Get help now
Free, confidential, 24/7
- Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) — the national problem gambling helpline, available in every state.
- National Council on Problem Gambling — ncpgambling.org: screening tools, chat support, and treatment referrals.
- Gamblers Anonymous — gamblersanonymous.org: free peer-support meetings, in person and online.
- Gam-Anon — support for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling.
Tools built into every licensed casino
These aren't favors from operators — state regulators require them. Offshore sites offer none of this, which is a core reason we cover only licensed casinos.
Deposit, loss, and wager limits
Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on what you can deposit or lose. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately; raising one includes a mandatory cooling-off delay so it can't be done impulsively mid-session.
Time limits and reality checks
Session reminders show how long you've played and your net result, and can log you out automatically at a limit you choose.
Time-outs (cool-off)
Lock your account for 72 hours up to several weeks. Useful as a circuit-breaker after a losing streak, when chasing losses is most tempting.
Self-exclusion
Bar yourself from all licensed operators in your state for one year, five years, or permanently through the state program (for example, New Jersey's DGE self-exclusion list or Pennsylvania's PGCB program). Operators must block excluded players and stop all marketing to them.
Warning signs worth taking seriously
- Gambling with money needed for bills, rent, or debt payments.
- Chasing losses — increasing stakes to "win it back."
- Hiding play or lying about time and money spent.
- Gambling to cope with stress, anxiety, or low mood.
- Failed attempts to cut back or stop.
One yes doesn't define anything on its own, but if several of these feel familiar, a free call to 1-800-GAMBLER is a conversation, not a commitment. Screening and support are confidential.
Practical habits for staying in control
- Decide the budget before the session, deposit exactly that, and set a deposit limit matching it in the casino's tools.
- Treat every dollar deposited as spent. A withdrawal is a bonus, not a plan.
- Never gamble borrowed money — no credit cards, no loans, no advances.
- Keep sessions timed and take real breaks; reality checks help here.
- Don't play when upset, intoxicated, or tired — decision quality drops exactly when stakes feel most tempting.