Gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money. When gambling stops being fun and starts causing stress, financial harm, or relationship problems, it is time to seek help. This page consolidates responsible gambling resources into a single, actionable reference for anyone who needs support.

Understanding Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling means making informed choices about if, when, and how much to gamble. It involves setting limits before you play, understanding the odds, and recognizing when gambling behavior becomes harmful. Every person’s threshold is different — responsible gambling is about knowing yours.

Self-Exclusion Programs

Self-exclusion programs allow individuals to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling platforms. Most online casinos and gambling sites offer these tools directly through your account settings.

Common self-exclusion options:

  • Temporary cool-off periods — 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days
  • Medium-term exclusion — 6 months to 1 year
  • Long-term exclusion — 1 to 5 years
  • Permanent self-exclusion — Lifetime ban with no reinstatement

How to self-exclude from online casinos:

  1. Log into your casino account
  2. Navigate to “Responsible Gambling” or “Account Settings”
  3. Select your preferred exclusion duration
  4. Confirm your decision — most platforms activate exclusion immediately

For multi-platform exclusion, contact the relevant regulatory authority or use third-party tools like Gamban or GamStop (UK) that block access to gambling sites across all your devices.

Crisis Support Resources

If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, help is available immediately. These services are free, confidential, and staffed by trained counselors.

24/7 Gambling Helplines

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)

Crisis Text Line

  • Text: Text HOME to 741741 for general mental health crisis support, including gambling-related distress

In-Person Support

Gamblers Anonymous

Gam-Anon Family Groups

  • Support groups for family members and partners of problem gamblers
  • Information: gam-anon.org

Professional Treatment

SAMHSA National Helpline

  • Free referral service for substance abuse and mental health treatment
  • Phone: 1-800-662-4357
  • Website: samhsa.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

  • Provides free education programs for individuals and families
  • Offers referrals to therapists experienced with gambling disorder
  • Helpline: (800) 950-6264
  • Website: nami.org

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling often develops gradually. Recognizing these indicators early allows for intervention before financial, relational, and psychological damage compounds.

Financial warning signs:

  • Gambling with money allocated for rent, utilities, groceries, or other essential expenses
  • Borrowing money from family, friends, or payday lenders specifically to gamble
  • Selling personal belongings or taking cash advances to fund gambling sessions
  • Hiding bank statements, credit card bills, or financial records from a partner

Behavioral warning signs:

  • Chasing losses by placing larger or more frequent bets after losing
  • Lying to family, friends, or coworkers about gambling frequency or amounts wagered
  • Feeling restless, anxious, or irritable when attempting to reduce or stop gambling
  • Using gambling as an escape from stress, depression, or relationship conflict

Relational and occupational warning signs:

  • Neglecting work responsibilities, missing deadlines, or calling in sick to gamble
  • Withdrawing from social activities, hobbies, or family events in favor of gambling
  • Broken promises to stop or reduce gambling despite repeated attempts
  • Strained or deteriorating relationships with a partner, family, or close friends

Psychological warning signs:

  • Preoccupation with gambling — constantly planning the next session, reliving past wins, or researching betting strategies
  • Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the same level of excitement (tolerance)
  • Feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness after gambling sessions
  • Thoughts of self-harm or suicide related to gambling losses

If you recognize three or more of these signs in yourself or someone you know, contact the NCPG helpline at 1-800-522-4700 immediately.

Self-Assessment Tools

Screening tools provide a structured, evidence-based way to evaluate whether your gambling behavior may be problematic. These tools are not diagnostic instruments — they are starting points for self-reflection and conversation with a professional.

NCPG Self-Assessment Screening Tool A free, anonymous 10-question quiz available online at ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/screening-tool/. The questionnaire takes approximately 2 minutes and provides an immediate risk assessment based on your responses. Questions address frequency, financial impact, emotional distress, and relationship consequences.

DSM-5 Gambling Disorder Criteria The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) identifies 9 criteria for gambling disorder. Meeting 4 or more criteria within a 12-month period indicates moderate to severe gambling disorder. Key criteria include:

  1. Need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve desired excitement
  2. Restlessness or irritability when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
  3. Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
  4. Frequent preoccupation with gambling (planning, reliving, strategizing)
  5. Often gambles when feeling distressed (helpless, guilty, anxious, depressed)
  6. After losing money, often returns another day to “get even” (chasing losses)
  7. Lies to conceal the extent of gambling involvement
  8. Jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational opportunity due to gambling
  9. Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling

A professional evaluation by a licensed counselor is required for a formal diagnosis.

Setting Healthy Limits

Evidence-based strategies for maintaining control over gambling activity. These practices are recommended by the NCPG and the Responsible Gambling Council.

1. Pre-commitment (Set limits before you play) Decide on a fixed dollar amount and time limit before every gambling session. Write it down or set it in your casino’s responsible gambling tools. Treat this budget like an entertainment expense — once spent, the session is over.

2. Separate gambling funds Maintain a dedicated account or envelope for gambling money, separate from bill payments, savings, and daily expenses. Never use credit cards, payday loans, or borrowed money to gamble. If the dedicated fund is empty, wait until the next budget cycle.

3. Use operator tools Most reputable online casinos offer deposit limits, wager limits, session time reminders, and reality checks. Activate these tools proactively — they are designed to support responsible play, not restrict it. Set deposit limits at the account level so they apply across all activity.

4. Avoid impaired gambling Alcohol and other substances impair judgment and lower inhibitions, leading to larger bets and longer sessions. Set your limits and cash-out plan before consuming any alcohol. Do not access gambling platforms while intoxicated.

5. Take mandatory breaks Schedule breaks during gambling sessions. The 20-minute rule is effective: after every 20 minutes of active gambling, step away for at least 5 minutes. Use cool-off features on digital platforms to enforce breaks automatically.

6. Track and review your activity Review your gambling transaction history weekly. Most online casinos provide detailed account history. Compare your actual spending to your pre-committed budget. If you consistently exceed your limits, this is a signal to reassess your gambling behavior.

7. Never chase losses Chasing losses — increasing bets or extending sessions to recover money lost — is the single most common precursor to problem gambling. Accept that losses are part of gambling. If you feel the urge to chase, close the app or leave the site immediately.

Additional Resources

These organizations provide free, evidence-based resources for individuals and families affected by problem gambling.

  • Responsible Gambling Council (RGC): responsiblegambling.org — Research-driven responsible gambling education, standards for operators, and self-help resources
  • SAMHSA: samhsa.gov — Federal agency providing information and referrals for substance abuse and mental health treatment
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): nami.org — Mental health support and family education programs
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org — If gambling losses have led to thoughts of self-harm
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): consumerfinance.gov — Guidance on managing gambling-related debt and financial recovery

This page is maintained by the Kansas Avenue editorial team to provide accurate, up-to-date responsible gambling information. Content is reviewed quarterly and updated as needed. Last reviewed: February 2026.