The importance of gambling responsibly

Sports betting should stay fun and be easy to walk away from. Our mission at Dimers is to help bettors make disciplined and informed betting decisions, and we know that for many people betting stops being entertainment and can cause serious harm. 

That risk has grown as betting has moved onto phones, with mobile sportsbooks in more than 30 states and prediction market apps available even where sports betting isn't legal.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, Dimers is here to support you with the knowledge and tools to keep it from hurting people. Learn the warning signs, find free and confidential help, set limits before you bet, and self-exclude from sportsbooks in 38 states and Washington, D.C., as well as from prediction markets.

If you need to talk to someone now, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). It's free, confidential, and open 24 hours a day.

Get help now

If you want assistance immediately, there are several ways to get support. You don't need to be in a crisis or be sure you have a problem to reach out.

Each of these services is free, and the people who answer can help you work out a next step.

  • National Problem Gambling Helpline: Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat at 1800myreset.org. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) runs it 24/7 and connects you with help in your state. The older number, 1-800-522-4700, still works.
  • 1-800-GAMBLER: The helpline run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, which several states still list as their required number.
  • Gamblers Anonymous hotline: 855-2CALLGA (855-222-5542).
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, if you're in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

If you're not ready to talk to anyone yet, the sections below cover the warning signs, self-exclusion, and limits you can set on your own.

What responsible gambling means

Responsible gambling means betting for occasional entertainment rather than using it as a source of income. By setting and staying within limits for your money and time, you can help keep betting from causing financial or emotional harm. 

You can lay a foundation for responsible betting by starting with these habits:

  • Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stick to both.
  • Only bet money you can afford to lose. Never gamble with money meant for financial commitments, including rent, bills, and other essentials.
  • Understand every bet you place, including the odds, what you could win, and what you could lose.
  • Don't chase losses by betting more to recover money you've lost.
  • Don't bet when you're stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Don't gamble if you have a history of addiction, and take extra care if addiction runs in your family.
  • Treat a prediction market trade the way you'd treat a bet. Trading contracts carries the same risk.
  • If you think you might have a problem, there is no harm or shame in reaching out early. Someone is always available at 1-800-MY-RESET.

Know where you're betting

Where you bet decides which protections you get. Prediction markets, offshore sportsbooks, sweepstakes sites, and fantasy apps all work differently from the state-licensed sportsbooks most of this page covers.

Prediction markets

Prediction markets work differently from sportsbooks. A sportsbook sets the odds and takes your bet, while on a prediction market you buy and sell contracts with other traders, and prices move with what people are willing to pay. Markets cover all kinds of future outcomes, from economics to elections, and sports are among the most popular.

Prediction markets are regulated federally by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than by state gaming regulators, which is why they're available in nearly every state, including many where sports betting isn't legal. What you can trade depends on the app and your state, and that can change.

Prediction market platforms talk about "trading" and "positions," but for your money, it's essentially betting. A losing contract is worth nothing when it settles, and NCPG considers trading event contracts functionally gambling, with the same potential for harm. Age limits depend on the app and sometimes the state. Many start at 18, while most states require sportsbook customers to be 21.

Because prediction markets sit outside state gambling rules, state self-exclusion doesn't cover them. See how to self-exclude from prediction markets below.

Licensed sportsbooks vs. offshore sites

A licensed sportsbook is legally authorized to take bets in your state and answers to a regulator there. The license comes with rules, and the regulator can fine the sportsbook or take away its right to operate if it breaks them.

An offshore sportsbook is based outside the U.S. and isn't licensed by any U.S. state, even if it looks professional and accepts U.S. customers.

The limits, self-exclusion programs, and complaint options on this page only apply to licensed sportsbooks.

State rules typically require licensed sportsbooks to:

  • Verify your age and identity before you can bet.
  • Offer deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion.
  • Block anyone on the state's self-exclusion list.
  • Answer to a state regulator that handles customer complaints.

Offshore sites don't have to do any of that. They can take bets from people under 21 and people who've self-excluded, and if a site refuses to pay out or closes your account, no U.S. regulator can step in.

To check whether a sportsbook is licensed, look for it on your state regulator's list of licensed operators. The state self-exclusion links below go to each regulator's site. Licensed apps also check your location and only accept bets inside states where they hold a license. Warning signs of an offshore site include taking bets from anywhere, steering you toward cryptocurrency deposits, and offering bonuses far bigger than licensed books do.

If you've been betting with an offshore site, help is available. Helplines, counselors, and Gamblers Anonymous support anyone struggling with gambling, wherever they've been betting, and blocking apps can stop offshore sites from loading on your devices.

Sweepstakes casinos, social sportsbooks, and daily fantasy sports

Sweepstakes casinos and social sportsbooks use two virtual currencies, one of which can be redeemed for cash prizes. They operate under sweepstakes laws rather than gaming licenses, so state self-exclusion lists don't cover them, any responsible gaming tools are voluntary, and disputes go only to the platform. Most accept players from 18, and a growing number of states have banned them.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS), including pick'em contests, are regulated in some states and not in others. Where they're regulated, your state's self-exclusion program may cover them. The state list below shows which programs include fantasy.

Whichever you use, the safest approach is the same as on a prediction market. Treat it as gambling, use the platform's own limits and self-exclusion, and add a blocking app if you need a firmer barrier.

Set limits and other tools

Setting deposit and wager limits before you place any bet keeps that decision out of the heat of the moment. Short odds can make a win feel certain, but odds are always a price, never a promise of an outcome. Limits cap how much you can lose and make it harder to get carried away.

