With the ease, instant gratification, and endless fun offered by NJ online casinos and betting sites, gambling issues, and addictions have risen over the past few years.
But people have been struggling to control their gambling habits long before casinos and sportsbooks went online.
Whether you’re hitting the slots, the casino floor, or betting on your favorite sports team, gambling is supposed to be a fun, entertaining activity.
When it becomes a lifestyle or starts affecting finances and personal relationships, it might be time to reassess your habits.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
There are multiple tools and resources available to help you manage your gambling and get back to enjoying your favorite casino games responsibly.
If you’re searching for ways to get your gambling under control, keep reading to learn more about what self-exclusion means, how it works, and how you can voluntarily ban yourself from betting at New Jersey casinos.
What Is Self-Exclusion At A Casino?
Self-exclusion is a way for gamblers to voluntarily ban themselves from placing bets at New Jersey online and land-based casinos.
This is a formal process and the decision should not be taken lightly. It’s usually the last resort for people who need help getting their gambling habits under control.
If you feel like you need to step away from gambling, you might be considering self-exclusion as a tool to regain control over your habits.
In New Jersey, players can temporarily exclude themselves or limit the time and money they spend at online casinos and betting apps.
They can also opt into the state’s self-exclusion program, which is a voluntary registry that effectively bans signatories from entering physical casinos in Atlantic City and/or using online casinos and sportsbooks.
You can choose to ban yourself for one year, five years, or a lifetime.
Putting your name on the list will also ban you from registering for online gambling apps, and even receiving marketing material from casinos and betting providers.
Keep in mind that being on the self-exclusion list can also get you banned from gambling services in other jurisdictions outside of New Jersey.
Responsible Gambling Steps To Take Before Self-Exclusion
To enjoy gambling responsibly, it’s important to set personal limits to control how much time and money you are willing to spend at casinos or sportsbooks, ensuring you maintain a healthy balance.
Betting And Time Limits
The first step to taking control of your gambling is to place self-imposed limits on the time and money you spend at online casinos and sportsbooks.
Take A Temporary Time Out
You can also ban yourself from specific casinos or betting services.
To make these changes, you will need to go to your account settings for each betting provider and manually make the necessary adjustments.
You should be able to choose the length of time of your self-imposed ban.
Limit Gambling On Credit
If you’re not ready to add your name to the self-exclusion list but want to take a formal step to curb your spending on gambling, you can file for a suspension of credit privileges with the DGE, which will limit gambling on credit.
Who Controls The New Jersey Self-Exclusion List?
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement or DGE is the law enforcement agency that regulates all gambling in the state, grants licenses to casinos, and promotes responsible gaming rules and regulations.
The DGE also controls the self-exclusion list for both online and land-based casinos and betting services.
As an added incentive, anyone who registers for the self-exclusion list will receive a free consultation with an expert on problem gambling and addiction.
Keep in mind that if your name is on the self-exclusion list and you are caught gambling at an Atlantic City casino, you will be forced to forfeit all your winnings and be removed from the premises.
How To Ban Yourself From Gambling In New Jersey
If you feel that setting limits on the time and money you spend gambling isn’t enough, you might be considering adding your name to the state’s self-exclusion list to keep yourself away from casinos, sports betting, and horse races.
- To ban yourself from both land-based casinos in AC as well as online casinos and betting sites, you will need to fill out the form available at the DGE website and personally submit it at the DGE offices or with the New Jersey Racing Commission.
- Photo ID will be required and you will be photographed. All of this is to ensure that no one can submit someone else’s name for self-exclusion, only their own.
- If you want to ban yourself exclusively from online gambling, you can submit your application in person or through a video call with the DGE.
- You can choose to be on the self-exclusion list for a year, five years, or a lifetime.
Online Casinos Vs. Physical Casinos
If you’re ready to voluntarily ban yourself from physical or online casinos, or both, New Jersey offers several options for you to get your name on the self-exclusion list.
Follow the steps above for either online or brick-and-mortar casinos.
Remember that this is a completely voluntary step and only you can get your name on the list, which is why validating your identity is such an important part of the process.
How To Remove Yourself From The Self-Exclusion List In New Jersey
If you feel ready to gamble responsibly, to set and respect your limits, and to get back to the casinos or race tracks, there are ways to reinstate your rights to do so.
- If you excluded yourself from your favorite online casino and want to regain access, you just have to change back the settings through your account on their website. This only applies if you choose the self-exclusion option through their website to begin with.
- If you put your name on the state’s self-exclusion registry, you must apply for the DGE to remove you from the list. You can do so through their website. Your request will only be accepted once the time you chose to exclude yourself from gambling activities, whether one year or five, has expired.
- If you choose to be excluded for a lifetime, you will not be able to remove your name from the self-exclusion list.
If you’re struggling to control your gambling habits after being removed from the list, you can always re-submit your name to be excluded again.
Online Casinos Vs. Physical Casinos
It’s easy to remove your name from the self-exclusion list for both online and physical casinos in PA once the selected time has elapsed.
Follow the steps above. But remember, this is a big decision that should not be taken lightly.
You should feel confident that you have the tools to manage your gambling habits and not fall back into the patterns that led you to put yourself on the list in the first place.
Who To Contact in New Jersey If You Have A Gambling Problem
It’s important to ask for help if you feel like your gambling habits are getting out of control. And the sooner you act, the better– you don’t have to wait until you’re in debt to get help.
From hotlines to websites and counseling, there are multiple resources and tools available to help you work through your gambling problems.
Use Online Resources
To learn more about responsible gaming and access tools to help you manage your gambling habits, check the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) website.
Phone Helplines
The nonprofit Council on Compulsive Gambling offers education, counseling, treatment, and other resources to anyone who needs help managing their gambling habits.
They have a 24/7 helpline, live online chat, and text support. Please check their website for more information.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has a confidential helpline and information about treatment programs and self-screening tools.
Join Support Groups
Like other addictive behaviors, gambling issues should be taken seriously. Twelve-step programs like Gamblers Anonymous are helpful for gamblers aiming to keep themselves accountable.
For more information on your local schedules and locations, search for meetings in your area.