Responsible Gambling in North Carolina: Have Fun While Staying Safe

Gambling can be fun, but some adults in North Carolina will become problematic gamblers now that online sports betting is widely accessible.

With multiple sportsbooks available via mobile app and with the ease of mobile depositing increasing, it's vital that responsible gambling is at the forefront of every potential gambler's mind to avoid the fun turning into problem gambling.

Below we breakdown tips to ensure you maintain responsible gambling practices as well as free resources should gambling become more than a game.

Tips to Ensure You Gamble Responsibly

Below we highlight ways to avoid problem gambling. These tools, when used by gamblers, help control the risks associated with problem gambling.

• ✅ Self-Exclusion: Self-Exclusion is a way of fighting problem gambling by empowering player control. Voluntary Restriction is a self-exclusion period that allows you to take charge of your gambling habits by restricting yourself from participating in real money gambling activities for a predetermined period. Self-exclusion can be implemented at various levels, from commercial casinos to broader statewide self-exclusion programs, ensuring players have flexible options that cater to their needs. Self-exclusion can include additional support or resources for overcoming gambling problems.
• ✅ Time Limits: Gambling time limits are a way of managing the amount of time you have spent gambling. A gambling time limit allows players to allocate specific timeframes for their online gambling activities, promoting a more structured and balanced experience. Limits encourage players to be mindful, fostering a heightened awareness of their actions and decisions. Time limits can be tailored to individual preferences, giving you the freedom to enjoy gambling, sports betting, and internet gaming.
• ✅ Spending Limits: Spending limits are a way to manage your wagering expenditure. Spending limits empower players to set predefined monetary thresholds on their gambling activities, ensuring they remain within their budget and avoid gambling beyond their means. Spending limits can also contribute to the sustainability of gambling as a recreational activity, allowing you to benefit from an enjoyable form of gambling and remain realistic while you bet. Spending limits can be adjusted to accommodate changing financial situations, fostering a conscious awareness of your gambling behavior.
• ✅ Deposit Control: Deposit controls regulate your funding activity. Deposit controls let you manage your account history by limiting the amount of money you can deposit over specific timeframes. Players can prevent impulsive decisions by setting deposit limits, ensuring that their gambling activities remain calculated. Deposit controls also encourage players to plan their gambling activities thoughtfully.
• ✅ Self-Assessment: Self-assessment tools encourage reflection and awareness while you bet. Self-assessment tools provide players with a structured way to evaluate their gambling behaviors, inviting them to reflect on their habits, attitudes, and potential risks. These tools assist individuals in recognizing signs of problem gambling behaviors early on, fostering a proactive approach to addressing concerns. Players gain a clearer understanding of their gambling patterns, enabling them to make more informed decisions.

Problem Gambling Resources in North Carolina

If gambling is more than a game, free help is available thanks to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services via their partnership with MORE THAN A GAME. Below we highlight resources you can contact if you feel responsible gambling is turning into problem gambling.

• 📲 Text: If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, text the phrase "morethanagamenc" to 53342.
• 📞 Call: If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, call 877-718-5543.
• 💻 Website: If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, call visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

National Resources for Problem Gambling

In addition to state-sponsored resources, there are national resources for problem gamblers as well. 

• ⭐ National Council on Problem Gambling: The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is a national organization in the U.S. that provides a wealth of resources, information and programs for problem gamblers, family members and friends. The NCPG has a 24/7 helpline that can be reached via phone at 1-800-GAMBLER, via chat at 1800gamblerchat.org, and via text at 800GAM.
• ⭐ Gamblers Anonymous: Gamblers Anonymous is a self help group for anyone who may be struggling with problem gambling. The model is similar to other Anonymous Support groups and involves sharing, open dialogue, support and steps.
• ⭐ Gam-Anon: Gam-Anon is a self help group catered to family members and friends of problem gamblers. They provide support and resources to help loved ones cope with the situation at hand. In person and online meetings are available and can be found on their site.
• ⭐ GamTalk: GamTalk is a free open forum for anyone who has been impacted by problem gambling. You can talk with others who are going through a similar experience, share your stories and find support.