What can I do right now?

Do not borrow or gamble to win back what you lost. Turn on gambling blocks in your banking app if offered. List what must be paid first: housing, food, utilities, medicine, children.

What should I do in the next 24 hours?

Remove saved cards from every gambling account. Call your bank and ask about gambling transaction blocks. Tell one trusted person the real numbers.

When should I get immediate help?

If you feel unsafe, hopeless, or are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 now. For gambling help, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or reach a real person at 646-721-2056.

How do I handle payday in recovery?

The short answer

Money stress after gambling can feel crushing, but there is a way through. The first rule is simple: don't gamble or borrow to win it back. Protect the essentials first, add barriers between you and your money, and bring one trusted person into the picture.

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Quick answers

How do I handle payday in recovery?: Money stress after gambling can feel crushing, but there is a way through. The first rule is simple: don't gamble or borrow to win it back. Protect the essentials first, add barriers between you and your money, and bring one trusted person into the picture.
What can I do right now?: Do not borrow or gamble to win back what you lost. Turn on gambling blocks in your banking app if offered. List what must be paid first: housing, food, utilities, medicine, children.
What should I do in the next 24 hours?: Remove saved cards from every gambling account. Call your bank and ask about gambling transaction blocks. Tell one trusted person the real numbers.
When should I get immediate help?: If you feel unsafe, hopeless, or are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 now. For gambling help, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or reach a real person at 646-721-2056.

Right now

1Do not borrow or gamble to win back what you lost.
2Turn on gambling blocks in your banking app if offered.
3List what must be paid first: housing, food, utilities, medicine, children.

Next 24 hours

1Remove saved cards from every gambling account.
2Call your bank and ask about gambling transaction blocks.
3Tell one trusted person the real numbers.

This week

1Build a simple budget with a trusted person.
2Contact a nonprofit credit counselor about your debt.
3Set up banking alerts and spending limits.

Reading this alone? You don't have to. A real person will listen.

Call or text 646-721-2056

When to get immediate help

If you're thinking about harming yourself, feel unable to stay safe, are considering stealing to fund gambling, or feel completely overwhelmed, get help now. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988. If there's immediate danger, call 911.

One question to ask yourself

What is the biggest risk tonight: access to money, access to betting apps, being alone, watching sports, or fear of telling someone? Your answer can be your first step.

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