HELP AND RESOURCES
If gambling is affecting you or someone you love, you do not have to have every answer before you reach out. This page is designed to make the next step easier to find.
Confidential, 24/7 support
The National Problem Gambling Helpline is a confidential, 24/7 resource that can connect people in the United States with local support and treatment options.
Call or text 1-800-MY-RESETNational Problem Gambling Helpline
WHEN THINGS FEEL OVERWHELMING
If you are feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, or in crisis, contact emergency services or a crisis resource in your area. In the United States, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Call or text 988988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
SUPPORT CAN TAKE DIFFERENT FORMS
A therapist or gambling treatment professional can help you understand what is happening, work through the urge to gamble, and build a plan for moving forward. You don't have to wait until things get worse to ask for help.
Talking with people who understand gambling addiction can make the experience feel far less isolating. Peer-support and recovery communities offer connection, accountability, and a place to speak openly without judgement.
Self-exclusion can create an important barrier between you and gambling while you regain control. Programs vary by state and type of gambling, and we can help you understand where to start.
Watching someone you care about struggle with gambling can be painful and confusing. You can support them without carrying the problem for them. Clear information, honest conversations, and healthy boundaries can help protect you both.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY
You don't have to be in crisis to call. You can call simply to talk, to ask a question, or to find out what options exist in your area. The call is free and confidential.
You don't have to tell everyone. Telling one person you trust — a friend, a family member, anyone — can reduce the weight of carrying this alone and open a door to support.
When the urge to gamble hits, make it harder to act on it immediately. Leave the location, delete or log out of gambling apps, avoid carrying extra cash, or ask someone you trust to hold onto cards or money temporarily. Even a small delay can give the urge time to change.
You do not have to solve everything today. Sometimes the first step is simply making gambling a little harder to access and giving yourself enough space for the urge to pass. Small changes can interrupt the cycle.
Sometimes the most useful thing is simply learning more about what gambling addiction actually is — not to judge yourself, but to understand yourself. Knowledge can be the beginning of change.
An urge can feel urgent without actually being an emergency. Give yourself 20 minutes before making any decision about gambling. During that time, change rooms, go outside, call someone, take a shower, or do anything that interrupts the usual pattern. The goal is not to argue with the urge — it is to give it time to pass.
Help can look different depending on where you live. State programs may offer gambling-specific treatment, self-exclusion options, financial assistance, and other local resources. The National Problem Gambling Helpline can also connect you with support available in your area.
Find state-by-state helpGambling can leave behind financial problems that feel impossible to face. You do not have to fix everything at once. Start by protecting what you still have, understanding what needs immediate attention, and taking one practical step at a time.
Gather your bills, account balances, debts, and essential monthly expenses. Seeing the full picture may feel uncomfortable, but knowing where you stand is the first step in taking back control.
Consider putting temporary safeguards around money and access to gambling. This might mean limiting access to funds, changing banking settings, or asking someone you trust to help you create additional barriers while you regain control.
A financial counselor or other qualified professional can help you understand your options and make a plan based on your situation. Look for someone who understands gambling related financial harm and will work with you without judgement.
FREE RESOURCE
Understanding helps. Having something to do in the moment can help even more. The Stop the Spin Toolkit is a free collection of practical tools designed to help you recognize patterns, get through urges, create distance from gambling, and begin taking back control — one step at a time.
Explore the Free ToolkitWHAT REACHING OUT COULD LOOK LIKE
Reaching out doesn't have to mean having everything figured out. It can simply mean telling someone what is happening and asking for help with the next step.
A note about this resource
Stop The Spin is an educational and lived-experience resource. It is not a substitute for licensed medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis service in your area.
Understand gambling addiction