call casino and ask

Hi RFree. I didn't self ban. I knew that (for me) telling everyone I knew at my "second home" that I would never be back would probably be enough and it has been so far. As the months have gone on that stupid junkie voice in my head has said "you can go back now with no shame because you've stayed away so long that everyone there will be really impressed". If that becomes a problem I will definitely self-ban.
I know that some people on here have said is was a very important tool and that it seems like the laws differ in each state about time limits and stuff like that.

Here is the CA gambling commission page. There is a link to a form- apparently there are 3 lengths of time to choose from.
http://www.cgcc.ca.gov/?pageID=playresponsibly
I wish you the best and stick with it!
Jay

I self banned from October 2011- to October 2012 and again from November 2012 until now. In the casino I banned myself from there were three choices - banning for 1 year,3 years, or life. So far I have chosen 1 year at a time. Basically the first time caught security walks you out...after that they call the police if you return.
So far it has worked out well for me..when the year was up in October I decided I was going to stop in...in half an hour my purse was empty..I was so disgusted and angry with myself..the next day I self banned myself for another year and have not been back and am so happy with that decision. I work near there a couple of weeks and if I didn't self ban myself I would be in there spending and LOSING it . I work to hard for my money to be doing that...now when I finish work I drive past and am sloop relieved because the temptation isn't there because I know I cannot go in there..as a matter of fact when I see the full parking lot and am at the traffic signal along with people that just left I wonder how much they lost...Best of luck to you!

Thank you all so much for your responses. I called and asked about the self ban procedure at the closest casino (5 minutes away). The man I spoke with was very nice, gave me the form to fill out when I arrived. I could pick and length of time I wanted. (10 years was my decision). Took 5 minutes and everyone was smiling. Called the 5 other casinos in my area to get their information on self- banning. I feel free. Thanks again.

Once I was ready to quit and I called my state's problem gambling hotline and was told this state (MT) does not have a self banning program. I was very disappointed, and talk about a place that needs it, there are casinos everywhere.

I have 7 Indian owned casinos that I went to all the time. My brother took me to each and every one. All I did was fill out a paper at each one, show my id and they took my pic. It was so easy to do for me. They have you put how long you want to self ban, and I put indefinetly on each one. After I went to the last casino, I felt so free!!
If I get caught stepping foot on their property, its a federal tresspassing offense. They could arrest me if I went and got caught. Self banning has literally saved my life. Be strong and know that you can do this!!
Love and hugs
Lisa

self banning certainly helps a great deal. the hotels around here and clubs are venues with slots, and they are literally everywhere. when i would ban myself from 10 places near by, i would always travel further and within seconds on being in a new area or suburb i could find a joint. so this is how it works here, you can self ban from nominated areas, but they can't ban you from everywhere. also the major casino i banned from it was a whole seperate procedure and they said if i get caught it's a 2000 dollar on the spot fine and possible court procedures. so i can't go into the actual floor there, it's hard to tell people i can't go there, because it's a place a lot of people also casually hang out for functions etc.

Hey there. I know for many people self-banning has been an incredible tool. I myself, have not self-banned. I know myself, and I am afraid if I went back in -even just to ban myself, I would use it as an excuse.
I would think, this is my last shot/the last time I could ever gamble.
And I am afraid I would do the "one last time" thing.
I do know that my good friend banned herself, and she can NOT go to the buffet or the banquet room, which doubles as their musical venue. I live in a small town (about 8,000 people) but the closest casino is less than 10 mins away and is used all the time as a meeting place. They have all kinds of things there, from class reunions to weddings. So, I have yet to go back. But, I am not counting out future trips -for ANYTHING besides gambling.

I didn't self ban, although I completely understand why someone would. The reason I didn't was because of this part of the document-

"I accept any risk of potential or actual adverse public notice, embarrassment criticism or other action, including any financial loss, which may directly or indirectly result from the release of this information authorized in this Authorization and Request to Release Information"

That freaked me out. And when I called to ask them to explain exactly what it meant, they said there was no guarantee that my self-exclusion status would remain confidential, and that that part of the agreement protects them from liability. So, essentially, if an employee decided to post something online, or tell my co-workers, or boss, I would have no recourse.

I've worked government jobs before, doing surveys, and I would have gotten fired AND prosecuted if it was discovered that I had revealed any personal information about my respondents.Evidently that's not the case with the casinos.

resolved2- to which form are you referring? I read through the CA material and it would appear to me that the list is protected from public disclosure.
I didn't look at other states, but that is certainly something to consider very carefully. You shouldn't be shamed in admitting a problem- that's just plain wrong.

jayd03

That is part of the Kansas form, here's a link to the form:
http://www.ksgamblinghelp.com/images/stories/ks%20self-exclusion%20application%20sample%20secure.pdf

I was so upset to see that! Basically, it says "we'll try to keep this confidential, but hey-people talk, we can't stop that!"

That's crazy!
I did look at a few different ones and the language does vary a bit, but Kansas is really something else... I almost see them posting it somewhere.

The form I signed said I was admitting I had a mental illness DSM IV diagnosis, pathological gambling/ impulse control disorder and signing this form would help in my treatment. Only Indian casinos in my area of CA so I have to visit each one individually and fill out their form. I think the Indian Casino's may make the forms lanuage extra ugly so people will not follow through with the self ban. I really don't feel shame in this process I feel empowered for protecting my future.

Marilyn,
I agree that you are empowering your future, and respect your decision to self-ban. In my case, I wasn't comfortable with either the passage I quoted above OR this one:
"I release and forever discharge the state, the commission, and its employees and agents from any liability to me and my heirs,
administrators, executors, and assigns for any harm, monetary or otherwise, that may arise out of or by reason of any act or
omission relating to this request
for placement on the voluntary exclusion list or request for removal from the voluntary exclusion
list including the following:(D) the dissemination of confidential information contained on the exclusion list by facilities
under the jurisdiction of the commission to any party not authorized to receive the information

This includes my Drivers license number, my social security number, address, phone number, physical description, date of birth, EVERYTHING someone needs to steal someone's identity.

Just wrong.....