Player Protection
Sports betting should be entertaining. The Sharp Advantage is committed to promoting responsible gambling and providing resources for those who may need help. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available 24/7.
National Problem Gambling Helpline — Free, Confidential, 24/7
1-800-GAMBLERAlso available via text: text "GAMBLER" to 833-234-0024
The Sharp Advantage provides sports betting analysis, picks, and educational content for entertainment and informational purposes only. We do not facilitate actual wagering. All affiliate links on this site lead to licensed, regulated sportsbook operators that are required by law to offer responsible gambling tools.
We encourage all readers to set strict limits before placing any bet, to treat gambling as entertainment rather than income, and to seek help immediately if gambling stops being fun. You must be 21 or older and located in a state where sports betting is legally permitted to wager.
Problem gambling can affect anyone. If you recognize three or more of the following signs in yourself or someone you care about, we strongly encourage reaching out for help.
Betting more than you can afford to lose
Chasing losses by placing larger or more frequent bets
Lying to family or friends about your gambling habits
Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
Neglecting work, school, or family responsibilities
Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed when not gambling
Using gambling as a way to escape problems or relieve stress
Failed attempts to cut back or stop gambling
Gambling with money intended for bills, rent, or groceries
Thinking about gambling constantly throughout the day
If you recognize these signs, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org for immediate, confidential support.
All licensed sportsbooks operating in the United States are required to offer these player protection tools. Use them proactively — not just when you feel you have a problem.
Most licensed sportsbooks allow you to set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit caps. Once set, limits can only be increased after a mandatory cooling-off period (typically 24–72 hours).
→ Available in account settings on all major sportsbooks.
Enable timed reminders that alert you how long you've been betting in a session. Many platforms also allow you to set a maximum session duration after which you're automatically logged out.
→ Look for 'Responsible Gaming' or 'Player Protection' in your account settings.
A temporary self-exclusion (1 day to 6 months) that prevents you from logging in or placing bets. Your account is suspended but not permanently closed — useful if you need a break.
→ Contact customer support or use the responsible gaming portal on your sportsbook.
A permanent ban from a specific operator or, through state programs, from all licensed sportsbooks in your state. This is the strongest tool available and is very difficult to reverse.
→ Contact your state gaming commission or use the NCPG self-exclusion directory.
Self-exclusion is a formal process that restricts your access to gambling. It can be done at the operator level (one sportsbook) or at the state level (all licensed operators in your state). Once enrolled, operators are legally required to enforce it.
The National Council on Problem Gambling coordinates self-exclusion across multiple operators.
Set deposit limits, time limits, or self-exclude directly from your DraftKings account settings.
FanDuel offers cooling-off periods, deposit limits, and permanent self-exclusion options.
BetMGM provides reality checks, session limits, and self-exclusion tools in-app.
Caesars offers deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion through their account portal.
Each state with legal sports betting maintains its own problem gambling helpline and resources. Find your state below for local support.
Don't see your state? Visit ncpgambling.org for a complete directory of state resources.