• This is the final week of Responsible Gaming Education Month, and the topic of this week is a technology that can aid in this endeavor. 
• The Ohio Department makes contributions of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio for Responsible Gambling initiative, and nearly all gambling-related bodies, including the creation of online quizzes, support for responsible gambling apps, assistance with self-exclusion, and support and education of problem gamblers’ friends and family.
• During Responsible Gaming Education Month, Ohio urges residents, especially those who bet on online casinos and sports betting sites, to “Get Set Before You Bet.”

Contributing to Responsible Gaming Education Month in Ohio

As part of Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM), the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (Ohio DMHAS) is urging individuals to “Get Set Before You Bet” – a reference to the website’s tagline. 

On the website, users can find a number of resources to help them learn more about problem gambling, such as a questionnaire designed to measure a person’s risk level for problem gambling and a game titled “A Day in the Life of a Responsible Gambler.”

The Statehouse News Bureau published a report on September 20 in which a problem gambling specialist with the Ohio DMHAS, Scott Anderson, was quoted as saying that problem gambling or gambling disorder is probably the only addiction that appears to offer the individual suffering from it some sort of benefit, such as a return on their losses, a jackpot, or something else. 

He asserts that people “get into debt” because they view possible profits as “the solution to all their problems.” The negative aspect of this compulsive habit, however, is that people with gambling problems frequently “hide losses” and are not “fully honest” about how they spend their time and money.

Mr. Anderson also described how “gambling with money should be utilized for anything else” can have a negative impact on the gambler’s loved ones. 

Since September is also National Suicide Prevention Month, the problem gambling specialist also emphasized that problem gambling has one of the highest rates of suicides related to it, so it is crucial for those in close proximity to problem gamblers, especially their family members, to recognize the warning signs.

Top 3 Online Casinos For Players From Ohio, USA

• Slot Title
• Pay Back
• Key Features

1

225% First Deposit Bonus

• Payout rate: 98.56%
• Payout Speed: 1-5 days

225% First Deposit BonusPlay NowOur score:

225% First Deposit Bonus

Read more

2

200% Welcome Bonus of Up to $2,000

• Payout rate: 91%
• Payout Speed: 1-2 days

200% Welcome Bonus of Up to $2,000Play NowOur score:

200% Welcome Bonus of Up to $2,000

Read more

3

Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000

• Payout rate: 97.92%
• Payout Speed: 1-2 days

Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000Play NowOur score:

Welcome Bonus Up to $5,000

Read more

Aiding Gamblers with Problems

As part of RGEM 2022, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released a new edition of the Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide at the beginning of the month. 

Every week in September has had a theme; the first week’s subject was “Empowering Customers to Play Responsibly,” the second week’s theme was “Legal, Regulated Gaming Protects Players,” and the third week’s theme was “Employees: The RG Frontline.” “Advancing Responsible Gaming with Technology” is this week’s concluding RGEM topic.

The beforeyoubet.org website is the result of a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio for Responsible Gambling (ORG) project. ORG also has a number of additional projects in partnership with the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the Ohio Lottery Commission, and the Ohio State Racing Commission.

All available resources are geared toward assisting problem gamblers, whether through the dissemination of information, the facilitation of access to treatment, or the provision of tools to those closest to problem gamblers so they can determine if a friend or family member may be afflicted with this addiction. 

The “Tips & Education” section of the website can be a valuable resource for not just helping the problem gambler on a personal level, but also for creating a more stable and well-informed environment around them. 

There is also a source for responsible gambling apps that allow users to establish restrictions on the amount of money gambled, lost, deposited into a betting account, or played during a single gaming session, as well as reminders to take breaks. There are even some that offer a variety of self-exclusion features, which can assist problem gamblers in limiting their gambling or avoiding it altogether.