Responsible Gambling

Our Position on Responsible Gambling

MoneySmart STL reviews online casinos to help Missouri players find safe, legitimate platforms. But we also recognize that gambling carries real risk. Not everyone who gambles develops a problem, but for those who do, the consequences can be severe: financial hardship, damaged relationships, and serious mental health impacts.

We believe that any site that recommends online casinos has an obligation to provide clear, accessible information about responsible gambling. This page exists because player safety matters more than any affiliate commission we could ever earn.

You must be 21 years or older to gamble online. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.

Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling often develops gradually. It can be difficult to recognize in yourself or in someone you care about. The following behaviors may indicate that gambling has become a problem:

• Chasing losses — Continuing to gamble in an attempt to win back money you have already lost, often increasing bet sizes to try to recover faster.
• Gambling with money you cannot afford to lose — Using rent money, bill money, or savings intended for essential expenses to fund gambling activity.
• Borrowing or selling possessions to gamble — Taking out loans, maxing credit cards, or selling personal items to get money for gambling.
• Lying about gambling — Hiding the extent of your gambling from family, friends, or a partner. Feeling the need to be secretive about how much time or money you spend gambling.
• Neglecting responsibilities — Missing work, ignoring family obligations, or failing to meet financial commitments because of gambling.
• Inability to stop or cut back — Repeatedly trying to quit or reduce gambling and failing. Feeling restless or irritable when you try to stop.
• Preoccupation with gambling — Constantly thinking about gambling, planning the next session, or reliving past wins and losses.
• Gambling to escape problems — Using gambling as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or other negative emotions.
• Needing to bet more to feel the same excitement — Gradually increasing the size of your bets because smaller amounts no longer provide the same level of excitement.
• Relationship damage — Arguments with family or friends about gambling. Losing trust with people close to you because of gambling behavior.

If you recognize three or more of these behaviors in yourself, we strongly encourage you to reach out to one of the organizations listed below.

Tips for Gambling Safely

If you choose to gamble online, the following practices can help you keep it within safe limits:

Self-Exclusion Options

Self-exclusion is a voluntary process that allows you to ban yourself from gambling platforms for a set period of time. During the exclusion period, the casino is required to close your account and prevent you from opening a new one.

Most online casinos offer self-exclusion directly through their responsible gambling settings. You can typically choose exclusion periods ranging from 6 months to permanent. If you cannot find the self-exclusion option, contact the casino's customer support and request it.

For Missouri residents, the Missouri Gaming Commission maintains a Voluntary Exclusion Program (VEP) for land-based casinos. While this does not directly apply to offshore online casinos, it is an important resource for anyone who needs to remove themselves from gambling environments entirely.

Help Organizations and Resources

The following organizations provide free, confidential support for anyone affected by problem gambling:

Underage Gambling Prevention

Gambling is strictly for adults aged 21 and older. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to gamble online, and MoneySmart STL does not condone or encourage underage gambling in any form.

If you are a parent or guardian, consider using parental controls and web filtering software to prevent minors from accessing gambling websites. Tools like Net Nanny and CyberPatrol can help block access to gambling content.