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

by Michelle Crouch And Charlotte Ledger

Now that sports betting is just a tap away on your smartphone, experts say it can be easy for gambling to spiral out of control. Google search “Gambling Addiction” and “Problem gamblingNorth Carolina has grown since legalizing sports betting in 2024.

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

Start the conversation with something simple like, “Everything okay?” Rapaport suggested.

“Shame and stigma are already one of the biggest barriers to treatment,” she 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 worried about your behavior, counselors and addiction experts say these steps can help you slow down, regain control, and get help if you need it:

1. Take a break.

Even a short break can interrupt the cycle of betting, losing and trying to win again, Rappaport said. “If you realize you can’t watch a sports game if there’s no money on the line,” that’s a sign that something needs to change, Rappaport says.

2. Eliminate temptation.

Sports Betting Platform Needed in North Carolina Allows 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 gambling sites in the state You may want to consider such blocking tools Gamba or BetBlockerSuggested by Gary Gray, director NC Council on Problem Gambling and a former gambling addict.

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

“Your brain remembers good things” like your wins, so you may not realize how much you’re losing, says Shane Krause, a psychologist who studies gambling at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. A log will show you the complete picture.

4. Avoid live betting.

Place your bets in advance, then enjoy the game. In-game betting encourages emotional, emotional decisions, Krause said.

5. Avoid if you can.

Parlays combine multiple bets into one, and all must hit for the bet to pay. Big payouts can be tempting, but parlays have some bad odds, Kraus said. This is where gambling operators make the bulk of their profits, he added. “They suck.”

6. Set hard money and time limits.

Treat sports betting as entertainment, not a way to make money, says Kelly Crosby, who oversees mental health services in North Carolina.. 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 friend that you are concerned that you may have a problem. Having an accountability partner can help you stay within your limits, says Krause.

8. Seek professional help and peer support.

A trained counselor can help you identify triggers, repair relationships, and develop a plan for withdrawal. Call the North Carolina Gambling Hotline at 1-877-718-5543 for free, confidential assistance and to connect with an in-person or virtual counselor. You can find one Gamblers Anonymous meeting Join a virtual meeting in your area or online. “Recovery is possible,” Crosby 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 what they’re doing is gambling because it’s normalized,” Krause says. If you find out they’re betting, a direct, non-judgmental conversation works best.

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

Missing money, secrecy, mood swings, declining grades or repeated requests for cash can all be red flags. “A lot of times, the financial part is the first thing parents notice,” says Charlotte therapist Alan Howe.

• Don’t pay their debts

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

A therapist can help them find healthy ways to deal with stress, boredom or gambling urges. Connect with an in-person or virtual counselor by calling the North Carolina Gambling Hotline at 1-877-718-5543.

this Article appeared first North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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North Carolina Health News An independent, non-partisan, nonprofit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Go to NCHN northcarolinahealthnews.org with Creative Commons License

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Photo credit: Angela Graves, who grew up in Merrimack, received initial support from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for a pilot program using mushrooms to help permanently clean up chemicals at the site of the former Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant. (Photo by Molly Raines/New Hampshire Bulletin)

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