The People You Hurt When You Gamble

You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone

If you are reading this, you are probably at a point where gambling has become something you cannot manage on your own. That is not a moral failing. It is the reality of addiction, and there are people trained specifically to help you through it. Every helpline listed on this page is staffed by professionals who have heard stories like yours thousands of times. They will not judge you. They will not lecture you. They will listen and help you figure out the next step.

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)

Phone: 1-800-522-4700 (available 24/7)

Text: Text “HOPENY” to 467369 (for New York residents) or visit ncpgambling.org for your state's text line

Chat: Available at ncpgambling.org/chat (24/7)

The NCPG helpline is the primary national resource for problem gambling in the United States. When you call, you will speak with a trained counselor who can provide immediate support, crisis intervention, and referrals to local treatment providers and support groups. The call is free, confidential, and available around the clock.

This is often the first call people make, and for good reason. The counselors are specifically trained in gambling addiction, which means they understand the patterns, the shame, and the financial chaos in ways that general mental health hotlines may not. If you only make one call, make it this one.

SAMHSA National Helpline

Phone: 1-800-662-4357 (available 24/7, 365 days a year)

Website: samhsa.gov

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates a free, confidential helpline for individuals and families facing substance abuse and mental health disorders, including gambling addiction. They provide referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

SAMHSA is especially useful if your gambling addiction co-occurs with substance use or mental health issues like depression or anxiety, which is common. They can connect you with providers who treat the full picture, not just one piece of it. The helpline is available in English and Spanish.

Crisis Text Line

Text: Text HOME to 741741

Website: crisistextline.org

If you are in crisis but cannot or do not want to make a phone call, the Crisis Text Line connects you with a trained crisis counselor via text message. This service is not specific to gambling, but it is invaluable if your gambling addiction has pushed you to a point of emotional crisis, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.

The conversation is confidential and happens entirely over text. For many people, especially younger adults, texting feels more natural and less intimidating than calling a hotline. You will typically be connected with a counselor within five minutes.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Phone: Dial 988

Text: Text 988

Chat: Available at 988lifeline.org

If gambling has brought you to a place where you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 immediately. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support around the clock. Gambling addiction is a recognized driver of suicidal ideation, and the counselors on this line understand that financial devastation and shame can push people to dangerous places.

You do not need to be actively suicidal to call 988. If you are in emotional distress, feeling hopeless, or overwhelmed by the consequences of your gambling, they are there for you.

Gamblers Anonymous

Website: gamblersanonymous.org

Meetings: Available in person and online throughout the United States

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a fellowship of people who share the common goal of stopping gambling. Modeled on the 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous, GA meetings provide peer support from people who have lived through the same experiences you are facing now.

Meetings are free and open to anyone who wants to stop gambling. You do not need to speak if you are not ready. Many people attend their first meeting just to listen. The GA website has a meeting finder that shows both in-person and online meetings in your area. Online meetings have expanded significantly and are available daily.

State-Specific Helplines

Many states operate their own problem gambling helplines in addition to the national resources. These state lines can connect you with local treatment providers, state-funded counseling programs, and self-exclusion enrollment.

New York: 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369). Operated by the New York Council on Problem Gambling, available 24/7.

New Jersey: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Operated by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, available 24/7.

Pennsylvania: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). The same national number routes to Pennsylvania-specific resources for PA callers.

Michigan: 1-800-270-7117. Operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Illinois: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Routes to Illinois-specific resources and treatment referrals.

Nevada: 1-800-522-4700. Routes through the national NCPG line with Nevada-specific referrals available.

California: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). The California Council on Problem Gambling provides referrals to certified counselors statewide.

Ohio: 1-800-589-9966. Operated by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Colorado: 1-800-522-4700. Routes through the NCPG with Colorado-specific treatment referrals.

If your state is not listed, calling 1-800-522-4700 will connect you with the NCPG, which can provide referrals specific to your location regardless of where you live.

When Should You Call?

There is no wrong time to call a helpline. You do not need to be at rock bottom. You do not need to have lost a specific amount of money. You do not need to be in crisis. If you are questioning whether your gambling is a problem, that question alone is reason enough to call.

That said, here are moments when reaching out is especially important.

Call if you just had a significant loss and feel the urge to chase it. Call if you are hiding your gambling from someone you love. Call if you have tried to stop and cannot. Call if you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or hopelessness connected to gambling. Call if you are borrowing money to gamble or to cover gambling debts. Call if someone who cares about you has expressed concern.

The counselors on these lines talk to people at every stage, from first-time callers who are not sure they have a problem to people in severe crisis. Wherever you are, they are equipped to meet you there.

What to Expect When You Call

Calling a helpline for the first time can feel intimidating, so here is what typically happens. A trained counselor answers the phone. They will ask you some basic questions about your situation, but you control how much you share. They are not there to diagnose you or tell you what to do. They are there to listen, provide information, and help you identify next steps if you want them.

Common next steps include referrals to local therapists who specialize in gambling addiction, information about self-exclusion programs in your state, recommendations for Gamblers Anonymous meetings in your area, and guidance on financial counseling services that work with people recovering from gambling-related debt.

The call is confidential. Nothing you say will be reported to anyone. There is no record that follows you. It is a private conversation between you and someone who wants to help.

How NoBet Supplements Helpline Support

A helpline call is a critical moment of intervention. But recovery happens in the hours and days between those calls. That is where NoBet fits in.

When you hang up the phone, you still have a device in your hand that can access every gambling app and website that got you into trouble. NoBet blocks that access at the system level, turning your phone from a risk into a tool for recovery. It tracks your streak, shows your savings, and provides brain rewiring resources that support the work you started with that call.

Helplines give you the human connection and professional guidance that no app can replace. NoBet gives you the daily structure and environmental protection that no phone call can maintain. Together, they cover the full spectrum, from crisis support to everyday accountability.

If you are not ready to call yet, that is okay. Download NoBet and start building a barrier between yourself and the next bet. And when you are ready to talk to someone, the numbers on this page will be here.