Responsible Gaming
Hard Rock offers gaming environments that are safe and meet strict standards of integrity. While most people treat gambling as entertainment and effectively manage the time and money they spend, some struggle to control their behavior, and as a result, experience harm.
We want to sustain customers over the long-term by working to prevent and mitigate harmful gambling. We want to help players make informed choices about their gambling and to get help when they need it, so we provide education, promote healthy play habits, and facilitate access to a range of support services.
What's PlayersEdge?
PlayersEdge is Hard Rock’s education program to help guests improve their casino experiences. It is designed to prevent and mitigate harmful gambling by promoting informed choices, positive play, and understanding of risks.
By explaining how casino games work, providing strategies to manage their play, and helping people reflect on how they gamble, PlayersEdge works to keep casino play fun. For those who need help, we provide information, assistance and referrals to self-exclusion and support services. Please see playersedge.org for more.
Getting help
What about when gambling starts hurting your life?
Disordered gambling, commonly referred to as problem or compulsive gambling, is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a behavioral addiction. It affects between one and three per cent of the adult population, and the consequences are serious.
PlayersEdge also assists and motivates you to recognize signs of a problem, maintain control of your behavior, and take action should you gamble too much.
Talking to someone
If you or someone you know has a gambling disorder, call the state's helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, text ILGAMB to 53342, or visit www.AreYouReallyWinning.com.
This confidential, non-judgmental assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing services that assist family members and loved ones, along with gamblers.
Self-Exclusion
For those who feel that gambling is hurting their lives and need a break, we also promote self-exclusion. If you or someone you know wants to regain control, consider the Illinois Statewide Casino Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (SEP) administered by the Illinois Gaming Board.
This program helps gamblers to self-exclude from all Illinois casinos, and from sports wagering in the state. To enroll you must attend in person at a designated enrollment site. In addition to Illinois locations, IGB Self-Exclusion enrollment sites are available in Iowa. For information on locations, please see http://www.igb.illinois.gov/ProblemGamblers.aspx, or call 1-800-GAMBLER, or text ILGAMB to 53342.
The enrollment process takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. All Self-Exclusion candidates must present a valid driver's license or state issued identification card, and no fees are charged for enrolling.
Another option includes Illinois Gaming Board’s Problem Gambling Registry, which can also help anyone with a gambling problem.
What does gambling mean to your life?
Below is your chance to self-evaluate by answering questions that probe risks for potential problems with gambling.
Please note: these questions cannot formally assess a gambling problem, because only a trained clinician can make that diagnosis.
- Do you lose time from work or school due to gambling?
- Does gambling make your home life unhappy?
- Does gambling affect your reputation?
- Do you ever feel remorse after gambling?
- Do you ever gamble to earn money and pay off debts? Or to solve financial problems?
- Does gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
- After losing, do you feel you must return as soon as possible to win back your losses?
- After a win, do you have a strong urge to return and win more?
- Do you often gamble until your last dollar is gone?
- Do you borrow to finance gambling?
- Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
- Are you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
- Does gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
- Do you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
- Do you gamble to escape worry, trouble or boredom?
- Do you ever commit, or consider committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
- Does gambling make sleeping difficult?
- Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
- Do you have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
- Do you ever consider self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Answering YES to 7 of these questions suggests you may be experiencing problems.
Have you considered talking to someone? Or entering self-exclusion?
The experience of people in self-exclusion and research evidence suggests that combining voluntary self-exclusion with counseling services may improve your chances of controlling gambling and addressing related issues in your life. By taking decisive steps you can start to regain control.