By definition, ‘games’ should always be fun, but when you introduce the element of gambling on those games, you can often run the risk of feeding an addiction.
If you think you’re in a sticky spot with anything from horse racing to social casinos, you’ll want to consider self-exclusion.
In this guide, I’m going to help you understand self-exclusion from casinos and betting facilities in Kentucky.
It might be a restrictive state where gambling is concerned, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to take part, particularly with sweepstakes casinos.
That said, it’s entirely possible for that fun to stop and something more nefarious to take over.
If you’re looking to take the first step towards helping yourself, read on to learn everything you need to know about self-exclusion in Kentucky.
What is Self-Exclusion at a Casino?
Typically, there will be few people around you to tell you to stop gambling when it becomes a problem.
It often falls on you as the gambler to recognise you have an issue or an addiction and to deal with it before it impacts your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
That’s why self-exclusion from a casino is considered the first step – it’s a recognition that you’re perhaps unravelling a little where gambling is concerned and you need to put your foot down.
Fortunately, many of the best gambling sites in Kentucky make it easy to partake in self-exclusion practices.
At the least, self-exclusion will include being blocked from accessing a casino or downloading gambling applications. In the most serious of cases, you’ll wrap yourself up in a blanket ban on all things gambling, from marketing to even talking about betting or gaming.
This concept applies to both brick-and-mortar casinos and online gambling apps in Kentucky. When you participate in a self-exclusion program, you’ll be taking that first step to seize control of your habits.
But what can you do before it gets that far?
Responsible Gambling Steps to Take Before Self-Exclusion
If you’re wrapped up in a series of gambling sites in Kentucky and you find yourself falling down the rabbit hole, there are many things that you can do before you go cold turkey or freeze yourself out of these applications.
For example, most sweepstakes casinos in Kentucky will offer deposit, spending, and betting limits.
Typically, these limits will be fully customisable to suit your needs, and you’ll be able to tweak them on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
If you want to tackle loading money into a gambling app in the first place, you can consider using a ‘reloadable’ debit card that can only accommodate a certain amount of funds in the first place.
To go more granular and lock down your gambling in Kentucky, you can lean on mobile app stores and your device’s settings to set time limits for applications that feed a gambling habit.
The numbers show that since sports betting was legalized in Kentucky, the number of users contacting 1-800-GAMBLER lines rose sharply, so you’re not alone.
Who Controls The Kentucky Self-Exclusion List?
Most self-exclusion activities are governed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, as that’s the most common form of gambling in the state.
This body filed new legislation in 2023 requesting that each operator licensee should ‘develop a commission-approved self-exclusion list’.
Elsewhere, organisations like Kentucky’s KYCPG exist to help problem gamblers deal with their addictions.
This is the most common resource for seeking help with gambling in Kentucky, and I’ll go into more depth about it below.
How to Ban Yourself From Gambling in Kentucky
As I’ve pointed out, taking that first step is mostly voluntary and initiated by you as a gambler.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to self-exclude from gambling in Kentucky. As the state has been mostly closed to the idea of gambling and betting for many years, there aren’t many government agencies set up to support the concept of responsible gaming.
To that end, the management of all self-exclusion policies falls on the individual operators in the state. But that doesn’t mean you’re without help.
Here’s the best path you can follow to ban yourself from gambling in Kentucky:
- Navigate to KYCPG.org (or contact 1-800-GAMBLER)
- Complete the ‘contact me’ form on the site or let the operator know about your desire to self-exclude from gambling
- Be referred to a trained counsellor who will help you self-refer to Gamblers Anonymous or offer a crisis response process if your situation is critical
Perhaps when gambling in Kentucky becomes better established, the state’s government will open up a more centralised self-exclusion process.
Online Casinos vs. Physical Casinos
It’s tough to self-exclude from all the online casinos in Kentucky simply because they’re so accessible.
It might sound difficult at first blush, but you’ll typically need to resort to using immense self-control to avoid accessing these sites and apps in the first place.
If you’re someone with an addictive personality, you’ll want to scope out your gambling platform’s self-exclusion policy before you start making deposits, buying coins, and gaming.
It’s much easier to self-exclude from physical casinos in Kentucky, as for the most part, they don’t exist.
The state doesn’t permit traditional casinos to operate, but there are horse racing facilities and some in-person sports betting locations across the region.
To self-exclude from these, you’ll often need to contact the facility’s management team and let them know about your situation.
Many of these establishments operate on a membership basis, so at the very least, they’ll freeze your membership and prohibit you from entering the building.
It’s much easier to self-exclude from a physical casino than it is from an online one, which is why you’ll need to be quick to notice the symptoms of problem gambling in yourself before they worsen.
How to Remove Yourself From The Self-Exclusion List in Kentucky
As there isn’t a centralised self-exclusion list in Kentucky, there’s nothing to be removed from. If you’ve signed up for a self-exclusion process on a site or application in the state, you’ll need to go directly to the operator to demand that you be removed from that list.
However, each operator is different. Some might have a minimum self-exclusion period of six months, while others will ban you from accessing that platform for a year – or more.
Online Casinos vs. Physical Casinos
It’s usually going to be the same process to request removal from self-exclusion lists in Kentucky. It’ll start with contacting the platform you were gambling on to request that they take your name off the list.
It sounds simple at first glance, but bear in mind the ‘cooling off period’ and the minimum duration that I’ve already outlined for these lists.
Who to Contact in Kentucky if You Have a Gambling Problem
If you think you’ve got a gambling problem and you’re a Kentuckian, there are plenty of charitable organisations willing to help you out in a matter of minutes.
In terms of central bodies established and managed by the government, there isn’t a lot to lean on.
If you’ve got a gambling problem in Kentucky, your first port of call should be the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. This organisation will connect you with counsellors and trained professionals who’ll help you self-exclude and get the deeper help that you need.
There are other avenues, though. For instance, you could try going directly to Gamblers Anonymous.
This organisation oversees the traditional 12-step program that’s fused with meetings and trackers to help ease you away from gambling in any capacity.
The Kentucky Lottery Commission offers a responsible gambling process that addresses any addiction to buying lottery tickets, but that’s not always applicable for those lost in sweepstakes casinos or sports betting facilities.
I hope this guide helps you to deal with any emerging gambling addictions – or that it has helped you gain awareness of what’s there to support you if gambling becomes too much.