State problem gambling programs

Not every state publishes its own gambling helpline. Many run or fund dedicated services, such as New York's OASAS HOPEline or Ohio's Problem Gambling Helpline, while others point residents to the national line. Wherever you live, 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) is free, confidential and open 24/7, and it can connect you with local services. Our help and support page explains the other options.

Check the regional tables on this page for the number your state publishes. Examples include 1-800-NEXT-STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 in Massachusetts and 1-800-589-9966 in Ohio. If your state isn't listed with its own number, call or text the national helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET. Our National Problem Gambling Helpline guide explains what to expect when you reach out.

Yes, in several states. Arizona, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina publish text options using the short code 53342, each with its own keyword. New York uses HOPENY to 467369, Massachusetts uses GAMB to 800327, and Virginia lists call, text and chat on 888-532-3500. You can also text the national line, 1-800-MY-RESET. For quieter written support, see our GamTalk guide.

Some states fund problem gambling counseling for residents, but what's covered varies by state and program, and the details aren't always published. Ask your state helpline, or the national line at 1-800-MY-RESET, whether counseling is covered and whether there's a waitlist. Helplines themselves are generally free to contact. Our treatment options page explains the types of care you may be offered.

A state self-exclusion program covers the operators that state licenses, which can include state-licensed online casinos in states that have them. It doesn't reach offshore sites, which aren't licensed by any US state. To protect yourself from those, add blocking software and use any self-exclusion tool the site offers. Read our guides to state self-exclusion lists and blocking software.

You can contact any helpline, but your own state's program is usually best placed to refer you to local counselors and funded treatment. If you're unsure which service to use, or you live in a state without a dedicated number, the national helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET can route you to the right place. Our help for families page also helps relatives who live in a different state.

Some state and lottery pages haven't been updated since the national helpline changed. After September 29, 2025, 1-800-GAMBLER is no longer the national line; the National Council on Problem Gambling now promotes 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Use your state's dedicated number if it has one, or the national line. Our National Problem Gambling Helpline page explains the change and its timeline.

Often, yes. Some state programs and councils offer help to relatives as well as people who gamble, and the national helpline accepts contacts from family members. Peer support for loved ones is also available through Gam-Anon. Ask your state program what it offers for families when you call. Our guides to help for families and talking to family about gambling offer practical first steps.

New York's state problem gambling program is the OASAS HOPEline, reached at 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369) or by texting HOPENY to 467369. It's run by OASAS, the state's addiction services agency, and can connect residents with local counseling and treatment. If the line doesn't connect for any reason, the national helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) works from anywhere in the state. Our New York online casinos page covers the state's gambling law and regulator alongside its help contacts.

Yes, Oregon's state problem gambling program publishes a dedicated Spanish-language line, 1-844-888-2537, alongside its main 1-877-MY-LIMIT (1-877-695-4648) helpline and a text number, 503-713-6000. Other states may offer interpreters or Spanish-speaking counselors without listing a separate number, so ask when you call. The national helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET can also help you find support in your language. The Oregon gambling guide covers the rest of the state's gambling picture.

No state-run gambling helpline number for Texas appears in the official records we hold, so the national helpline is the most reliable first call for players in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and the rest of the state. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), free and 24/7, and ask what counseling and peer groups are available near you. Gamblers Anonymous meetings and the GamTalk forum also work anywhere. Our Texas online casinos page explains what state law says about online gambling.

Arizona's problem gambling program is run by the Arizona Department of Gaming's Division of Problem Gambling. Residents can call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXTSTEP to 53342, and the division publishes its services on its own site, including referrals to counselors. It sits within the same department that regulates gaming in the state. Our Arizona gambling page covers the state's tribal casinos, sports betting and its regulator's position on unlicensed sites.

Funding for state problem gambling programs often comes from gambling itself, with money set aside from legal gambling to pay for help. Louisiana's gaming board, for example, reports directing $500,000 a year to a Compulsive and Problem Gaming Fund. The amounts and rules differ widely between states, and many don't publish them in one place. If cost is a worry, ask your program whether counseling is covered. The state regulators page shows who oversees gambling in each state.

Yes, state helplines and counselors help residents whatever kind of site they used, including offshore casinos and sweepstakes platforms, and nobody is turned away because a site wasn't licensed. What a state can't do is enforce its self-exclusion list on an offshore casino, since no US state licenses those sites. Use the state program for counseling and support, and handle the offshore account directly with the casino. Our guide to self-exclusion at offshore casinos explains how to make that request.