Responsible Gambling — Resources and Support

Betting on the Kentucky Derby is something millions of people do every year and for the vast majority of them it is a fun part of the Derby experience. A $20 trifecta on a horse you have been following since the Rebel Stakes is entertainment. Winning feels great. Losing is part of the deal and most bettors accept it without much trouble.

But gambling can become a problem for some people and when it does it tends to get worse before anyone asks for help. This page exists for those situations. The resources here are real, they are free and nobody is going to judge you for using them.

Signs That Gambling May Have Become a Problem

Most people with a gambling problem know something is wrong before they admit it out loud. Here are some of the signs that are worth taking seriously.

Chasing losses — placing larger or more frequent bets to try to recover money you have already lost. This is one of the most common patterns and one of the most destructive.

Betting more than you planned or more than you can afford to lose. A budget that keeps getting revised upward is a signal worth paying attention to.

Thinking about gambling when you should be focused on other things — work, family, daily responsibilities.

Hiding how much you are wagering from people who care about you.

Borrowing money to fund a betting account or missing bills because of gambling spending.

Feeling anxious, irritable or unable to relax when you are not able to bet.

None of these signs means you have a serious problem on their own. But if several of them are familiar, talking to someone who understands this specific issue is worth doing sooner rather than later.

Getting Help

The National Council on Problem Gambling operates a free confidential helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). You can also reach support via text by texting HOME to 741741.

These services are free. The people who answer are not there to lecture you. They are trained to help people figure out their next step, whether that is information, a referral to a local counselor or just someone to talk to.

Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings in person and online across the country. Information on finding a meeting is available at www.gamblersanonymous.org.

The National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline is not relevant here but if you are experiencing co-occurring issues including depression, anxiety or substance use, speaking with your primary care physician or a mental health professional is a useful first step alongside gambling-specific resources.

Self-Exclusion Options at Our Recommended Racebooks

Every racebook we recommend offers self-exclusion — the ability to voluntarily restrict or close your account for a set period or permanently. Here is how to access it at each book.

Bovada: Contact Bovada customer service through their help center and request a self-exclusion. You can request a temporary cooling-off period or a permanent closure. Customer service is available 24/7 by phone, email and live chat.

BetOnline: Contact BetOnline customer service to request account restrictions or closure. BetOnline's customer service team is available 24/7.

TwinSpires: TwinSpires offers responsible wagering tools directly within your account settings including deposit limits, time-out periods and self-exclusion. State-specific self-exclusion programs may also be available through your state's gaming commission.

DraftKings Racing: DraftKings offers responsible gambling tools through the account settings menu including deposit limits, session limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. State self-exclusion programs are also available in states where DraftKings is licensed.

FanDuel Racing / TVG: FanDuel offers similar account-level responsible gambling controls. State self-exclusion programs are accessible through the platform in regulated states.

Setting Limits Before You Need Them

The most effective responsible gambling tools are the ones you set up before there is a problem. Every platform offers the ability to set deposit limits, session time limits and wagering limits. Using these tools when you open your account — not because you need them right now but because they create a sensible framework — is simply good practice.

A deposit limit of $100 per month means that even in a bad run you know exactly what your maximum exposure is. A session time limit means you do not lose an afternoon to a wagering session that started as 20 minutes. These are not signs of weakness. They are the same kind of guardrail that responsible people put on any activity with a financial component.

For Family Members and Friends

If someone you care about seems to be struggling with gambling, the situation can be difficult to navigate. Confrontation rarely helps. Judgment tends to push people further away from asking for help.

The National Council on Problem Gambling helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER is also available for family members and friends who are concerned about someone else's gambling. Gam-Anon, a support organization for people whose lives have been affected by someone else's gambling problem, holds meetings in person and online at www.gam-anon.org.

A Note From Our Editorial Team

We have chosen to put this page in our main navigation rather than burying it in the footer. Not because it is required — though responsible gambling messaging is part of the terms of our affiliate agreements — but because we think it belongs there.

Everyone who uses this site is an adult making their own decisions. We respect that. We also know that the same features that make online betting convenient — 24-hour access, fast deposits, instant notifications — can make it harder to step back when stepping back is the right move.

If you are reading this page because you are looking for help, please use the resources above. They are free, they are confidential and they work.

Responsible Gambling Helplines

National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) — 24/7

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 — 24/7

Gamblers Anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org

Gam-Anon (for family and friends): www.gam-anon.org

State-specific helplines are listed on individual state pages throughout this site.