It’s okay not to be okay when it comes to a gambling problem.
This is an issue that many people deal with, and it’s always good to know what support you can get if you think you’re developing a gambling addiction.
In this guide, I will help you understand self-exclusion. This is the first step for many on the path to breaking free of a gambling problem.
If you feel overwhelmed by the plethora of gambling sites available or you feel you’re spending too much, too often in online casinos and sweepstakes sites, look no further than this guide.
In the sections ahead, I’ll walk you through the options available if you’re looking for support regarding self-exclusion from gambling facilities in Rhode Island.
What is Self-Exclusion at a Casino?
Self-exclusion is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the act of excluding yourself from participating in gambling practices.
It starts with deleting applications but can end with adding yourself to a list maintained by a centralised organisation that’ll help you avoid gambling in all forms.
Typically, both physical and online casinos will offer some kind of exclusion process.
However, there’s a lot that you can and must do as a problem gambler to help yourself. This is where it becomes self-exclusion.
If you’re not having fun playing anymore and feel it’s taking over your life, adding yourself to a self-exclusion list in Rhode Island will help you avoid gambling as much as possible.
You’ll be removed from marketing lists, blocked from making accounts, and barred from physical casinos
Responsible Gambling Steps to Take Before Self-Exclusion
For many, being added to Rhode Island’s self-exclusion lists is the final step.
It’s the option you’ll pick when you’re having an issue helping yourself.
Before you get to that point, there are a few things that you can do to start tackling a gambling problem.
First, you can whittle away at the time you spend gambling, by setting restrictions that lock applications on your phone or computer after a certain amount of time.
It’s possible to arrange limits and restrictions in other ways, too.
For instance, you can set deposit, withdrawal, and play limits on almost every gambling site and Sweepstakes Casino, or you can use a card with a spending cap to fund your gambling wallet.
At a more granular level, you can request that your bank refuse to handle transactions linked to a gambling site of any kind.
It’s also important to not deal with a gambling problem by yourself.
If you have friends and family close by, let them know what you’re going through and ask them to help you avoid the slots or sportsbooks.
Who Controls The Rhode Island Self-Exclusion List?
Rhode Island has a phenomenal self-exclusion ecosystem firmly backed by the government and non-profit organisations.
Most of the state’s self-exclusion activities are managed by the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling, but other charities and medical services are offering similar support functions.
Below, I’ll go into the providers in more detail, but these are some of the companies offering help with self-exclusion in Rhode Island:
- Rhode Island Problem Gambling Services
- Problem Gambling Services of RI
- QuitGamble
- RICPG
How to Ban Yourself from Gambling in Rhode Island
If you live in Rhode Island and you think you’ve got a problem with gambling, there are plenty of support options available, as mentioned above.
It begins with identifying the platform that looks best to you and reaching out.
Many of these services are entirely self-serve to start with, so you’ll be asked to fill out a form or complete a ‘happiness survey’ to determine the severity of your gambling problem.
From there, you’ll have your case picked up by a support officer who will help you understand the next steps you need to self-exclude from gambling in Rhode Island.
Online Casinos vs. Physical Casinos
If you’re an abuser of online casinos, it’s often tougher to kick the habit than it is if you’re addicted to visiting physical casinos.
It’s all too easy to download applications and fall back into your problem – but that’s where self-exclusion comes to your aid.
With self-exclusion from online casinos, you’ll often be banned from making accounts or linking certain bank accounts to your profile, and you’ll be blocked from receiving marketing materials and promotions.
If you self-exclude from physical casinos, you’ll be barred from entering or using a membership.
In Rhode Island, there are just two physical casinos that are licensed to operate, and they’re both run by Bally’s.
Bally’s runs a fantastic self-exclusion program in Rhode Island that has been running since 1990, and it allows problem gamblers to exclude themselves from these facilities for a minimum of one year, which is typical for self-exclusion lists.
To self-exclude from a Bally’s casino, you’ll need to complete an application in person.
How to Remove Yourself From the Self-Exclusion List in Rhode Island
It can be tricky removing yourself from a self-exclusion list in Rhode Island.
If it was easy to do, it would be pointless having it exist in the first place.
In almost every state and territory, self-exclusion lists require that you adhere to the support practices for a minimum of one year, and some can run for up to five years – or permanently.
During this minimum period, it’s not possible to remove yourself from a self-exclusion list.
That’s why this is considered a last resort for some, as it can be quite a paradigm shift.
In most cases, to remove yourself from the self-exclusion list after your minimum window has expired, you’ll simply contact the body you used to self-exclude in the first place, filing a request to be removed from the list.
Online Casinos vs. Physical Casinos
If you want to remove yourself from a self-exclusion list with an online casino, it’ll typically start with contacting the site’s customer support function and requesting that you start the process.
It’s often not a one-step procedure, though.
You’ll need to complete an evaluation to ‘prove’ that you’re not suffering from a gambling problem anymore.
In some cases, your request to be removed from self-exclusion lists can be denied.
It’s a similar process at a physical casino like Bally’s.
This operator advises that self-exclusion periods are designed to be served out in their entirety but with approval from the RI Lottery and Bally’s Lincoln Casino Resort management, they can be considered for early termination.
Who to Contact in Rhode Island if You Have a Gambling Problem
If you’re struggling with a gambling addiction in Rhode Island, there are many organisations you can turn to for assistance.
Rhode Island Problem Gambling Services
The RIPGS offers a 24/7 support hotline and a self-assessment process to help determine the severity of your gambling problem.
Like other resources in the state, the RIPGS receives funding in the form of reimbursement from Bally’s to manage a self-exclusion list.
Problem Gambling Services of Rhode Island
This ‘behavioural health service’ will help you access a voluntary self-exclusion process that’ll lock you out of gambling in Rhode Island.
It has been running for more than ten years and is a firm supporter of the 12-Step program.
Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling
The RICPG is arguably at the forefront of self-exclusion in Rhode Island, overseeing one of the chief self-exclusion lists in the state.
It’s one of the best resources you can lean on to get help with a gambling issue.
These state-specific resources can be used alongside the likes of Gamblers Anonymous, QuitGamble, and Gamban.