Page 28 - Southern California Gaming Guide • March 2018

Did you know that San Diego County has more Native American casinos than any lose your money faster and shorten your playing time.
Also, playing two machines often involves standing up or leaning out of your chair to reach over to an adjacent machine. is is obviously not very relaxing or entertaining. Sit in the chair in front of your chosen game and relax. Playing slot machines (or any casino game) should be a fun experience.
Take a break from playing.
If you decide to change games, take a break before sitting down to play again. If you have been playing for a few hours you may want to get a meal or just walk around. Walking around the casino is a good way to stretch your legs after sitting in one place for a while.
Your goal is to stretch your casino experience.
Consider any money you win as a bonus.
When you win, be sure to take your winnings home instead of playing them all back. e casino will still be there the next time you want to go.
Gamble socially.
Gambling is entertainment. Rather than going alone, visit the casino with family or friends and have fun playing side-by-side.
If you drink alcohol at the casino, be responsible when gambling.
Limit your alcohol intake to be certain you’re in control of what you play and of your bet.
Don’t borrow money to gamble.
Don’t use a credit card at the casino. In fact, if you do, you are borrowing money to gamble — and always at a much higher percentage rate.
Don't gamble when you're under stress.
Don't gamble when you feel lonely, angry, depressed, or in pain. Casino games are fun, but ultimately they won’t change these feelings, even if you win.
Don’t chase your losses.
If you’re having a losing day, chances are you will lose even more. Once your earmarked bankroll is gone, it’s time to do something di erent. Remember, only you can keep your play fun.
other county in the United States? Including the rest of Southern California,
there are 24 Indian casinos that Southern Californian casino players have easy access to play on any day. From time to time we like to remind you readers to be aware of your casino play.
Since the rst issue of the Gaming GuideTM in February 2002, we have advocated Responsible Gaming on our pages with player tips and articles focused on keeping casino play fun. And we featured a California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) pro bono advertisement to give readers information and encouragement about seeking help for problem gambling. When casino play stops being fun,
it’s time to stop playing and get help. CCPG has resources available
for problem gamblers. Call for information at the statewide helpline 1-800-gambler (or text “support” to 53342), available 24/7/365, at no
cost. It provides con dential
crisis intervention and referral services in English, Spanish and Chinese, with translation services available
for more than 240 languages and tty for the hearing impaired.
You can also chat with a counselor at www.800gambler/chat.
Each year in March, the National Council
on Problem Gambling presents the National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a grass roots public awareness and outreach campaign. The goal of the campaign is to educate the general public, and healthcare professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling and raise awareness about the help that is available both locally and nationally.
Of the vast majority of casino players nationwide who go to casinos for entertainment, research from the National Council on Problem Gambling indicates that 2% to 3% of the U.S. population will have a gambling problem in any given year. That’s 6 million to 9 million Americans, yet only a small fraction of those seek out services, including treatment and self-help recovery programs.
In California, according to the California Council on Problem Gambling, problem gambling a ects approximately 3.7% of the population — almost
1,000,000 adults. Gambling problems can a ect anyone, anywhere, anytime, regardless of age, gender or race. ere is hope and help for those who su er from gambling problems.
Most players enjoy casinos without problems. But here are some reminders of how to keep your play fun at the
casino:
Take your casino betting money in cash.
Earmark the money you spend at the casino—and are willing to lose—as the cost of your casino entertainment.
When your money is gone, it’s time to do something
else at the casino. Have a meal, watch a show, or just go home.
When you arrive at the casino, don’t start playing right away.
Before you start playing, take a walk around the casino to see what has changed since your last visit. is will also give you the opportunity to look at new games and perhaps nd a new one to play.
Play slowly.
Once you choose a game, stretch your playing time to get the most entertainment from the money you’re playing. Start by playing your lowest denomination bill. If you have to keep reaching for more bills to play, it may be time to switch your game or take a break.
Play only one slot at a time.
Playing more than one slot machine just gives you more exposure to the house edge. In the long run you will
PAGE 28
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
MARCH 2018