Three Ways to Reduce Gambling-Related Harms and Boost Mental Wellbeing in 2025
Published: January 6, 2025
The start of a new year often coincides with a wave of big resolutions: Kicking off a new diet, starting a gym membership, getting promoted at work, and more. While these are commendable goals, there’s also a reality many of us are already aware of: Big resolutions are hard to keep. In fact, research has shown that just nine percent of Americans actually keep their resolutions throughout the year.
But don’t let that get you down! Instead of pressuring yourself to “be better” or “do more” in the new year, focus on smaller, more tangible goals you can achieve in everyday moments. Making small, consistent goals has been shown to be a more effective way to improve your mental and physical health for the long term.
Pause Before You Play has developed three simple ways to do this in regard to betting if you choose to participate in 2025 or beyond. This list can help you reduce the risk of gambling-related harms, prioritize your mental health, and get access to resources if you or someone you know needs help.
- Set limits: Don’t bet without a plan for how much money and time you’re willing to spend. Betting is an activity of chance that requires an exchange of money or valuables. You can use a variety of tools to ensure that spending doesn’t get out of hand, including GamFin, which provides financial counseling for individuals experiencing betting-related financial issues.
- Recognize the risks: Betting can be a fun activity, but that doesn’t mean it comes without risks. For a subset of people, betting is an activity that has the chance to become a preoccupation and disrupt their personal, family, or work life – also known as a gambling disorder. Learn more about the facts and gauge your risk-level for a gambling disorder by taking the Rate Your Risk quiz.
- Know when to stop: Realizing when to walk away is a huge step for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms, but it can also be one of the hardest parts. That’s why Pause Before You Play provides access to gambling disorder resources, so you don’t have to do it alone. One of which is Time Out Ohio, a program that allows individuals to voluntarily agree to refrain from accessing Ohio’s casinos, racinos, and sports gaming for the duration of their choice.
If you’re looking for more immediate support, you can always call the free and confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741, where you can talk to trained and understanding specialists 24/7. And now, thanks to the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network, you can even access virtual telehealth services at no cost.
Are there any other small goals you’re looking forward to tackling in the new year? Pause Before You Play wants to know! Take a photo of you out there crushing 2025 and be sure to tag Pause Before You Play at @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, and Pause Before You Play on Facebook.