources and support for responsible and problem gambling.

To contact the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), utilise the following methods:

1. Call: 416-499-9800

2. Email: You can send an email to the RGC at [email protected] for general enquiries.

3. Online Contact Form: The RGC website (www.responsiblegambling.org) provides an online contact form that you can fill out with your name, email address, and message. This form allows you to submit specific enquiries or requests for information.

4. Mailing Address: If you prefer to send a letter or documents by mail, you can use the following address: Responsible Gambling Council 411 Richmond Street East, Suite 205 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 3S5

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous provides a way for problem gamblers to assist one another. The fellowship-style organisation enables members to join support groups and forums where they can share their experiences and strategies for recovery. There are no fees required to participate, only a commitment to work toward overcoming the negative effects of problem gambling. 

The Gamblers Anonymous website provides information about its 12-step self-help programme as well as other materials such as a 20-question yes-or-no questionnaire that can help users diagnose whether they are suffering from problem gambling. There is a detailed FAQ, plus a page where you can search for meeting locations and times across Canada as well as how to join virtual meetings. 

Gam-Anon

Another useful national organisation is Gam-Anon where the focus is not on problem gamblers but on family members and friends affected by someone’s problem gambling. Gam-Anon connects such affected people with counsellors and health providers who can guide them through the difficulty of dealing with a loved one or friend’s problem gambling. 

The Gam-Anon website provides a lot of literature regarding problem gambling and how to prevent and/or treat it, information about service and sponsorship, and how to find both in-person and virtual meetings where you can receive support. There’s information as well about how to get more concrete help via pressure relief and budget meetings.

GamTalk

GamTalk is another helpful organisation that seeks to connect problem gamblers to support one another. On the website, you’ll find chat rooms, a discussion forum, a page of shared testimonies, and a Community Wall where people can find and interact with one another. 

There is other information and links on the website letting visitors know where to find treatment and support in their areas. 

Canadian resources for problem gambling   

All provinces and territories in Canada have some form of problem gambling hotline in addition to the online tools available.

Here are links where you can find local resources for help preventing and treating problem gambling.

Keep it fun and safe by gambling responsibly

With sports betting and other forms of legal gambling continuing to become available across Canada, focusing on responsible gambling becomes more important. Gambling can be great fun and provide lots of entertainment to those who approach it in moderation and with full attention to the risks involved. However, gambling can become negative and even destructive to those who fail to gamble responsibly. 

Always take care to study and understand the risks involved when gambling, and be ready to impose limits on yourself to ensure gambling remains a positive activity. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. Most importantly, if you ever feel as though gambling might be becoming a problem for you or someone you care about, don’t hesitate to seek help from the resources described above.