Category: For you

Betting on games used to be something you did in Vegas or with a bookie. Now it’s on your phone, all day, with same-game parlays and live odds that change every play.

That makes it a lot easier for betting to slide from fun into something else, without any clear moment where it changed.

If you’re reading this, part of you is probably already wondering. Here’s a way to check.

The 9 signs

The signs below come from the criteria clinicians use to identify a gambling problem (they’re listed in the DSM-5, the manual mental health professionals use). Read them honestly and count how many have been true for you in the past 12 months.

1. You need to bet more to feel the same rush. A $20 bet used to make a game exciting. Now it takes $200.
2. You get restless or irritable when you try to cut back. Watching a game without action feels pointless or uncomfortable.
3. You’ve tried to cut back or stop, and couldn’t. More than once.
4. You think about betting a lot. Planning parlays, checking lines, replaying past bets in your head.
5. You bet when you’re stressed, bored or down. Betting has become a way to change how you feel.
6. You chase losses. After a bad day, you bet again to win it back.
7. You hide how much you bet. From your partner, family or friends. Maybe you’ve lied about it.
8. It’s hurt something important. A relationship, your job, school, or an opportunity.
9. You’ve relied on others to cover the money. Borrowing, asking for help with bills, or worse.

What your count means

Clinicians use four or more of these in a year as the threshold for gambling disorder. More signs generally means a more serious problem.

But you don’t need to hit four for this to matter. If even one or two made you wince, that’s worth paying attention to. Problems are much easier to turn around early.

This list is a self-check, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified clinician can diagnose a gambling disorder.

Signs specific to sports betting

A few patterns show up a lot with sports betting in particular:

• Live betting during games, often several bets per game.
• Parlays to “make it interesting” when straight bets no longer feel like enough.
• Betting on sports you don’t even follow, like overseas leagues at 3 a.m.
• Using promos and bonus bets as a reason to keep depositing.
• Multiple sportsbook accounts to get better lines or more bonuses.

None of these alone means you have a problem. Together, with the signs above, they’re a strong signal.

If this sounds like you

First, you’re far from alone. The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that nearly 20 million U.S. adults experienced at least one sign of gambling-related harm in the past year.

Second, you don’t have to figure out the whole thing today. A few steps that help right away:

• Make it harder to bet. Set deposit limits or a time-out in every sportsbook account, and see our guide to blocking gambling apps and sites.
• Tell one person. Someone you trust. Secrecy is one of the things that keeps this going.
• Talk to someone who knows gambling. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, the free national helpline, or try a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

If betting losses have you feeling hopeless, or you’ve had thoughts of ending your life, call or text 988 now. You deserve support today, not later.

This guide is general information from the Gambling Guardrails coaching team. It isn’t medical, legal or financial advice. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988. For free, confidential gambling help, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.

Gambling problems and money problems tend to arrive together. So it’s a cruel twist that a lot of treatment assumes you have good insurance, or thousands of dollars set aside.

If that’s not you, you still have real options. Several of them are free. Here’s an honest rundown, starting with the ones that cost nothing.

Free options you can use today

The national gambling helpline

Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, or chat online at 1800myreset.org. It’s free, confidential and open to anyone affected by gambling. The people who answer can talk through what’s going on and point you to services near you, including free state-funded programs.

If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 instead. That’s the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and it’s also free.

State problem gambling programs

Many states fund free or low-cost counseling for gambling problems, often paid for with a share of gambling revenue. Availability and waitlists vary a lot by state. The helpline can tell you what exists where you live, or you can search for your state’s “council on problem gambling.”

Gamblers Anonymous

GA is a free, peer-led 12-step fellowship with in-person and online meetings. Some people find it is exactly what they need. Others want something more structured or private. It costs nothing to try a few meetings and see.

Self-exclusion

Most states with legal casinos or sports betting run a voluntary self-exclusion program. You sign up to be barred from gambling venues or apps for a set period, often one year, five years or life. It won’t fix the urge, but it removes easy access while you work on the rest.

Blocking tools

Free and paid apps can block gambling sites and apps across your devices. We cover them in How to block gambling apps and sites on your phone.

When free isn’t enough

Free resources are a strong starting point. They also have limits: waitlists, meeting schedules that don’t fit your job, or not wanting to talk in front of a group.

That’s where paid options come in. Here’s roughly how they compare.

Option	What you get	Typical cost
Residential treatment	Clinical care, live-in, usually 28+ days	Often tens of thousands of dollars
Outpatient therapy	Licensed therapist, weekly sessions	Varies widely; insurance often required
Online recovery coaching	Structured program, certified coach, at your own pace	Ours: $595 to $1,495
Self-help books and apps	Information and tools	Low or free

These aren’t competing options. They’re different levels of support for different situations. If your gambling has led to serious depression, thoughts of suicide, or heavy alcohol or drug use, clinical treatment is the right call, and the helpline can help you find affordable options.

What online coaching is (and isn’t)

Recovery coaching is not therapy. A coach doesn’t diagnose or treat mental health conditions. What a good coach does is help you build a plan that fits your life, stick to it, and get back on track when you slip.

For a lot of people, that’s exactly the missing piece. They know they need to stop. They just need structure and someone in their corner.

Things to look for in any coaching program:

• A real credential. For gambling, look for coaches certified in problem gambling, such as the ICGC-II.
• A screening step. A responsible program checks whether it’s a good fit and points you elsewhere if you need clinical care.
• Clear pricing and a fair refund policy. You should know exactly what you’re paying for.
• Privacy. Ask what’s shared, with whom, and what shows on your bank statement.

This guide is general information from the Gambling Guardrails coaching team. It isn’t medical, legal or financial advice. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988. For free, confidential gambling help, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.