Not Sure What to Do?

If you concerned that your gambling activity (or the gambling activity of a loved one) is causing some problem(s) in your life, but you are not sure about the next step, consider the following options:

Call 1-888-BETSOFF (1-888-238-7633): 1-888-BETSOFF is a 24-hour toll-free helpline for problem gamblers, their family, and friends.Ifyou need to talk to someoneand you don’t know where to turn, help is just a phone call away. You can receive referrals to free compulsive gambling treatment, local meetings of Gamblers Anonymous, consumer credit counseling, information on the Voluntary Exclusion Program, and more.

Start attending some form of counseling or group support: speaking with a trained counselor or other recovering problem gamblers (or family members of recovering gamblers) can give you additional insight into your problem and can assist you in developing a recovery program that is best for your needs. Sometimes, it just helps to know that there are others out there who have either already gone, or are currently going, through some of the same things you are experiencing.

The GA meeting schedule is available on the world wide web. Click here to access the meeting schedule for Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health contracts with counseling agencies to provide free treatment by certified compulsive gambling counselors to Missouri residents who either have a gambling problem or have a loved one who has a gambling problem. Click here to access the DMH compulsive gambling counselor listing for Missouri;

Consider placing your name on the List of Disassociated Persons (also known as the Voluntary Exclusion Program): The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) administers a voluntary exclusion program which provides problem gamblers with a method to acknowledge they have a gambling problem and take personal responsibility for it by agreeing to stop visiting riverboat casinos. The exclusion is for life. Casinos must remove all individuals who join the Voluntary Exclusion Program from their direct mailing lists. Research indicates problem gambling is a lifetime condition and those who suffer from it are never "cured" but are constantly "recovering".

click here for more information about the Voluntary Exclusion Program

click here for information on how to place your name on the List of Disassociated Persons

click here to view a sample application for placement on the List of Disassociated Persons

click here to review Frequently Asked Questions about the program

Consider placing your name on an individual casino self-exclusion list: Many of the casinos in Missouri have their own programs which allow an individual to either remove themselves from the casino’s mailing list and/or ban themselves from visiting that particular casino.

If you are interested in banning yourself from a specific casino property, contact the casino security staff for information on the programs they have available. Click here for the contact information for Missouri riverboat casinos.

Educate yourself about the condition: there are a variety of websites and other sources of information available on the world wide web regarding problem gambling issues. The links below are just a sample of those available. The more you can educate yourself about problem gambling issues, the better prepared you will be to handle the consequences of your (or your loved one’s) problematic gambling.

Resource Links:

If gambling is affecting your life and you are thinking about change, you've already taken the first step. This guide will help you understand gambling, figure out if you need to change, and decide how to deal with the actual process of change. If you're at all concerned about your gambling, this guide is for you.