Responsible Gaming

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to proactively increase public awareness of compulsive gambling, ensuring the availability of treatment providers, and to support research for prevention and education.

Problem Gambling

Problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological", or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. (NCPG-2007)

Phases of the disease:

Winning phase - the gambler experiences one big win or a series of wins. While the gambler is in this phase they believe they cannot lose. They also think they have the system figured out.

Losing phase - this is where the gambler is on a losing streak, they can't stop gambling (chasing losses), borrows money (bailouts) they will try to win back what they lost and fall into debt, they become irritable, restless, and withdrawn.

Desperation phase - this is where the time gambling increases, the gambler alienates from family and friends, and engages in illegal acts (fraud, writing bad checks) to finance their gambling. They may experience hopelessness, and have suicidal thoughts.

Bottom Phase: the gambler is feeling loss of hopelessness, they start committing illegal acts, debts are overwhelming, domestic violence occurs and suicide attempts are signs of hitting rock bottom.

Support

Our Goal is to promote and support, to the fullest extent practical, responsible gaming behavior at Sandia Resort and Casino.

Gambling is a form of entertainment. Sometimes adults can get addicted to gambling and lose the ability to stop, and when this happens it is extremely important to seek gambling specific help.

Gamblers Anonymous uses the following twenty questions to help determine gambling problems. Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least 7 of the questions.

Do you or someone you know ever:

Did you ever lose time from work due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing, did you feel that you had to return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win, did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance your gambling?
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless about the welfare of your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self-destruction as a result of your gambling?

Available Resources in New Mexico

Pueblo of Sandia Health Department: (505) -771-5131
Counselors are available to treat members of the Pueblo of Sandia community.

NM Council on Problem Gambling provides a 24 hour gambling helpline and makes referrals to qualified treatment providers in the state of NM. Also, through the Treatment Fund, providers are able to offer services free of charge.
NM Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-572-1142
Nmcpg.org

The Evolution Group offers a Compulsive Gambling Treatment Clinic to treat gamblers and their families at no cost to the client.
The Integrity Recovery House is a six-month living facility for late stage gamblers to receive treatment in a supportive environment.
The Evolution Group Inc: (505)-242-6988 ext. 112
Theevolutiongroup.com

Self Exclusion: This procedure offers patrons to self exclude from any form of gambling at Sandia Resort & Casino. It is required that patrons come in to fill out the self-exclusion sheet and this can be conducted by contacting any security or by contacting the Responsible Gaming Coordinator at 796-7500 ext.2092

Gamblers Anonymous:
gamblersanonymous.org - 505-260-7272
Gamblers Anonymous is a self supporting fellowship of men and women with the primary purpose are to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

Gam-Anon:
gam-anon.org
Gam-Anon is a self-help organization that offers support for family members and friends whose lives has been affected by a compulsive gambler or underage gambler.

10 Rules of Responsible Gaming

If you chose to gamble, do so for entertainment purposes. If your gambling is no longer an enjoyable activity then ask yourself why you are still "playing".
Treat the money you lose as the cost of your entertainment. Treat any winnings as a bonus.
Set a dollar limit and stick to it. Decide before you go not only what you can "afford" to lose, but how much you want to spend. Do not change your mind after losing.
Set a time limit and stick to it. Decide how much time you want to allow for gambling. Leave when you reach the time limit whether you are winning or losing.
Expect to lose – The odds are that you will lose.
Make it a private rule not to gamble on credit – Do not borrow money to gamble.
Create balance in your life – Gambling should not interfere with or substitute for friends, family, work or other worthwhile activities.
Avoid "chasing" lost money – Chances are the more you try to recoup your losses the larger your losses will be.
Don't gamble as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain - Gambling for reasons other then entertainment can lead to problems.
Become educated about the warning signs of problem gambling - The more you know the better choices you can make.