Responsible gambling

Gambling should be entertainment, never a way to make money or solve financial problems. Here are the tools that help you stay in control, the warning signs to watch for and where to get help in the United States.

Quick help

  • 1-800-GAMBLER: call or text, free and confidential, 24/7. Run by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
  • ncpgambling.org: chat and a directory of state helplines and treatment.
  • Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org): peer support meetings across the US.

Play safely

Every casino game has a built-in house edge. Over time gambling costs money, and that is the price of the entertainment. Decide in advance how much you can afford to lose and how long you want to play, and stick to it.

Set a budgetOnly play with money you can afford to lose. Use deposit or purchase limits per day, week or month.
Limit your timeUse session reminders and take breaks. Don’t play when you are tired, upset or under the influence.
Never chase lossesTrying to win back what you lost almost always leads to bigger losses.

Age limits

State-licensed online casinos and most sportsbooks require players to be 21 or older. Some sweepstakes casinos accept players from 18, others from 21; the operator’s own rules decide, and many states add their own limits. Never let a minor use your account.

Tools you can use

LimitsLicensed casinos and sportsbooks in states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan must offer deposit, spend and time limits. Most sweepstakes casinos offer purchase limits in the account settings.
Cool-off and self-exclusionTake a short break or close your account for months or longer. Ask the operator’s support if you cannot find the setting.
State self-exclusion listsMany states run their own self-exclusion programs that cover every licensed operator in the state, for example the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Blocking softwareTools such as Gamban and BetBlocker block gambling sites and apps on your devices.

Warning signs

  • You spend more money or time on gambling than you planned.
  • You borrow money or sell things to gamble.
  • You gamble to escape stress, worries or low mood.
  • You hide your gambling from people close to you.
  • You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down.

Where to get help

National helpline 1-800-GAMBLER (call or text), ncpgambling.org
Peer support Gamblers Anonymous
Family and friends Gam-Anon offers support for people affected by someone else’s gambling
Self-exclusion Your state gaming regulator’s self-exclusion program, plus the operator’s own tools

Helpline details as published by the National Council on Problem Gambling, checked October 2026.