Responsible Gambling

One or two on this list isn't a diagnosis — but if several feel familiar, it's worth a conversation with a professional.

• •Spending more than you can afford to lose, or chasing losses with bigger bets
• •Betting to escape stress, anxiety, depression, or boredom
• •Lying to family or friends about how much you bet or how often
• •Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
• •Trying to cut down or stop and being unable to
• •Feeling restless or irritable when not betting
• •Risking or losing a relationship, job, or opportunity because of betting
• •Needing to bet larger amounts to feel the same excitement

Adapted from the Lie/Bet Questionnaire and the Gamblers Anonymous 20-question screen. Answer honestly — these are for you, not us.

1. 1.Have you ever bet more than you could really afford to lose?
2. 2.Have you needed to gamble with increasing amounts to get the same excitement?
3. 3.Have you returned the next day to try to win back money you lost?
4. 4.Have you borrowed money or sold something to gamble?
5. 5.Have you felt your gambling might be a problem?
6. 6.Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
7. 7.Has your betting caused financial problems for you or your household?
8. 8.Have you felt guilty about how you bet or what happens when you bet?

Self-exclusion & blocking tools

If you decide to take a break, these programs make it harder to backslide in a moment of weakness.

• Most U.S. states →

  State-by-state self-exclusion programs through the NCPG.

• Voluntary sportsbook self-exclusion →

  GamBlock and similar tools block access to gambling sites at the device level.

• App-store time limits →

  Use Screen Time (iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) to limit access to betting apps.