Gambling should cost what you decided it would and stop when you said it would. If it has stopped working that way, free and confidential help is available around the clock. Call, text or chat with the National Problem Gambling Helpline on 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), run by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
Free, confidential help
- National Problem Gambling Helpline. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat online. Run by NCPG; free, confidential and open 24/7, and the chat works in all 50 states. No payment or insurance details are needed.
- Help in your state. NCPG’s help by state lists local helplines, treatment and support across all 50 states.
- 1-800-GAMBLER. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. Run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey; free, confidential and open 24/7. Licensed casinos in New Jersey and Pennsylvania display this number.
- Gamblers Anonymous. gamblersanonymous.org lists peer-support meetings in person, online and by phone, with no dues or fees, plus a self-assessment questionnaire.
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, call 911.
Warning signs
The National Council on Problem Gambling lists these warning signs (NCPG):
- thinking about gambling all the time
- feeling the need to bet more money and more often
- going back to try to win your money back, known as chasing losses
- feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop or cut down
- feeling unable to control it
- gambling despite negative consequences
NCPG also offers a self-assessment on its site. If several of these sound familiar, talking to the helpline costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Tools at licensed online casinos
If you play at a licensed online casino, it must give you tools to hold yourself to a budget. In New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 13:69O-1.4) and Pennsylvania (58 Pa. Code § 812a.9) these include:
- Deposit limits, daily, weekly and monthly
- Spend limits on how much deposited money you can put at risk
- Time limits on daily play
- A temporary suspension of your account, at least 72 hours in New Jersey
Lowering a limit takes effect by your next log-in; raising one waits until the old limit’s period has run out. Setting session limits explains the details and how to size a limit with our calculator.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a formal program run by the state regulator that bars you from gambling for a set period. You can usually enroll online.
- New Jersey: covers casino, sports and internet gaming; one year, five years or lifetime, with lifetime enrollment by appointment in person or by video (NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement).
- Pennsylvania: covers casinos, online gaming, video gaming terminals and fantasy contests (Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board).
Other states run their own programs; your state regulator or the NCPG state directory will point you to the right one.
Age and legality
Real-money online casinos are legal in only a few US states, and in the states that license them the minimum age is 21. We confirmed it in the rules of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware. Casinoly Slots is for adults. It takes no bets and lists no casino offers.
How the calculators can help
Numbers make limits easier to keep. Before you play, the session and bankroll calculator shows what an hour costs on average and how often a bankroll runs out early, and the wagering requirement calculator shows whether a bonus is worth the play it asks for. Neither can make gambling pay. Treat any money you gamble as spent on entertainment.
Common questions
Who can I call about a gambling problem in the US?
The National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by the National Council on Problem Gambling, at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). You can call, text or chat, 24 hours a day, and it is free and confidential. In New Jersey, 1-800-GAMBLER is run by the state's Council on Compulsive Gambling.
How old do you have to be to gamble online in the US?
In the states that license real-money online casinos, 21. We confirmed it in the rules of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware. Gambling online is legal in only some states, so check your own state first.
Can I get help if it is someone else's gambling that worries me?
Yes. NCPG describes its help as being for you or a loved one, and the helpline can connect you with services in your state. The NCPG state directory lists local helplines and support across all 50 states.