Responsible gambling

Betting should be an entertainment cost, like a ticket to a game. It is not a way to earn money and not a way to win back a loss. This page lists the habits that keep it that way and the places to go if it stops being fun.

Habits that help

• Decide how much you can afford to lose before you start, and use a deposit limit in the app to enforce it.
• Never bet money you need for rent, bills or savings.
• Do not chase a loss with a bigger bet.
• Set a time limit, and take breaks.
• Do not bet when you are upset, tired or have been drinking.

Warning signs

Spending more than you planned, borrowing to bet, hiding how much you bet, thinking about betting most of the day, or betting to change your mood are all signs that it may be time to stop and talk to someone.

Tools inside the apps

Licensed apps let you set deposit limits, take a time-out for a chosen period, or exclude yourself. They sit in the account settings under responsible gambling. Using them is a sign of good judgment. State gaming regulators also run self-exclusion programs in many states.

Set your limits before the first deposit

1. Pick a monthly amount you can lose without touching rent, bills or savings, and write it down.
2. Open the account settings of the app and look for the responsible gambling or limits section.
3. Set a deposit limit that matches the amount from step one. A limit set while you are calm holds when you are not.
4. Add a time limit or a reminder if the app offers one, and take a break after a loss instead of betting again to recover it.
5. If limits are not enough, use a time-out or self-exclusion. Both are explained below.

Our betting budget planner shows how many bets a monthly budget covers and how quickly a losing run uses it up.

Time-out or self-exclusion: which one

A time-out is a break of a chosen length, after which the account opens again. Self-exclusion is a longer step and, in many states, is run by the regulator rather than by the app, so it covers every licensed operator in that state at once. The programs differ by state, so read the rules of the program before you join it.

Self-exclusion programs by state

These are the programs we could read on an official page. Each line says what that source states, and the link goes to it. We read these pages on November 3, 2026. A state that is missing here has not been verified, which does not mean it has no program.

• Delaware. Persons who are currently self-excluded from wagering may not place sports bets. delottery.com
• District of Columbia. DC runs a Self-Exclusion Program for people who want to refrain from sports wagering. dclottery.com
• Indiana. Indiana has a statewide Internet self-restriction program administered by the commission. in.gov
• Iowa. Iowa's self-exclusion program covers sports wagering. irgc.iowa.gov
• Kansas. Kansas law requires each lottery gaming facility to maintain a self-exclusion list that covers sports wagering. kslegislature.gov
• Maryland. Maryland maintains a voluntary exclusion program for sports wagering. mdgaming.com
• Massachusetts. The Commission runs a Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) list specifically for sports wagering. massgaming.com
• Missouri. The commission runs a self-exclusion list for sports wagering. mgc.dps.mo.gov
• New Jersey. Players can self-exclude from betting for one year, five years, or lifetime through the Division of Gaming Enforcement. nj.gov
• New York. You can exclude yourself from all gaming in the state. gaming.ny.gov
• North Carolina. The state lottery names a universal self-exclusion program for sports betting. nclottery.com
• Pennsylvania. The board runs a self-exclusion program that lets you ban yourself from gambling activities. gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov
• Virginia. The Virginia Lottery runs a Voluntary Exclusion Program that covers sports betting. valottery.com
• Wyoming. Wyoming runs a Self-Exclusion program for people who wish to refrain from sports wagering. gaming.wyo.gov

Helping someone else

If you are worried about a friend or family member, say so plainly and without blame, offer to look at the help options together, and do not lend money to cover bets. The helpline below also takes calls from the people around someone who gambles.

Where to get help

Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Help is free and confidential.

• 800gambler.org
• National Council on Problem Gambling

You must be of legal age to bet, which is 21 in most states. Our guide to betting on an app shows where to set limits before your first deposit.

Frequently asked questions