Tips for Gaming Responsibly

  • Avatar for Dr. Fritz Hershey PsyDReviewed by  Dr. Fritz Hershey PsyD

At CardsChat.com we want to make sure that all our visitors gamble responsibly.

Check out our useful tips and resources below and stay in control of your gaming.

Page Verified by Dr. Fritz Hershey PsyD 

Dr Fritz Hershey is a Clinical Psychologist and Doctor of Psychology based in Hermosa Beach, California. He practices CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Theory) with neurobiology and has worked in treatment and consulting for over 20 years.

Hershey has a PsyD in Clinical Psychology, having obtained his degrees from Arizona State University (Bachelor of Science), Phillips Graduate Institute (Masters), and Ryokan College (Doctorate).

He has also earned a certificate in Brief Therapy, appeared on television as a professional psychologist and has written several books.


Tips for Responsible Gaming

  1. Practice responsible bankroll management when playing poker. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Never bet your rent money or money you need to cover your day to day necessities.
  2. Take advantage of poker sites’ self-exclusion and daily limit tools. This is where you can set an upper limit for how much money you’re allowed to bet and how much time you’re allowed to spend on the website, and/or exclude yourself from playing for a specific period of time.
  3. Don’t try to win back money you have lost by playing higher stakes or continuing to play after you have exceeded your budget. This is called chasing your losses.
  4. Don’t play poker or gamble when you are depressed, have had too much to drink, or if you have been using drugs.

Protecting Minors

It is illegal for individuals under the age of 18 to gamble in most countries. In the rest, the minimum gambling age can be up to 21 years. If you play on a gambling website and live with minors who may have access to your desktop or mobile device, then you should ensure that they don’t have access to your account login credentials. Keep your username and password private and don’t enable auto-fill fields on any devices.

Identifying Problem Gambling

Gambling can be exhilarating, but be mindful that it can also be addictive and potentially harmful to you and those around you. Learn how to spot early warning signs of problem gambling so that you (or your friend or family member) can get help right away.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • If you lose a poker game, do you feel that you need to play again as soon as possible to recover your losses?
  • After a win have you ever had a strong desire to play again in hopes of more winnings?
  • Do you often play poker until you’ve exhausted all your money?
  • Do you ever feel remorse or guilt after gambling?
  • Have you ever gambled to obtain money in hopes that such money will solve your financial troubles?
  • Have you ever missed work or school because of poker gambling?
  • Has gambling ever caused unhappiness in your home-life?
  • Have you lost motivation or productivity because of gambling?
  • Have you ever borrowed money or sold anything to pay for your gambling?
  • Has gambling ever made you disregard the wellbeing of your family, friends, or yourself?
  • Do you ever gamble as a means of escaping your problems or worries?
  • Has gambling ever affected your ability to sleep?
  • Do arguments, dissatisfaction, disappointment, stress, or frustrations tempt you to gamble?
  • Have you ever or ever considered breaking the law to fund your gambling?
  • Has playing poker or gambling more generally ever led you to have suicidal thoughts?

Answering yes to any of the above could indicate you have a compulsive gambling problem. If this is the case, seek help by reaching out to one of the helplines we’ve listed below.


Seeking Help

If you think you might have a gambling problem or know someone who does, we encourage you to seek help by reaching out to one of the fantastic resources listed below.


Gambling Helplines Around the World