Gambling & sports betting

You treat the money as the cost of entertainment, like a movie ticket. You can walk away after a loss and don’t think about it much afterward.

An estimated 5–8 million U.S. adults (2–3%) have mild or moderate gambling problems.

This is the best time to make changes. Limits, blocks and an honest conversation can stop things getting worse.

About 2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) are estimated to have a severe gambling problem in a given year. In extreme cases, problem gambling can lead to bankruptcy, legal trouble, losing a job or family, and thoughts of suicide.

Online gambling is accessible almost anywhere, at any time. There is no trip to a casino and no handing over cash, so there are fewer natural pauses to stop and think.

Around 8.9% of adults who bet on sports have a gambling disorder or problem gambling, according to research for the Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling.

Live betting lets people bet on what happens next, minute by minute. That can mean dozens of bets in one evening.

Fast games with quick repeats may make problems more likely, though this is still not well understood.

Aggressive promotion of gambling in popular and social media increases gambling. Heavy promotion online and through sport risks making gambling seem normal for children and young people.

Ways to turn down the noise

• Mute or unfollow betting accounts
• Remember that a “free bet” is marketing, not a gift
• Turn off notifications from betting apps, or delete them
• Unsubscribe from promo emails and texts

Problem gambling is most common among people who play online casino games or slots: about 15.8% of adults who gamble this way, according to research for the Lancet Public Health Commission.

The World Health Organization lists slot-style machines, high-speed betting platforms and casino games, including online versions, among the highest-intensity products.

Casinos, slot machines, lottery tickets, scratch cards and card games can all become harmful for some people. Some form of legal gambling exists in 48 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C.

People gambling at harmful levels generate around 60% of gambling losses. In other words, the industry earns a lot from people who are struggling.

If you won every time, it would get boring. If you never won, you’d stop. Rewards that come at random are especially good at keeping people hooked.

A “near miss” (two cherries and almost a third) can feel like you were close, even though every spin is random. This tricks the brain into thinking a win is coming.

Chasing losses means gambling more to win back what you lost. It is one of the clearest signs that gambling is becoming a problem.

The thinking goes: “If I just win this one, I can fix everything.” But the odds don’t change, and the hole usually gets deeper.

Common myths

• “I can read the game better than the bookmaker.”
• “I have a system.”
• “I’m due a win after all these losses.”
• “My lucky shirt or numbers help.”

Therapy for gambling often works on exactly these thoughts, because they keep people betting.

Many people start for fun but carry on because it helps them escape stress, loneliness, boredom, grief or low mood. The relief doesn’t last, and money worries bring more stress, which leads back to gambling.

Gambling problems often travel with depression, anxiety, ADHD, or alcohol and drug use. Getting help for those can make change easier.

Research for the Lancet Public Health Commission estimates gambling disorder may affect about 16.3% of adolescents who bet on sports and 26.4% of adolescents who use online casino or slot products.

Young people may also see betting ads constantly while watching sport or scrolling.

Try asking

• “Do people at school bet on games?”
• “Have you seen those ‘free bet’ ads? What do you think they’re for?”
• “How do you think betting companies make their money?”

Explain that the odds are built so the house wins, and that a near miss is not “almost winning”. Keep the door open so they can come to you if things go wrong.

Loot boxes and paid random rewards in games use the same kind of unpredictable reward as gambling. Many parents choose to switch off in-game purchases or set spending limits.

Turning old enough to bet legally, a first paycheck or student loan, and friends who bet can all raise the pull. Many young adults never tell anyone when it starts going wrong.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is free and confidential, and NCPG has a self-assessment made for young people.

Gambling can pull money away from food, housing, health care and education. Families may struggle to pay rent or buy groceries while the problem stays hidden.

A study of credit records found that after states allowed online sports betting, the chance of a personal bankruptcy rose 25% to 30%, and credit card and auto loan late payments rose about 8%. In states with in-person betting only, the effects were very small.

Common money harms

• Borrowing from friends, family or work
• Credit card debt and high-interest loans
• Payday loans to “cover” losses
• Selling possessions
• Using savings, retirement or college funds

Facing debts, rather than ignoring them, is an important step. A nonprofit credit counselor can help. See the Debt & financial hardship guide for practical steps.

Gambling harm spreads. On average, about six other people, often family members who don’t gamble, are affected by each person gambling at high-risk levels. Harms include relationship breakdown, family violence and money distress.

