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The Michigan Gaming Control Board recently provided safety guidelines and tips for college basketball enthusiasts and bettors as they gear up for the excitement of March Madness.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month is also observed in March.
I, just like everyone at Playinmichigan, consider this matter to be of great importance. During Super Bowl week, I recounted a personal tale about the impact of my father’s gambling on our lives. It saddens me to think about the stability we could have enjoyed if either my mother or he had been able to establish boundaries. However, it is not too late for others to avoid a similar fate.
I conducted an experiment to determine the level of difficulty in self-restraint when using a gambling app, website, or the resources provided by the state for Michigan residents. Continue reading to discover straightforward methods for practicing responsible gambling, such as setting betting limits and implementing complete exclusions.
Operators offer limits on apps, sites
In order to comply with state regulations, all sites that are legally licensed within the state must provide choices for limitations and/or exclusions. To evaluate the effectiveness of these measures, I conducted tests on both a website and various apps. Specifically, I utilized a Caesars Sportsbook account for the website test.
To access the wagers landing page, locate and click on the tab labeled “responsible gaming” at the top of your user account. This tab is recognizable by a shield logo. Upon clicking, a detailed explanation provided by Caesars will open, starting with the necessary legal warning specific to Michigan.
Caesars provides links to the state’s resources and also offers the option to place oneself on a self-exclusion list for a minimum duration of 12 months.
The sportsbook offers a printable form for individuals who wish to pursue self-exclusion. By opting for this route, individuals are prohibited from participating in any Caesars wagers activities, as well as being ineligible for reward cards and benefits. Furthermore, these exclusions apply not only to existing Caesars-owned properties but also encompass any future ventures that may be established subsequent to the commencement of the restriction.
Once a year has passed, individuals can seek to regain their privileges by filling out a form and sending it to the responsible gaming office of the company. The approval process for reinstatement takes a minimum of 30 days, and the applicant must not have violated their exclusion settings in any manner.
Using Caesars’ online choices
If you are inclined towards digital convenience, simply navigate to the user accounts section and select “account settings.” Within that menu, you will find the “responsible gaming” tab, offering three options: gaming limits, cool off, and self-exclusion.
On the “gaming limits” section, users have the choice to set limits for their daily ($100 to $10,000), weekly ($100 to $50,000), or monthly ($100 to $100,000) gaming expenditures. Similar ranges are offered for betting spending limits and the duration of time one can spend on the site, which ranges from one hour to 24 hours.
Users have the option to select shorter exclusion periods using the “cool off” tab. This feature enables users to take breaks ranging from three to 30 days.
The “self-exclusion” tab provides an electronic means to access the most stringent restrictions available.
Customers who prefer less marketing can reach out to [email protected]caesarssportsbook.com or call (855) 474-0606.
It only takes less than five minutes for online restrictions to be installed by users.
Placing restrictions using apps
Afterwards, I proceeded to explore comparable features available on the FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks applications. Similar to my experience with the Caesars website, I swiftly applied my desired limitations.
Both applications provide options for “responsible gaming” that encompass features like time restrictions, betting limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion periods.
I opted for a 30-day cooling off period for both platforms. Similar to deactivating a Facebook account, FanDuel did prompt me to enter my password again. Subsequently, both websites promptly logged me out and sent emails verifying our temporary separation.
Besides struggling to recall my password, it only took me less than five minutes to establish my limits on the apps.
In order to reverse any temporary exclusions, a waiting period of at least 24 hours is required. This can be likened to when a friend hides your phone to prevent you from contacting your ex, but you cleverly remember the phone number and call from a different device. I attempted a similar workaround with DraftKings by accessing the website instead of the app, hoping to evade the restrictions.
I approached the computer, where I am automatically logged in. With a click, the system began the usual login process, but abruptly ejected me, ensuring that my self-imposed boundaries remained intact. It would be great if our phones provided the same protection from exes!
Michigan offers resources, too
Michigan’s comprehensive restriction options provide broader coverage at once, and individuals are encouraged to take advantage of them.
“In a press release, Henry Williams, Executive Director of MGCB, emphasized that betting should be enjoyable and entertaining. He further expressed that individuals can engage in responsible gaming by developing a strategy to limit their wagers during March Madness or at any given time.”
Those seeking complete exclusion from all authorized providers within the state can submit an application to the Responsible Gaming Database maintained by the gaming control board.
The provided form allows individuals to opt out of participating in internet gaming, internet sports betting, or both. Once you’ve made your selection, you can choose to exclude yourself from both activities for a period of one year or five years. As stated by the board, providers and operators have the option to apply these exclusions across multiple states.
Once again, it should be clarified that the exclusions provided solely pertain to online gaming and online sports betting.
Individuals facing gambling challenges in person can choose to participate in the Disassociated Persons program. By enrolling in this program, they are restricted from personally visiting any of Detroit’s physical casinos.
Individuals who commit violations will be expelled from the premises and face charges of trespassing. Additionally, any winnings will be seized. Those included on the list will have to wait a period of five years before they can apply for removal.
Here you can find all the state’s resources, including a 24-hour gambling helpline.
In case you or someone you are acquainted with requires assistance regarding gambling-related concerns, kindly reach out to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117.