Tips for Gaming Responsibly
Reviewed 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Attend a GA meeting (they take place all around the world) or call the US hotlines
Call 1-800-522-4700 or chat online (US, Canada and US Virgin Islands)
Chat online, send a message, download the app, or seek help in the support forums
Call 0808 8020 133, chat online with an adviser or in a group, or seek help in the forum (UK only)
Gambling Helplines Around the World
- Argentina – 0800 333 0333
- Brazil – 3229-1023
- Czech Republic – 222 580 697
- Germany – 0800 1 37 27 00
- Italy – 800 55 88 22
- Spain – 900 200 225
- United States – 800 522 4700
- Australia – 1800 858 858
- Canada – 888 230 3505
- Estonia – 6825 243
- Greece – 211 107 5000
- Norway – 800 800 40
- Sweden – 020 819 100
- Austria – 544 13 57
- Chile – 9 222 3860
- France – 02 40 84 76 20
- Hungary – 1 299 4000
- Slovenia – 5 33 83 200
- United Kingdom – 0808 8020 133