Betting should be entertaining and fun and anyone can game responsibly by making a plan
One of the biggest sporting events on the US calendar is almost upon us, as March Madness commences this weekend.
With live and online sports betting set to increase substantially in the run-up and during the weekend, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a reminder to players in the state, that there are ways to help stay in control of how much they gamble.
“Betting should be entertaining and fun and anyone can game responsibly by making a plan to curb how much is wagered on March Madness or at any time,” Henry Williams, MGCB Executive Director said via press release. “A bettor can take control by setting limits on the gaming platform on deposits, wagers, and the time spent on every site authorized in Michigan.”
As discussed in more detail over on the responsible gambling site Sports Shield in its comprehensive Guide to Responsible Gambling Tools at Online Sportsbooks, there are plenty of tools baked into online sportsbooks that help players gamble responsibly by giving them the options to set limits on the amount of time and amount of money they spend on a site.
Responsible Gambling Tools at Michigan Sportsbooks Include:
- Deposit Limits: These allow players to set the maximum dollar amount that can be wagered each day, week, or month. Once the limit is reached, players will not be allowed to deposit any more into their accounts until that period of time concludes and the next one begins.
- Play Time Limits: This allows players to set the amount of time they can spend wagering on the site or app.
- Time Outs: These are enforced periods of time, during which players cannot wager any money on the site. While they vary somewhat between sites, they are generally for shorter-term (less than 6 months) periods of time.
- Self-Exclusion: This is when a player decides to ban themselves from being able to log on to an online sportsbook and can be done via the sportsbook or via the state and can be anywhere from six months to six years to a lifetime.
All of these tools are designed to help players — either as a stand-alone measure or as a mix-and-match approach — stay in control when wagering online. For instance, deposit limits can be used in conjunction with time outs, or either can be used separately. These tools are not just at sportsbooks, but other regulated online gambling operators in the US are implementing them and educating their players on what responsible gambling tools are available to them.
For instance, PokerStars USA, which runs an online poker room in Michigan, is educating players to know what RG tools are available in a brand new social media ad campaign.
If you need help controlling your gambling, please take advantage of the various available resources including counseling and treatment if it becomes or is a problem.
However, the most effective tool in a player’s arsenal to curb problem gambling behaviors is the option to self-exclude. This is the most robust way of preventing access to a site and therefore any temptation to gamble.
Players can choose to self-exclude for a period of one to five years through the MGCB website.. This will ban a player from being able to wager at any online sportsbooks — players also have the option to self-exclude from online casinos and poker rooms.
“If you need help controlling your gambling, please take advantage of the various available resources including counseling and treatment if it becomes or is a problem,” Williams added.
Michigan has a problem gambling hotline, which players can call anytime to get the help needed to tackle harmful gambling behaviors and is fully confidential. Crisis intervention, treatment referrals, and referrals to treatment or support groups are available via the helpline.
