Bet for fun, within your limits

Get help and support

Signs of problem gambling

Problem gambling can affect anyone, regardless of how much they bet. These are common warning signs — noticing one or more is a good reason to pause and reach out for support.

• ! Betting more money or more often than you planned, or needing bigger bets for the same thrill.
• ! Chasing losses — betting more to win back money you have already lost.
• ! Borrowing money, selling possessions, or using funds meant for bills to gamble.
• ! Lying to family, friends, or yourself about how much you bet.
• ! Feeling restless, anxious, or irritable when you try to cut back or stop.
• ! Gambling to escape stress, boredom, loneliness, or low mood.
• ! Neglecting work, school, relationships, or sleep because of gambling.
• ! Repeated failed attempts to set limits or quit.

Self-assessment

Answer these honestly. The more questions you answer "yes" to, the more worthwhile it is to talk to someone.

1. 1 Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
2. 2 Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts to get the same feeling of excitement?
3. 3 When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
4. 4 Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
5. 5 Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
6. 6 Has gambling caused you stress, anxiety, or other health problems?
7. 7 Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem?
8. 8 Has your gambling caused financial problems for you or your household?
9. 9 Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

This is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis. It cannot tell you whether you have a gambling disorder. If any answer worries you, call 1-800-522-4700 to speak with a trained counselor — it is free and confidential.

Setting limits that stick

The best time to set a limit is before you start. Decide what you can afford to lose, treat it as the price of entertainment, and use the built-in controls every licensed operator is required to offer.

Deposit limits

Cap how much you can add to your account per day, week, or month. The limit applies before you can bet, so it actually constrains spending.

Time limits & session reminders

Set a maximum session length or get pop-up reminders of how long you have been playing, so betting does not crowd out the rest of your day.

Loss & wager limits

Cap your total losses or total amount staked over a period. When you hit the limit, the book stops you from betting more.

Cool-off / time-outs

Take a short break — usually 24 hours up to several weeks — during which you cannot bet but your account stays open.

Self-exclusion

A longer, binding ban (often six months to permanent) that blocks your account and, in many states, every licensed operator at once.

Responsible gambling tools by sportsbook

Every major sportsbook lets you set deposit, time, wager, and loss limits, take a time-out, or self-exclude from your account settings — usually under "Responsible Gaming" or "My Limits." Visit your operator to turn these on:

Self-exclusion by state

Most states run a voluntary self-exclusion program that bars you from every licensed sportsbook in that state for a set period. The National Council on Problem Gambling keeps an up-to-date directory of each state's program, helpline, and treatment services.

Browse a state we track for its live sportsbooks, minimum age, and rules:

Tips for staying in control

• Set a budget you can afford to lose, and never chase losses.
• Treat betting as entertainment, not a source of income.
• Set time and deposit limits before you start a session.
• Don't bet under the influence or to escape stress.
• Take regular breaks, and use a time-out or self-exclusion if you need to.
• Never gamble with money meant for rent, bills, or essentials.