Do you exhibit problematic betting behavior? Is your inability to abstain accompanied by debt, strained relationships, compromised workplace or academic productivity, and other notable consequences? Given that you have come online and searched “how do I stop betting” indicates that you do, and are ready to get the help you need.
As America’s leading problem gambling support provider we are ready to assist. You can call 1 (877) 426-4258 right away to receive a FREE assessment and discuss treatment options, or read ahead first for a step-by-step guide to stop based upon each type of betting. It’s important to delineate between each, because within there are one or more unique factors that need to be addressed. And in most cases, we have already provided detailed guides to breaking the grip that each has on an individual. The end result, is the most comprehensive guide for how to stop betting, no matter what your “vice” may be.
Effective Guide for How to Stop Betting on Sports, DFS, Casino Games, and Everything Else
I. How Do I Stop Betting on Sports?
With the activity now legal in 38 states along with DC and Puerto Rico (view legislation map), problematic sports betting has become a primary mental health concern for millions of vulnerable Americans. So when most individuals inquire about how to stop betting, they’re referring to moneyline, point spread, proposition, and parlay type wagers on professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events. Itemize the websites/apps that you use to bet on sports and follow the steps/tips below to quit.
a) Close Account with All Sports Betting Operators
Withdraw remaining funds and close your accounts with sportsbooks. While it varies slightly by operators, the steps generally include the following:
- Log into your account.
- Tap or click on your profile avatar/name (typically in the top right corner).
- Select the Account Settings prompt.
- Withdraw funds from your account (if any remain) as you will not be able to get the funds back after you have closed your account. Resist the urge to make an “all in” final wager with any remaining funds as that will only take you further from your goal of quitting. If there is a bonus-based balance with a rollover requirement (view more) that demands you play-through to access those bonus funds, let it go. Playing through a bonus rollover will only embed you further into the compulsion.
- Find and select the Close Account feature.
- Complete the closure form and follow the steps provided.
- Follow the required prompts (verify account closure by email, and/or re-enter your password as directed by the operator) to confirm account closure.
Self-exclusion instead?
While your search for insight into “how do I stop betting” indicates a need to quit, we’d be remiss if we excluded mention of self-exclusion. Self-exclusion is a term used to describe when a gambler chooses to ban themselves from a specific gambling venue because they feel they have developed an inability to abstain despite negative consequences. Regulated online sportsbooks are required by federal law to offer self-exclusion programs for players. At the discretion of a player, self-exclusion periods can be set to a few days (which is often referred to as a “Cool Off Period”) to weeks, months, or years. If you prefer to self-exclude over closing your account while you assess your mental health, you will want to use the maximum allowable period, which is generally 5 years. Self-exclusion features can be challenging to find on an app and website, and may require that you spend more time on a given app/website that you’re comfortable with, which can place you at risk of betting once again via exposure to promotional prompts and other triggers. To help you access an operator’s self-exclusion program quickly we have put together an easy-to-follow guide:
b) Unfollow Sports Betting Influence on Social Media
Your sportsbook accounts have been closed, but you will still be triggered to bet on sports by social media. As a recent sports bettor, the algorithms of each network you use (Instagram, TikTok, X) have been trained to feed you the content you have engaged with in the past, sports betting included. This is on top of the associates, friends, and influencers that you follow who promote the sports betting lifestyle. For the time being, you may need to initiate a social media blackout for long enough to address your mental health, especially if you have a moderate to more severe compulsion towards sports betting. If a social media blackout is not possible (as it may be your primary form of communication and/or required for your work) then follow the tips that we have provided in the guide below:
c) Managing Sports Betting Exposure on TV
Your sportsbook accounts have been closed, but you will still be triggered to bet on sports while watching TV and other streaming platforms. We have put together a guide for how to manage your exposure to sports betting promotions on TV and other streaming platforms. Click or tap here:
d) Speak to a Counselor Who Specializes in Sports Betting Addiction
There are licensed counselors who specialize in treating mild, moderate, and severe sports betting addiction along with cooccurring issues such as anxiety and depression (and more) on Kindbridge Behavioral Health’s virtual network. Click to tap the image below to get a FREE assessment and discuss treatment options:
II. How Do I Stop Betting on DFS?
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting are close siblings, although your attraction to DFS may have been the strategic element, with “success” theoretically depending on research, knowledge of player matchups, and roster selections. Despite this difference, DFS is still gambling, and as someone who wants to stop you have experienced the harms associated with it. To quit, itemize the DFS websites/apps that you use and proceed with the following.
