# Responsible gambling in the US: help, limits and self-exclusion

> If gambling is causing problems, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), available 24/7. Licensed online casinos in states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia must offer deposit and time limits, a break of at least 72 hours and self-exclusion, each online-casino state runs its own self-exclusion program, and prediction markets offer similar tools voluntarily.

- URL: https://safebet.ai/us/guides/responsible-gambling/
- Markdown version: https://safebet.ai/us/guides/responsible-gambling/index.html.md
- Last updated: 2026-09-30 (re-checked when an operator changes its terms or a regulator or court acts)
- Author: SafeBet.ai Research Team (SafeBet.ai)
- Editorial policy and advertiser disclosure: https://safebet.ai/editorial-policy/

## Key takeaways

- The National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738): call, text or chat, 24/7, free and confidential.
- In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, licensed online casinos must let you set deposit and time limits and take a break of at least 72 hours.
- Every state with legal online casinos runs a self-exclusion program, usually for 1 year, 5 years or life.
- Prediction markets aren't state-licensed, but Kalshi, Robinhood and OG offer breaks, funding caps and self-exclusion.
- Chasing losses, gambling more to get the same excitement and hiding gambling from others are key warning signs.

> If you're in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text **988** now. For gambling help, call or text **1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)** — free, confidential and open 24/7.

## Where to get help

| Service | How to reach it | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| National Problem Gambling Helpline (NCPG) | Call or text **1-800-MY-RESET** (1-800-697-3738), or chat at ncpgambling.org/chat | 24/7 support in all 50 states; translation in 240+ languages; referrals to local treatment |
| 1-800-GAMBLER (Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey) | Call **1-800-426-2537** | 24/7 helpline for New Jersey and much of the US; the number many state regulators require on gambling sites |
| Gamblers Anonymous | **855-222-5542**, gamblersanonymous.org | Peer meetings in person, online and by phone; Gam-Anon for families |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text **988**, or chat at 988lifeline.org | Crisis support |
| SAMHSA National Helpline | **1-800-662-4357** | Mental health and substance use referrals |

Some states run their own lines, too: Connecticut (888) 789-7777, Delaware 1-888-850-8888 and Rhode Island 1-877-9GAMBLE. In West Virginia, 1-800-GAMBLER is answered by the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia.

A note on the numbers: NCPG ran 1-800-GAMBLER until its license expired in May 2025, when the number returned to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. NCPG's national helpline is now 1-800-MY-RESET. Both lines still work.

## Warning signs

The National Council on Problem Gambling lists these signs:

- thinking about gambling all the time;
- needing to bet more money, more often;
- chasing losses — betting more to win back what you've lost;
- feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back;
- feeling unable to control how much you gamble;
- gambling despite the harm it's causing.

The American Psychiatric Association adds lying to hide gambling, gambling to escape problems or low mood, putting a job or relationship at risk, and relying on others to cover gambling debts. The APA notes that only about 1 in 10 people with gambling disorder seek treatment. NCPG stresses that the amount you lose doesn't define a problem; the effect on your life does.

## Tools licensed online casinos must offer

State rules require licensed online casinos to give you control. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, for example, casinos must offer:

- **Deposit limits** — daily, weekly or monthly — and in most states spending or loss limits too.
- **Time limits** on how long you can play each day.
- **A break ("cool-off")** that suspends your account for at least **72 hours**.
- **Self-exclusion** from the operator.

Lowering a limit takes effect by your next login; raising one only takes effect after the current limit period ends (and in Michigan, only after 24 hours' notice). In New Jersey, once your lifetime deposits pass **$2,500**, you have to acknowledge that threshold and the tools available before you can keep playing, and you're reminded every year.

The best time to set a limit is before you start — including before you claim a bonus.

## State self-exclusion programs

Self-exclusion bans you from every licensed operator covered by the program for a set period. You'll usually need photo ID.

| State | Program | Periods |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement — online at njportal.com/dge/selfexclusion, by phone at 1-833-788-4DGE, or in person | Online: 1 or 5 years. In person or by video: 1 year, 5 years or life |
| Pennsylvania | Gaming Control Board — separate lists for casinos, online gaming (iGaming), video gaming terminals and fantasy, at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/SelfExclusion | iGaming: 1 year, 5 years or life |
| Michigan | Gaming Control Board Responsible Gaming Database, covering online casinos and online sports betting | 1 or 5 years |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection self-exclusion list at portal.ct.gov/selfexclusion, covering online casinos, sports betting, fantasy and online lottery | 1 year, 5 years or life (a lifetime exclusion can't be removed) |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery self-exclusion — apply in person in Dover (appointments: 302-744-1669) | Contact the Lottery |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery, through your iLottery account | 1 or 5 years, plus time-outs from 1 day to 9 months |
| West Virginia | Operator self-exclusion plus the West Virginia Lottery's statewide program | Contact the Lottery |

Connecticut's list doesn't cover gaming on tribal reservations, which needs a separate exclusion. In Pennsylvania, self-excluded players can't collect winnings — they're sent to the Gaming Control Board instead. Maine legalized online casinos run by its tribes in January 2026; check the Maine Gambling Control Unit for the latest on the launch and its self-exclusion options.

## Tools on prediction markets

Prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC rather than state gaming regulators, so **state self-exclusion lists don't cover them**. The platforms offer their own tools:

- **[Kalshi](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/kalshi-review/):** a trading break, voluntary self-exclusion and a monthly funding cap, which can't be lifted early once set, plus cross-platform exclusion through SelfExclude.io. Kalshi warns that its tools don't block access to Kalshi markets through another broker's app.
- **[Robinhood](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/robinhood-review/):** a setting to hide sports prediction markets, and full self-exclusion from event contracts through support.
- **[OG (Crypto.com)](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/crypto-com-review/):** voluntary self-exclusion through support, with a mandatory 7-day cooling-off before an account can be reactivated.

If you use several apps, exclude yourself from each one — or from all of them through a cross-platform service.

## Habits that keep gambling fun

- **Set a budget** you can afford to lose, and treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment.
- **Set a time limit**, and take breaks.
- **Never chase losses.** The next bet doesn't know what happened on the last one.
- **Don't gamble** when you're upset, drinking or under financial pressure.
- **Keep gambling money separate** from money for bills, and never borrow to gamble.
- **Be wary of bonuses** that push you to play more than you planned; check the wagering requirement first — see [casino bonuses explained](https://safebet.ai/us/online-casinos/casino-bonuses-explained/).

## Age limits

You must be **21** to play at a licensed online casino in every state that offers them. Prediction markets are generally **18+** — Kalshi, Polymarket US, Robinhood and OG — but Interactive Brokers requires **21**. Playing below the legal age isn't allowed, and licensed operators verify it.

## The bottom line

Gambling should be entertainment with a budget. Use the tools — limits, breaks and self-exclusion — before you need them, and reach out early if it stops being fun: **1-800-MY-RESET**, 24/7. For more tips, see SafeBet.ai's [responsible gambling page](https://safebet.ai/responsible-gambling/). If you do play, stick to licensed operators — our rankings of the [best US online casinos](https://safebet.ai/us/online-casinos/) and [best US prediction markets](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/) only include regulated platforms.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the gambling helpline number in the US?

The National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by the National Council on Problem Gambling, is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). You can call, text or chat 24/7. 1-800-GAMBLER, run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, also still operates. In a crisis, call or text 988.

### How do I self-exclude from online casinos?

Through your state's program — for example the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board or Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection — or through your account at each casino. A state program covers every licensed operator in that state.

### Can I cancel a self-exclusion early?

Generally no. Programs are designed so that you can't lift them before the period ends, and lifetime exclusions in states such as Connecticut can't be removed at all. That's what makes them effective.

### Does self-excluding from an online casino block prediction markets too?

No. Prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC, not state gaming regulators, so state self-exclusion lists don't cover them. Use each platform's own tools; Kalshi also supports cross-platform exclusion through SelfExclude.io.

### What if someone I love has a gambling problem?

The helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET supports family members too, and Gam-Anon, the companion to Gamblers Anonymous, runs meetings for them. You can't force someone to stop, but you can protect your own finances and encourage them to get help.

## Sources

1. [About the National Problem Gambling Helpline](https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/) — National Council on Problem Gambling, 2026-03-02
2. [FAQs: What is Problem Gambling?](https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/faqs-what-is-problem-gambling/) — National Council on Problem Gambling, accessed 2026-09-30
3. [CCGNJ control of 1-800-GAMBLER](https://800gambler.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CCGNJ-Helpline-Update3-1.pdf) — Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, 2025-10-03
4. [What is Gambling Disorder?](https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder) — American Psychiatric Association, May 2024
5. [Self-Exclusion Program](https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-gaming-enforcement-home/self-exclusion-program/) — New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, 2025-05-15
6. [N.J.A.C. 13:69O-1.2 — Internet gaming responsible gaming requirements](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-13-69O-1-2) — Cornell Legal Information Institute, accessed 2026-09-30
7. [Compulsive and Problem Gambling](https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/compulsive-and-problem-gambling) — Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, accessed 2026-09-30
8. [58 Pa. Code §814a.2](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/58-Pa-Code-SS-814a-2) — Cornell Legal Information Institute, accessed 2026-09-30
9. [Mich. Admin. Code R 432.653](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-432-653) — Cornell Legal Information Institute, accessed 2026-09-30
10. [Gaming Self-Exclusion](https://portal.ct.gov/selfexclusion) — Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, accessed 2026-09-30
11. [Play Responsibly and iGaming Self-Exclusion](https://www.delottery.com/Play-Responsibly) — Delaware Lottery, accessed 2026-09-30
12. [Responsible Gambling](https://www.rilot.com/en-us/responsible-gambling.html) — Rhode Island Lottery, accessed 2026-09-30
13. [Responsible Trading Hub](https://help.kalshi.com/en/) — Kalshi, 2026-05-14
14. [Voluntary Self-Exclusion](https://help.og.com/en/articles/16624898-voluntary-self-exclusion) — OG.com, 2026-09-01
15. [Gamblers Anonymous](https://gamblersanonymous.org/) — Gamblers Anonymous, accessed 2026-09-30