Most sportsbooks and prediction markets offer three kinds of limits:

  • Deposit limits: Cap how much of your money you can add to your account over a day, week, month, or year.
  • Wager limits: Cap the size of a single bet or how much you can bet over a set period.
  • Time limits: Cap how long you can stay logged into your account if betting starts taking up an unreasonable amount of your day.

You can change your limits at any time. Lowering a limit usually takes effect right away. Raising one usually comes with a waiting period, so you can't undo it on impulse.

If you bet at more than one sportsbook, set your limits as one total budget. Many bettors use several sportsbooks to compare odds, but each limit only applies to the account you set it on, so the amounts stack. For example, a $20 weekly deposit limit at five sportsbooks adds up to $100 a week. Decide on your total first, then split it across your accounts so your limits add up to an amount you're comfortable losing. Each app's history only shows its own activity, so keep a simple record of your total across all of them.

A few other tools are worth using alongside limits:

  • Cool-off periods, sometimes called time-outs, lock your account for a short break, from a day to a few months.
  • Blocking apps such as Gamban and BetBlocker stop gambling sites and apps from loading on your devices.
  • Your account history shows how much you've deposited and lost over time, and some providers send monthly activity statements. Reviewing them when you're not betting shows your habits without the emotion of the moment, so you can judge whether you're staying within limits you're comfortable with.

Signs of a gambling problem

A gambling problem can take many forms. Some signs are easy to spot, like an urge to gamble that you can't control even when it's hurting you or the people around you. Others build slowly and are harder to see.

Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health condition, and like other health conditions, it can be treated. Nearly 20 million U.S. adults reported at least one sign of gambling-related harm in the past year, according to NCPG research.

Warning signs that can indicate a gambling problem include:

  • Your gambling is causing problems for you or the people close to you.
  • You borrow money or go to extreme lengths to find money to gamble.
  • You gamble with money you need for something else.
  • You neglect family, friends, or work because of gambling.
  • You lie about how much you gamble or lose.
  • You open new accounts to get around limits you've set.
  • You gamble to escape problems or relieve stress.
  • You count on gambling to pay bills or solve money problems.
  • You feel a constant urge to gamble, or check odds and prediction market prices throughout the day.
  • You feel irritable or anxious when you're not gambling.

Your risk is higher if you have a history of addiction or mental health issues. If any of these sound familiar, NCPG's self-assessment and treatment finder can help you decide on a next step.

Self-exclusion programs

Self-exclusion lets you ban yourself from gambling for a set period. Operators block your account and stop sending you marketing, and in many states you forfeit any winnings if you gamble while excluded. You can self-exclude in three ways, and many people use more than one:

  • Through your state, which covers every licensed operator in that state.
  • Through a national program that covers several states at once.
  • Directly with a sportsbook or prediction market, which covers that company's apps.

State programs only apply inside that state and only to the types of gambling the state regulates. Some states run separate programs for casinos and online betting, so check what each one covers.

National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

The National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP) lets you self-exclude from multiple participating states with one free enrollment, including a free online notary where a state requires one. Nebraska and Wyoming use NVSEP as their official sign-up. The program is run by idPair, a responsible gambling technology company.

State-operated self-exclusion programs

Each link goes to the program run by that state's regulator or lottery. If your state isn't listed, it doesn't run a statewide program, and 1-800-MY-RESET can point you to local options. Tribal casinos usually run their own programs, so ask at the casino.

Sportsbook self-exclusion and limits

Every licensed sportsbook lets you set limits, take a short cool-off, or self-exclude, usually under Responsible Gaming in your account settings. 

Excluding at one sportsbook usually covers all of that company's apps, and some operators extend it to other states. Each link goes to the operator's own tools, and entries without a link tell you where to find them in your account.

  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel
  • BetMGM: Find time-outs and self-exclusion under Responsible Gaming in your account. The menu may differ slightly depending on your state.
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • bet365: In your account menu, go to Gaming Controls, then Self-Exclusion. The menu may differ slightly depending on your state.
  • Fanatics Sportsbook
  • BetRivers: Go to My Account, then Responsible Gaming. The menu may differ slightly depending on your state.
  • Hard Rock Bet
  • theScore Bet

Prediction market self-exclusion

If you've joined your state's self-exclusion list, that ban covers state-licensed sportsbooks and casinos. It doesn't extend to federally regulated prediction markets, so you'll need to self-exclude on each prediction market app separately.

  • SelfExclude.io: One enrollment blocks you on every participating prediction market. Kalshi and Novig are connected now, and Polymarket, Robinhood, ProphetX, Matchbook, and Juice Exchange are in progress. You choose 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year, and you can't end it early. Blocks take effect within 24 hours.
  • Kalshi: Trading breaks, self-exclusion, and monthly deposit limits are under Responsible Risk Management in your account. Kalshi's self-exclusion doesn't block its markets when you reach them through another broker's app, so exclude there too. You also can't sell open positions while excluded, so close any you don't want to hold. Kalshi's self-exclusion guide has the details.
  • Polymarket US: Self-exclusion for 30 days, one year, or permanently, plus daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits. Raising or removing a limit comes with a cooling-off period.
  • FanDuel Predicts: Self-excluding from any FanDuel product applies to all your eligible FanDuel products, including FanDuel Predicts.
  • DraftKings Predictions: Deposit limits, cool-off periods, and self-exclusion are in the Responsible Trading Center, which you can also reach in the app.
  • Other prediction market apps: Look in account settings for limits or self-exclusion. If you can't find them, contact support and ask to be excluded.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a free 12-step fellowship for anyone who wants to stop gambling. Meetings are anonymous and run in person, online, and by phone across the U.S.

More responsible gambling resources