a) Close Account with All DFS Operators
Account closure (and/or self-exclusion) steps for DFS are the same as they are with online sportsbooks. Please see Section I above to reference these steps.
b) Unfollow DFS Influence on Social Media
Steps to blocking exposure to DFS on social media are the same as they are with online sportsbooks. Please see Section I above to reference these steps.
c) Managing DFS Exposure on TV
Steps to blocking exposure to DFS on TV and streaming platforms are the same as they are with online sportsbooks. Please see Section I above to reference these steps.
d) Speak to a Counselor Who Specializes in DFS Addiction
There are licensed counselors who specialize in treating mild, moderate, and severe DFS addiction (and cooccurring issues) on Kindbridge’s virtual network. Further, Kindbridge has relationships in place with America’s leading DFS providers (DraftKings, FanDuel, and PrizePicks) who refer struggling players to our counselors. Click to tap the image below to get a FREE assessment and discuss treatment options:
III. How Do I Stop Betting in the Casino?
Is your habit or compulsion related to casino gaming? To quit, itemize the land-based and online platforms that you use to play slots and table games, then proceed with the following the steps/tips.
a) Ban Yourself from Nearby Land-Based Casinos
There are typically two options to ban yourself from land-based casinos. Some states have programs in place that allow a resident to ban themselves from all state-regulated gaming facilities. For instance, the California’s Bureau of Gambling Control administers a confidential list of Self-Excluded patrons. Self-Excluded patrons are banned from all licensed gambling establishments in the State of California. If such a program exists in your state, it will save you the work from banning yourself from each state-regulated gaming facility. However, statewide (any state with gaming) programs do not include Tribal casinos. If you gamble at Tribal casinos, you will need to ban yourself by contacting each Tribal casino to request a lifetime ban (or other preset period). Further, if you participate in gambling tourism by visiting a state with regulated casinos due to gambling being illegal in your state, you will need to request a ban from each individual casino that you have frequented on your travels. Check out the following guide for further insight:
b) Close Account with All Online Casino Platforms
Account closure (and/or self-exclusion) steps for online casinos are the same as they are with online sportsbooks and DFS. Please see Section I above to reference these steps.
c) Unfollow Casino Gaming Influence on Social Media
Exposure to triggers on social media may be even greater for casino gaming, given the rise of social/sweepstakes casinos which are not as heavily regulated as traditional “real money” casino platforms (although they are gambling). For this reason we recommend being especially diligent when it comes to using social media. Steps to blocking exposure to casino themes on social media are the same as they are with online sportsbooks and DFS. Please see Section I above to reference these steps.
d) Additional Tip to Stop Betting at Casinos
e) Speak to a Counselor Who Specializes in Casino Gaming Addiction
There are licensed counselors who specialize in treating mild, moderate, and severe casino-based gambling addiction (and cooccurring issues) on Kindbridge’s virtual network. Click to tap the image below to get a FREE assessment and discuss treatment options:
IV. How Do I Stop Betting on Everything Else?
The term “betting” is also used by those who have a problematic relationship with other forms of gambling that have taken hold in America. This include horse and dog racing (pari-mutuel betting) and more recently a new form of gambling called prediction markets. The latter provide individuals the opportunity to “invest” (or bet) on everything from politics and the weather to the outcomes of sporting events.
Quitting pari-mutuel betting involves the same steps as detailed in Section I (sports betting), Section II (DFS betting), and Section III (casino betting). If your struggle is with pari-mutuel betting, be sure to proceed accordingly. Prediction markets and sports trading are different, however, as operators do not currently land in the same jurisdiction as providers of traditional gambling. They are therefore not beholden to the same rules regarding self-exclusion and currently (as of 2025) do not provide members with access to mental health support services. As a result, concerns about the development of sports trading addiction are ramping up with large scale adoption of these platforms. If you are concerned about your relationship with betting on prediction markets, you cannot depend upon them to provide the tools needed to stop, and thus we recommend connecting to a Kindbridge counselor right away.
EXTRA TIP: Install gambling blocking software on all of your desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Gamban is one of the most trusted options. It can be downloaded on all your devices to restrict access to thousands of gambling websites and apps.
Get Help for Problem Betting Behavior Today
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email help@kindbridge.com
