Worried you or someone you love might have a gambling problem? Here’s what to do.

By Michelle Crouch

The Charlotte Ledger

Now that sports betting is just a tap away on your smartphone, experts say it can be easier for gambling to spiral out of control. Google searches for “gambling addiction” and “problem gambling” have increased since North Carolina legalized sports betting in 2024. 

If you’re worried that someone you care about may have a gambling problem, approach them with empathy, not judgment, said Elliott Rapaport, founder and CEO of Birches Health, a digital health platform that specializes in gambling addiction. 

Start the conversation with something simple like, “Is everything OK?” Rapaport suggested.  

“Shame and stigma is already one of the biggest barriers to treatment,” he said. “It’s not a moral failing. It’s a diagnosable behavioral health condition.” 

Steps to take if you’re worried about your gambling 

If you’re concerned about your own behavior, counselors and addiction specialists say these steps can help you slow down, regain control and find support if you need it: 

1. Take a pause. 

Even a short break can interrupt the cycle of betting, losing and trying to win it back, Rapaport said. “If you realize you can’t watch a sports game without having money on the line,” that’s a sign that something needs to change, Rapaport said. 

2. Remove temptation. 

Sports betting platforms in North Carolina are required to allow users to set limits or block their own accounts. If that’s not enough, fill out the state’s “voluntary self-exclusion form,” which will block your access to all of the state’s gambling sites. You may also want to consider blocking tools like Gamban or BetBlocker, suggested Gary Gray, director of the N.C. Council on Problem Gambling and a former gambling addict.

3. Keep a written log of your wins and losses. 

“Your brain remembers the good stuff” like your wins, so you might not realize how much you’re losing, said Shane Kraus, a psychologist who researches gambling at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. A log will show you the full picture.

4. Avoid live betting.

Place your bets in advance, then enjoy the game. In-game bets encourage impulsive, emotional decisions, Kraus said. 

5. Skip parlays. 

Parlays combine multiple bets into one, and all have to hit for the bettor to get paid. The big payouts can be tempting, but parlays have some of the worst odds, Kraus said. It’s where gambling operators make the majority of their profits, he added. “They’re sucker’s bets.”

6. Set hard money and time limits.  

Treat sports betting like entertainment, not a way to make money, said Kelly Crosbie, who oversees North Carolina’s mental health services. Set aside an amount of money you’re willing to lose, and stop when you hit that number.

7. Tell someone you trust. 

Tell a family member or a friend that you’re worried you might have a problem. Having an accountability partner can help you stick to your limits, Kraus said. 

8. Seek professional help and peer support. 

A trained counselor can help you recognize triggers, repair relationships and create a plan to cut back. Call North Carolina’s gambling hotline at 1-877-718-5543 for free, confidential support and to be connected with an in-person or virtual counselor. You can also look for a Gamblers Annonymous meeting in your area or attend a virtual meeting online.  “Recovery is possible,” Crosbie said.

Kids and sports betting: What parents should know  

• Start the conversation early

Ask what they know about sports betting and what their friends are doing. “A lot of kids don’t realize that what they’re doing is betting because it’s been normalized,” Krauis said. If you find out they’re betting, a direct, nonjudgmental conversation works best. 

• Add guardrails

If they are still under 18, use parental controls to monitor app downloads and in-app purchases. Also consider monitoring their bank activity.

• Watch for warning signs

Missing money, secrecy, mood changes, falling grades or repeated requests for cash can all be red flags. “A lot of times, the financial piece is the first thing parents notice,” said Charlotte therapist Allan Howe.

• Don’t pay off their debts

Gray said he’s seen it many times: Parents pay off a child’s debt, and six months later they are in more debt than they started with. Children won’t learn a lesson unless “there’s some pain in it,” he said. Encourage your child to get a job and pay off the debt over time.

• Get professional help

A therapist can help them find healthy ways to cope with their stress, boredom or the urge to gamble. Get connected to an in-person or virtual counselor by calling the North Carolina’s gambling hotline at 1-877-718-5543.

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