Call or text 1-877-8-HOPENY: New York’s 24/7 gambling helpline
If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, start here:
- Call: 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369)
- Text: HOPENY (467369)
The HOPEline is run by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). It’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no cost, and it’s confidential. Staff are bilingual, and interpreters are available in more than 170 languages.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to call. Counselors can talk through what’s happening, connect you with treatment near you, and help family members too. More information is on the OASAS HOPEline page.
For local, in-person support, the NY Council on Problem Gambling and the regional Problem Gambling Resource Centers offer guidance and referrals across the state.
NY self-exclusion: block yourself for 1, 3 or 5 years, or for life
New York’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion program, run by the NY State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), is the strongest tool you have. One form covers almost every legal form of gambling in the state:
- sports betting, including mobile apps
- commercial casinos and VLT facilities
- horse racing, at the track and through ADW apps
- the NY Lottery, including Quick Draw
- daily fantasy sports
- charitable gaming
You choose a term of 1, 3 or 5 years, or lifetime.
How to enroll
Fill in the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Form and attach a recent photo. Then submit it in one of three ways:
- In person at a licensed gaming facility’s problem gambling intake area.
- By mail to the NYSGC in Schenectady. Mailed forms must be notarized. The NY Council on Problem Gambling offers electronic notary services at no cost.
- In person at the NYSGC’s Schenectady headquarters during business hours.
The form and full details are on the NYSGC self-exclusion page.
What happens next
Operators receive your details within five days. They must refuse your bets, close off marketing and comps, and stop taking deposits. Any winnings during your exclusion are forfeited, and entering a casino can lead to a trespassing arrest.
A 1-, 3- or 5-year term ends automatically unless you submit a new form within 30 days to extend it.
Operator tools: deposit limits, time-outs and cool-offs
The licensed NY sportsbook apps, along with horse racing and DFS apps, offer account tools you can switch on in settings. Typical options include:
- Deposit limits: cap what you can add per day, week or month.
- Wager limits: cap how much you can bet in a set period.
- Time limits and reminders: get an alert after a set time logged in.
- Time-outs and cool-offs: lock your account for a short break.
- Account self-exclusion: close your account with that one operator for longer periods.
At most apps, lowering a limit takes effect right away, while raising one comes with a waiting period. That delay is deliberate. Remember that one app’s time-out doesn’t affect your other apps. The NYSGC program is the only way to block them all at once.
Warning signs of a gambling problem
Any one of these is a reason to pause and reach out:
- betting more, or more often, to get the same excitement
- chasing losses with bigger bets
- borrowing money, or using bill money, to gamble
- lying to family or friends about how much you bet
- feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back
- gambling to escape stress, anxiety or low mood
- missing work, school or family time because of betting
Problems often build slowly. Noticing early makes a difference.
Help for family members and friends
Gambling problems hit the people around the gambler too, often through money worries or broken trust. You can call or text the HOPEline yourself, even if your loved one won’t. Counselors can explain your options and point you to support for families.
A few practical steps:
- Protect your own finances. Separate accounts and limit access to shared credit.
- Talk when things are calm, not after a big loss.
- Avoid paying off gambling debts for them, which can delay real change.
- Look after yourself. Local Problem Gambling Resource Centers support family members directly.
What’s coming: NYSGC’s pending responsible gambling rules
New York is tightening its rules for sportsbooks. On Oct. 9, 2026, the NYSGC voted unanimously to advance two proposals:
- At-risk patron rules. Sportsbooks would have to watch for warning signs, such as deposits over $10,000 in 24 hours, and step in through a staged intervention process.
- A ban on AI-personalized promotions. Sportsbooks, affiliates and vendors couldn’t use AI to tailor bonuses, odds, limits or messages to individual customers without their consent.
Neither rule is final, and both face further public comment. Earlier draft proposals, released in March 2026, also covered biometric ID checks and age assurance to keep minors off betting apps.
For how these rules fit New York’s wider legal framework, see our guide to New York gambling laws.
If you need help now
Call or text the HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369), any time, day or night. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.