The Self-Exclusion program is a tool you can use if you want to take a break from gambling. It's a commitment you make to yourself by voluntarily agreeing not to gamble for a chosen time, online or at land-based venues.

Yes. Responsible gambling refers to gambling that minimizes risk to players. It involves players setting safeguards that include money and time limits, not seeing gambling as a way to make money and never borrowing money to gamble.

Responsible gambling occurs through the collective actions and shared responsibility among stakeholders, including government, gaming operators, regulators, treatment providers, community groups and individual gamblers.

The amount of money lost or won does not determine when gambling becomes problematic. While gambling can cause financial problems, it is not the only warning sign of a gambling problem. When gambling is interfering with an individual's relationships, job, mental or physical health or any other area of life it is a problematic behavior.

Problem gambling does not discriminate and can impact anyone who gambles regardless of economic, social, cultural or levels of education. Anyone who gambles can develop a gambling problem. Certain factors can increase your risk of developing a gambling addiction, genetics, environment, medical history and age may all play a role.

Children and teens are at higher risk than adults for developing a gambling problem. Additionally, individuals who start gambling at a young age are also more likely to develop a gambling addiction later in life.

The casino or lottery provides the opportunity for a person to gamble, but it doesn't cause problem gambling any more than a liquor store would create alcohol problems.

The frequency of a person's gambling does not determine whether they have a gambling problem. Even if a person only gambles periodically, the emotional and financial consequences will still be evident in their personal and family life.

Since the cause of a gambling problem si a person's inability to control their gambling, any type of gambling can become problematic. However, some types of gambling do have certain characteristics that may make gambling problems worse. While these factors are still poorly understood, anecdotal reports suggest that one risk factor may be a fast speed of play. In other words, the faster a wager reaches an outcome, the more likely players may be to develop problems with a particular game.

• Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by the individual exhibiting four (or more) of the following in a 12-month period:

• Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.

• Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling.

• Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling.

• Is often preoccupied with gambling (e.g., having persistent thoughts of reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble).

 • Often gambles when feeling distressed (e.g., helpless, guilty, anxious, depressed). (former: gambles as a way of escaping from problems...)

• After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even ("chasing" one's losses).

• Lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling.

• Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling.

• Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling.