Help & Recovery Resourses

If your in immediate danger or feel you may harm yourself,  call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. In the U.S., call or text 988 for Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.  Help is available 24 hours a day,  7 days  a week.

Free and confidential gambling help is available 24 hours a day,  7 days a week.  Call (1-800-697-3738) to connect with trained support  and local resources.  Online chat and help by state are also available.  Treatment may include counseling,  peer support,  financial safeguards, self exclusion,  and other recovery  services. 

Finding the Right help can feel overwhelming.  The National Problem  Gambling Helpline can connect you with gambling-specific resources in your state.  You can also use a confidential treatment locator to search for professionalcare near you. You deserve support that fits your needs, location,  and situations. 

You do not have to go through recovery alone. Gamblers Anonymous offers in-person,  virtual, and telephone meetings for people who want  help with a gambling problem.  Gam-Aaon offers support for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling.  Peer support can provide connection,  understanding,  shared experience, and encouragement  from people who understand the impact gambling can have. 

Gambling related financial problems can feel overwhelming,  but you do not have to solve everything at once.  A nonprofit  credit counselor may be able to help you review your budget and debts,  understand your options,  and  create  a realistic  plan.  Be cautious with companies promising to quickly erase  or settle debt,  and understand fees and risks before agreeing to any service. 

Creating barriers between yourself and Gambling can give you more time to pause and  use your recovery plan. Options may include self-exclusion programs,  gambling-blocking software,  bank gaming blocks,  card limits,  removing gambling apps, and restricting access to gambling websites or accounts.  Different tools work in different places,  so choose the safeguards that fit your situation and use more than one layer of protection when helpful. 

Gambling problems can affect the whole family.  Family members and friends may need support for themselves,  even if they person who gambles is not ready to seek help.  Support can include learning about gambling addiction,  setting healthy boundaries,  protecting  household finances,  talking with a counselor,  and  connecting with others who understand.  You deserve support too. 

Young people can be exposed to gambling through sports betting, online games, social media,  gambling-style  apps,  and other activities.  Parents and caregivers can help by talking openly about gambling risks, watching for changes in behavior or money,  setting age-appropriate limits,  and seeking help early when there are concerns.  Young people deserve support without shame  or judgment. 

Gambling problems can be connected with stress, anxiety, depression, shame, loneliness, or other emotional struggles. Support from a qualified mental health professional can help you work through what you are experiencing and build healthier ways to cope. If you are in immediate danger or feel you may harm yourself, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. In the U.S., call or text 988 for immediate crisis support.

Veterans, active-duty service members, and military families may face unique stress, financial pressure, trauma, isolation, or transitions that can affect gambling risk and recovery. Support is available through veteran and military services, mental health care, peer support, and gambling-specific resources. Asking for help is a sign that you are taking action to protect yourself and the people who matter to you.

Older adults may face life changes such as retirement,  grief,  loneliness,  health  concerns,  financial  stress,  or having mor unstructured time.  Gambling can sometimes begin as entertainment or social activity and gradually  become harder to manage.  Support Is available at any age, and it is never too late to ask for help, protect your finances,  reconnect with others,  and make changes that support your well-being.