As the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos take to the field on Sunday, millions of people from around the world will be tuning in to watch who wins Super Bowl XLVIII. Many people may even want to place a bet or two on the game’s outcome. We know that research shows that 1% of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with a gambling disorder, while 2-3% of the population has a gambling problem.
If you’re one of those who likes to wager on sports and can do so without problems, you can establish your own limits and provide direction to others by developing a set of personal guidelines to determine whether, when and how much to gamble. Here are a few things to consider:
- The decision to gamble is a personal choice. No one should feel pressure to gamble, or feel that he or she must gamble to be socially accepted.
- Gambling is not essential for having a good time. Gambling should not be perceived as necessary for having fun and being with friends.
- What constitutes an acceptable loss needs to be established before you place a bet. People should only gamble with the money they can afford to lose. For those who choose to gamble, it is essential to know when to stop.
- Don’t borrow money to gamble. Borrowing money from a friend, relative or other source of funds with the intention of repaying with gambling winnings is too risky.
- There are times when people should not gamble. Never gamble when under the legal gambling age; when it interferes with work or family responsibilities; when in recovery for addictions; when the form of gambling is illegal; when gambling is prohibited by an organizational policy; or when trying to make up for prior gambling losses (i.e. “chasing” losses).
- There are certain high-risk situations when you should avoid gambling. Don’t gamble when you feel lonely, angry, depressed or under stress; when coping with the death of a loved one; to solve personal or family problems; or to impress others.
- Excessive use of alcohol when gambling can be risky. Irresponsible alcohol use can affect a person’s judgment and interfere with the ability to control gambling and adhere to predetermined limits.
Keep gambling what it should be – entertainment. Know how to set limits and when to stop and enjoy the game!
