Playing should always be just for fun. Always play responsibly.

By the will of the people of this state, it is the mission of the Colorado Lottery to generate funds for parks, recreation and open space, by providing the adult public with quality entertainment through games that are fun and creative. It is never the intent of the Lottery, as a Division of the Department of Revenue for the State of Colorado, to entice individuals with compulsive disorders to engage in self-destructive behavior, or to represent Lottery games as solutions to financial problems, or as personal economic investments. All Lottery products are designed and marketed accordingly.

To help keep its games fun and entertaining, the Lottery includes its Play Responsibly message in its communications to the public. In addition, the Lottery is an active participant on the Board of the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado.  Lottery sponsorship helps to fund the toll-free compulsive gambling helpline in Colorado (see below.)

Play Smart. Play for Fun.

Tips for Playing Responsibly

• Play for entertainment—not as a way to make money.              
• Use your entertainment budget to play games—not money needed for everyday expenses.              
• Accept losses as the cost of entertainment. Once your budgeted money is spent, don’t continue to play, trying to win it back.              
• Be aware that the risk for irresponsible behavior increases in times of depression or when consuming alcohol.

10 Questions

These ten questions have been compiled by the National Council on Problem Gambling.

1. Have you often gambled longer than you had planned?              
2. Have often gambled until your last dollar was gone?              
3. Have thoughts of gambling caused you to lose sleep?              
4. Have you used your income or savings to gamble, while letting bills go unpaid?              
5. Have you made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling?              
6. Have you broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling?              
7. Have you borrowed money to finance your gambling?              
8. Have you felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses?              
9. Have you been remorseful after gambling?              
10. Have you gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations?

If you or someone you know answers "Yes" to any of these questions, the National Council on Problem Gambling encourages you to consider seeking assistance from a professional.

There is hope. There is help.

According to an independent study by Gemini Search, 250 Colorado residents will seek treatment for problem gambling each year. If you or someone you know is suffering as a result of problem gambling, there are resources to help you.

Compulsive Gambling Hotline: 1-800-522-4700

The Colorado Lottery provides funding support for the Compulsive Gambling Hotline. This 24-hour resource allows the caller to speak—in either English or Spanish—to a trained, live counselor. By calling the hotline, the caller also can receive referrals for local assistance.

*Information is also available on the Problem Gambling web site: http://www.problemgamblingcolorado.org

Other resources

Gamblers Anonymous International Service Office
P.O. Box 17173
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-386-8789
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Colorado Intergroup of Gamblers Anonymous
(Message center and recorded information on meeting times and locations) 303-754-7119
www.coloradoga.org

Gam-Anon International Service Office
(support group for the friends and families of problem gamblers)
P.O. Box 157
Whitestone, NY 11357
718-352-1671
www.gam-anon.org

Be part of the solution.

It is the goal of the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado to increase awareness of problem gambling issues in this state. The Board of PGCC meets monthly.  Past Board activities have included promoting problem gambling resources, hosting educational sessions, and fund-raising for problem gambling awareness efforts.  If you would like to help educate the public on the issues of problem gambling, please join the Colorado Lottery and other interested individuals and agencies, and become an active member of PGCC:

Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
(303) 662-0772 or www.problemgamblingcolorado.org

Other web sites that may be of interest:

Colorado Division of Gaming
www.revenue.state.co.us/Gaming/home.asp

National Council on Problem Gambling
www.ncpgambling.org

Responsible Gambling Council
www.responsiblegambling.org

American Gaming Association
www.americangaming.org/programs/responsiblegaming/history.cfm

Debtors Anonymous
www.debtorsanonymous.org