Responsible Gambling: Help, Helplines & Tools

Gambling should be entertainment you can afford — never a way to make money, chase losses or escape stress. If it's stopping being fun, you're not alone, and help is free and confidential. This page lists the national and state helplines and the practical tools to stay in control.

Need help now?

Call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700 — free, confidential, 24/7, all 50 states. Or call 1-800-GAMBLER. In crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). If you're outside the US, contact your national gambling helpline.

Warning signs of problem gambling

Gambling more than you can afford to lose, or betting money meant for bills.
Chasing losses — betting more to win back what you've lost.
Borrowing money, selling things, or hiding gambling from family.
Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back.
Gambling to escape worry, low mood or loneliness.

If any of these feel familiar, take the NCPG's free, anonymous self-assessment at ncpgambling.org, and reach out to a helpline below.

National resources

National Problem Gambling Helpline (NCPG)	Call/text 1-800-522-4700 · 24/7 · ncpgambling.org
1-800-GAMBLER	Call 1-800-426-2537 · confidential support & referrals
Gamblers Anonymous	gamblersanonymous.org · free peer support meetings
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline	Call/text 988 if you're in crisis

State-by-state helplines

Many states fund their own problem-gambling programs. For the states we cover:

Texas	1-800-522-4700 (NCPG / Texas Council on Problem Gambling)
California	1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) · CalGETS / Office of Problem Gambling
Florida	1-888-ADMIT-IT (1-888-236-4848) · FL Council on Compulsive Gambling
New York	1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) · or text HOPENY (467369)
North Carolina	1-877-718-5543 · NC Problem Gambling Program ("More Than A Game")

Tools to stay in control

Reputable operators offer built-in tools — set them up before you play, not after:

Deposit limits — cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month.
Loss & wager limits — cap how much you can lose or stake in a period.
Session time-outs / reality checks — reminders of how long you've played.
Cool-off periods — lock yourself out for 24 hours up to several weeks.
Self-exclusion — close your account for months or permanently.

Important for offshore players

The casinos and sportsbooks we review are licensed offshore and are not part of any US state self-exclusion program (like a state's voluntary exclusion list). That means state self-exclusion won't block these sites. You must use each operator's own deposit-limit, cool-off and self-exclusion tools, account by account. If you need a firmer barrier, install device-level blocking software such as Gamban or GamBlock, which block access to gambling sites across your devices.

Protecting minors

Gambling is strictly for adults (18+, or 21+ at some operators). Keep devices and accounts secure, and consider parental-control software (e.g. Net Nanny) if children use your devices.

Strita Brooklyn is an information site, not a treatment provider. If you or someone you love is struggling, please contact one of the helplines above — reaching out is a sign of strength.