Responsible Gaming 101
theScore Bet is committed to helping patrons play responsibly. It's important you know your limits and when it's time to take a step back. Below are some tools and tips to help you play smart.
Set your limits
We've built some tools right into our app to help you set your own limits and play smart, including:
- Daily time limit
- Deposit limits
- Spend limit
- Loss limit
- Max single wager limit
- Cool off
- Casino cool off
- Self exclusion
- Reality check-in interval
Check out theScore Bet's help center for more info on all our available tools.
Tips, myths, risks
While gambling and betting on sports can be fun, some people may discover they have a hard time keeping it under control. Below are some tips from the Council on Compulsive Gambling for playing responsibly:
Tips for gambling responsibly:
- Don't gamble to make money
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
- Set a money limit and stick to it
- Set a time limit and stick to it
- Don't chase your losses
- Don't gamble when you are lonely, depressed, tired, or angry
- Don't gamble to avoid problems or pain
- Don't gamble while drinking excessively
- If you gamble, balance it with other activities like enjoying time with friends, seeing a show, or stopping for a meal
Myths
Some of the most common myths about gambling, and why they're problematic:
- If I keep gambling, my luck will change and I'll win back the money I've lost.
Each time you place a bet, the outcome is completely independent of the previous one. Your odds of winning do not increase with the frequency of which you bet.
- I almost won; I must be due for a win.
"Almost" winning does not make you any closer to a real win. This is called the gambler's fallacy.
- The quarterback is wearing my lucky number. I should bet on his team!
Superstitions and luck cannot help you predict the outcome of a game.
- I can learn a system to beat the odds.
There is no system to predict live sporting events. The odds are provided for you to bet on, but there's no way to predict what will happen in the future.
Risks
While gambling can be a fun recreational activity, if an individual doesn't play responsibly, it can have a negative effect on many aspects of their life.
Financial risks
As much as an individual can win, they can also experience extreme losses. Financial fluctuations are a risk from gambling and can lead to:
- Increasing debts
- Maxing out credit cards
- Overdue bills
- Borrowing from friends and family
- Eviction and forced home sales
- Bankruptcy
Health risks
While it may not be immediately apparent, there's often a connection between an individual's gambling and their health. Problem gambling is associated with a range of emotional, physical, and psychological health problems, such as:
- Declined self-esteem
- Stress and anxiety
- Insomnia, fatigue, stomach ailments, high blood pressure
Job risks
Problem gambling can also have a negative effect on an individual's ability to perform well at work. Often problem gamblers have issues with:
- Showing up on time for work
- Skipping work days entirely
- Decreased productivity as their focus is primarily on gambling
- Misuse of company time
Signs of a gambling problem
The following are potential warning signs that you or someone you know may have a gambling problem (via the Council on Responsible Gambling):
- Preoccupation
- Borrowing money
- Selling personal items
- Irritability, restlessness, withdrawal
- Need for action and excitement
- Defensive attitude
- Competitive personality
- Alienation from family and friends
- Inability to cut back or stop gambling
- Lying to friends and family about gambling
- Risk-taking behaviors
- Thinking about or committing an illegal act to finance gambling
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, ask for help.
Responsible gaming policy
theScore Bet is committed to providing gaming in a responsible manner. We want players to have fun and enjoy our services safely.
While most of our players enjoy gaming as a form of entertainment, we realize that some may experience problems. We are committed to promoting responsible gaming and protecting players (and others affected by their behavior) when gaming stops being fun.
We use a variety of approaches to promote responsible gaming, including employee training (so that our staff can better identify and manage problem gaming issues when they arise), customer awareness campaigns, self-exclusion and financial restriction programs, and ongoing policy monitoring and review so that we can gauge the effectiveness of our responsible gaming programs.
Our Pledge to Players
- We will promote responsible gaming
- We will provide safe gaming tools and resources
- We will advertise responsibly
- We will prevent underage gaming
See theScore Bet's full Responsible Gaming Policy here.
Help and resources
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. ConnexOntario also offers additional ways of conveniently getting you the assistance you need, when you need it:
- Text Line: Text "CONNEX" to 247247 - After a few automated texts, a system navigator will connect with you to discover the options available
- Web Chat: Go to http://www.connexontario.ca/Chat to start a web chat and find suitable options that are tailored to your needs
- Email: Visit http://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/send-email to connect via email for the assistance you need
If you're located in Canada but are outside of Ontario, please visit The Responsible Gambling Council for additional resources.