Be Smart. Bet Smart.
The sport of horse racing is exhilarating and for many people, wagering on the races is an exciting and entertaining way to participate in this thrilling sport. At Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI"), we take our commitment seriously to providing you with the best wagering experience possible and encourage our customers to make thoughtful decisions about how they spend their time and money wagering on the horses.
CDI feels we have a moral, social and business responsibility to promote responsible gambling among our employees and patrons. Here are some tips to follow in order to wager responsibly:
- Balance playing the horses with other leisure activities.
- Play the horses for entertainment, not as a way to earn money.
- Do not "chase" losses. Accept them as the cost of entertainment.
- Use extra income to wager, not money needed for everyday expenses.
- Set a time limit.
Responsible wagering is what most people practice, enjoying a healthy relationship with horse racing and wagering. For some, however, wagering or gambling becomes a serious and progressive behavior disorder that they are unable to control. This can lead to a state of compulsive or pathological gambling. Pathological gamblers cannot resist the temptation to gamble; they cannot stop regardless of their jobs, families or anything else.
How can you tell if you or someone you know has a gambling problem? Gambling becomes a problem when a person:
- Loses time from work, school or family life in order to gamble
- Gambles until all the money is gone
- Gambles to win back money lost through gambling
- Lies to hide gambling activity
- Boasts about winnings but is vague about losses
- Fails time after time to reduce or stop gambling
Help is available 24 hours a day, every day. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for assistance.