• Treat the money you gamble with as a cost of entertainment: treat winnings as a bonus.
• Set a dollar limit and stick with it. Leave the ATM card at home. Decide beforehand how much you can ‘afford’ to lose
• Expect to lose: Gambling is a business and the odds are against you. Accept losses as a recreational cost. When you go to see a movie, do you expect to come out with more money than you went in with?
• Leave your credit card at home
• Know when to walk away…avoid chasing your losses
• Create balance in your life: Gambling should be one of many activities that you engage in. If it starts to intrude on or replace friendships, family or work, it may be time to seek help.
• Avoid gambling as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain. There are plenty of ways to reduce stress in a healthier way. Please see http://studenthealth.missouri.edu/Stress for more details on stress management.
• Become educated about the warning signs of problem gambling.