Loved ones often feel

• Alone, because they feel they can’t tell anyone
• Angry, then guilty for feeling angry
• Anxious about money and the future
• Betrayed by lies or hidden debts

Children notice tension, even when adults try to hide it. Loved ones deserve support of their own, whether or not the person is ready to change. See “Supporting someone”.

Gambling can increase mental illness and suicide. A Swedish study found people with gambling disorder were 15 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Shame, debt and feeling trapped can build up quickly. Thoughts like “everyone would be better off without me” are a sign to get help right away.

Gambling can lead to lost work time, job loss and legal problems. Gambling harm is also linked to crimes to get money, like theft or fraud, often by people who never imagined doing such a thing.

If you are facing legal trouble, getting help for the gambling, and being honest about it, is often an important part of moving forward.

CBT helps you notice the thoughts that drive gambling (“I’m due a win”, “I can win it back”) and practise new ways to respond to urges and triggers.

A major review of research found CBT reduced gambling and related problems right after treatment. It is less clear how long the gains last, and the quality of the research was low, so more studies are needed.

What you might work on

• Challenging myths about luck and “winning it back”
• Planning what to do instead when an urge hits
• Rebuilding hobbies and relationships
• Spotting triggers like payday, big games, boredom or stress

Motivational interviewing (MI) doesn’t lecture or push. A counsellor helps you explore your mixed feelings and find your own reasons to change.

Research suggests MI can help reduce gambling and money lost, especially for people with less severe problems, though the evidence is based on only a few studies.

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a free fellowship of people supporting each other to stop gambling. Meetings happen in person, online and by phone, with no dues or fees.

Research supports GA as one helpful option alongside therapy.

Other peer options

• Debtors Anonymous: for people struggling with debt
• Gamtalk: an online peer community listed by NCPG
• SMART Recovery: a science-informed, non-spiritual programme with free in-person and online meetings

Practical barriers make it harder to act on an urge in the moment. Many people find them a big help, especially early on.

Safeguards to consider

• Ask your bank to block payments to gambling sites and apps
• Delete betting apps and turn off their notifications
• Install gambling-blocking software on your phone and computer
• Let a trusted person help manage money for a while
• Pay important bills on payday, before anything else
• Self-exclusion: ask gambling sites or venues to ban you; the helpline can tell you what’s available in your state

The World Health Organization recommends binding spending limits and effective self-exclusion tools as key protections.

Gambling problems often go hand in hand with depression, anxiety, ADHD, or alcohol and drug problems. Many people with gambling problems are never recognised or treated.

Treating these other struggles is a key part of recovery. Couples or family therapy can also help rebuild trust. For anything medical, talk with your clinical provider.

Choose a calm, private moment, not right after a big loss or an argument. Talk about what you have noticed and how you feel, using “I” statements.

Try saying

• “I care about you, and I’m worried about how much you’ve been betting.”
• “I noticed the credit card bills, and I felt scared.”
• “Would you be willing to call the helpline with me?”
• “You’re not a bad person. This is a real problem, and help exists.”

Expect denial or anger at first. It may take several conversations. Planting a seed still matters.

Try to avoid

• Calling them names like “addict”, “liar” or “loser”
• Lecturing or bringing it up in front of others
• Lending money “just this once”
• Making excuses for them to others
• Paying off their gambling debts or covering losses
• Threats you don’t intend to follow through on

Bailing someone out can feel like love, but it can keep the cycle going by removing the consequences. Paying debts doesn’t end the problem.

Steps to consider

• Check your credit report for loans in your name
• Get advice from a nonprofit credit counselor
• Keep important documents and valuables secure
• Make sure bills like rent and utilities are paid first
• Separate your bank accounts and cards

These steps are not a punishment. They protect everyone, including the person you love. See the Money stress & your mind guide for more.

Ways to help

• Help set up bank blocks and blocking apps, if they agree
• Look up local help together (call or text 1-800-MY-RESET)
• Notice and praise small steps
• Offer to go with them to a first appointment or GA meeting
• Spend time together doing things that don’t involve betting

Change is their job, but your steady support can make it easier.

Gam-Anon is a support group for people affected by someone else’s gambling, with meetings in the U.S., Canada, other countries and online.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is for anyone affected by problem gambling, including family members.

Look after yourself

• Get help right away if you feel unsafe at home
• Keep up your own friendships, rest and joys
• Remember it’s not your fault, and you can’t control their choices
• Talk to someone you trust, or a counsellor

If there is abuse or violence, see the “Domestic violence: the basics” guide. If a life is in danger, call 911.