Responsible Gaming

At NY State Lottery, we prioritize a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for all our players. We understand that online gaming can be a thrilling form of entertainment when managed responsibly.

Safe and Balanced Gaming Habits

Gaming should not come before other important aspects of life. Set aside dedicated time for leisure activities outside of your regular routine.

Gambling as Entertainment, Not Income

Treat your NY State Lottery account as an extension of your social wallet, rather than a source of income. Never rely on wins to make ends meet or pay off financial debts.

Budget and Bankroll Management

Set realistic budget limits to control the amount spent in one session:

• Daily deposit limits
• Weekly deposit limits
• Monthly deposit limits

Review these limits regularly and adjust as needed to maintain a balanced gaming experience.

Deposit, Loss, Wager, and Session Limits

Establish boundaries for individual sessions to ensure that you don't get caught up in the excitement of play. These controls can be set across:

• Maximum amount per spin or round
• Daily loss limits on bets won
• Average losses over a specified period

Additionally, consider implementing session timers or regular reality checks to monitor your gaming time.

Reality Checks and Time Reminders

Use built-in features like Reality Check to:

1. Temporarily lock out your account for self-reflection (Cooling Off Period).
2. Activate ongoing alerts about session duration.
3. Apply customizable daily/weekly/monthly limits based on financial capacity or gaming preference.

Cooling-Off and Self-Exclusion Tools

Choose to step back with:

1. Session breaks: Limit playtime for a set period (e.g., hours, days).
2. Temporary bans: Deactivate your NY State Lottery account temporarily.
3. Permanent self-exclusion: Close the account indefinitely.

Reviewing these limitations will help maintain responsible gaming practices and minimize financial or emotional strain.

Account Verification and Age Restrictions

For players under age restrictions:

1. Verify personal identity using government-issued documents (ID verification).
2. Confirm minimum required age before granting access to our site.

NY State Lottery upholds licensing regulations by strictly enforcing these measures and continually reviewing policies for improvement.

Protection of Vulnerable Players

Recognizing the risk factors that may exacerbate gaming addiction, we have implemented:

1. A player tracking system: Monitoring individual patterns helps identify at-risk gamblers.
2. Early intervention support resources: Users can access guidelines on problem gambling self-assessment and relevant support hotlines.

Warning Signs of Problematic Gambling

Self-monitoring indicators to watch out for include excessive spending or time allocated to gaming, persistent chasing of losses, unaffordable bets, feelings of guilt/shame/insomnia/anxiety related to gaming behavior, social withdrawal due to over-gaming.

Support Organisations and Professional Help Resources

If you're concerned about your own gaming habits or those of someone else:

1. Contact our support team for confidential guidance.
2. Reach out to organizations that provide assistance with addiction recovery (GamCare).
3. Visit professional online therapy platforms offering personalized coaching on coping mechanisms.

Responsible Bonus Usage

Take advantage of promotions while staying aware of the attached conditions, especially those involving deposit matches or free-play bonuses:

1. Read bonus terms carefully before accepting them.
2. Set aside time limits and budget allocation for each promotional offer received.
3. Prioritize using genuine funds over bonus money.

Safer Gaming in Various Play Modes

Different game types have unique risks:

• Slots: Manage the size of bets or adjust your wager per spin based on available bankroll
• Live Casino: Place informed wagers, as these games often involve fixed minimum/maximum stakes.
• Sportsbook Betting: Understand odds fluctuations and place limits accordingly to protect against unpredictable market shifts.

Mobile Gambling Awareness

Be mindful that mobile gaming can be more tempting due to the availability of games at any time. Stay within your budget:

1. Regularly check balance management to avoid overspending on in-app purchases.
2. Establish alerts to track your usage patterns and identify potential problems.

Family/Device Protection Measures

To ensure safe gaming for loved ones or shared devices, please explore our family-friendly settings section for tools like parental controls and device locks:

• Implement content filters
• Restrict access based on age requirements for each type of game.
• Monitor user accounts with built-in tracking features.

Account Security and Player Protection

Take an active part in maintaining security by implementing robust passwords, enabling 2-factor authentication (where available), using the latest software versions, monitoring account activity regularly, reporting suspicious events promptly, keeping sensitive information secure, limiting third-party access through designated channels only.