Responsible Gambling Resources & Tools For Sports Bettors

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Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Updated:

Apr 17, 2024, 07:21 PM EDT

The legalization of online sports betting has been widely met with enthusiasm and fanfare. More states are pushing forward legislation that will grow the availability and prevalence of sports betting in the United States. Most bettors enjoy legalized sports betting without issue, but there are those who will struggle with gambling addiction. This is why there is a need for responsible gambling initiatives.

According to the International Center for Responsible Gaming, about 1% of the United States population is said to have a severe gambling problem. Of those, 6-9% of young people and young adults are affected. In all, it is estimated that roughly 10 million people struggle with some form of gambling issue throughout the country.

Recent data also suggest that that the rise of legalized online gambling has correlated with an uptick in reported gambling-related addiction. Numbers provided by the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network reported a record 270,000 calls, texts, and chats last year. This number is up 45% from the year prior.

Action Network Responsible Gaming Content

We've compiled some content we've done in the past about how to limit yourself, educate yourself, manage your bankroll and more.

Action Network's Stance on Responsible Gambling

The Action Network, in harmony with Better Collective, sees sports betting and gambling as an entertainment-first activity. We view sports betting as a way to enhance the enjoyment of sports. It should never put users at risk of severe negative financial or emotional consequences.

Ultimately, we understand that the majority of players will not earn a profit through betting and gaming. With that in mind, we fully encourage all sports bettors to only allocate a reasonable amount of money that they would be willing to lose for the sake of entertainment. Use expendable income to create your gaming budget so as not to create a situation of potential financial insecurity.

It is our goal to ensure that we provide a fun experience while also ensuring that our users bet responsibly. Play the game below to learn about your gambling style, and to see if you are potentially at risk for addiction.

Gambling Controls to Limit Risk

In a broad effort to minimize the risk of players becoming addicted to gambling, almost every sportsbook offers various forms of gambling controls. These controls are tools that are available to users to self-impose restrictions on their spending habits. Commonly offered controls include:

Deposit Limits – This restricts the amount of money that a player can deposit into their account for a set period of time.
Spending Limits – Limits the amount of money a user is able to wager over the course of a set period of time.
Session Timers – Only allows users to be active on the app or platform for the set allotment of time to reduce possibility of overplaying.
Self Exclusion – Users can choose to self exclude, or lock themselves out of the platform, for a set period of time. This is done through the state in which a user lives so that the person will not be able to access any gambling platform for the duration of the self exclusion period.

Gambling Addiction Help and Resources

National Council on Problem Gambling

NCPG offers a variety of tools and resources for players suffering from gambling addiction including:

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is a national organization that provides members a safe place to share their problems and work towards recovery. This is a complimentary program available to anyone who wishes to stop gambling.

Self-Exclusion by State

Most states allow you to ban yourself from online gambling through something called self-exclusion or voluntary exclusion. It basically puts you on a no-fly list with operators — if you try to sign up for an account or login to an existing account, it will be automatically restricted.

Here are some details and links for every state.

Arizona: Can enroll by mail, form must be notarized.
Colorado: You must self-exclude with each sportsbook, though the state is trying to change that. You can self-exclude from all casinos with this form.
Connecticut: Enroll online.
Indiana: Enroll online.
Illinois: Self-exclusion must be done in person.
Iowa: Enroll by mail or in-person.
Kansas: Lifetime ban or two-year ban; enrollment must be done in person.
Kentucky: Can be submitted online.
Louisiana: Must enroll in person; minimum five-year ban.
Maryland: In-person enrollment only.
Michigan: Form can be filled out digitally and emailed.
Mississippi: Must enroll in person.
New Jersey: Can be submitted online.
Nevada: There is no statewide program. A casino must honor requests to no longer deposit and bet, but does not require it to ban guests from the casinos. You must request exclusion from each casino separately.
New York: Form can be submitted by mail, but must be notarized.
Ohio
Oregon: Self-exclude in your DraftKings account.
Pennsylvania: You can sign up online.
Tennessee: In Tennessee, you must self-exclude through the sportsbooks themselves.
Virginia: Enroll online
West Virginia: You can enroll by mail, but it must be notarized.
Wyoming: Must enroll by mail or in person.

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Action Network Staff

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