Most people gamble for entertainment and stop when it stops being fun. For a smaller share — about 1% of adult gamblers — gambling becomes a compulsion that interferes with finances, relationships, and mental health. This page exists for anyone who feels the line slipping.
Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) any time, day or night. Calls are free, confidential, and answered by trained counselors. Text "GAMB" to 1-800-GAMBLER for the same support by SMS.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services maintains a problem-gambling treatment provider list at humanservices.arkansas.gov. Search for "problem gambling" to find counselors near Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Hot Springs.
Common signs that gambling has tipped from entertainment to problem behavior:
If two or more of those describe you, the National Council on Problem Gambling's self-assessment at ncpgambling.org is a useful next step.
Every offshore casino we review supports self-exclusion. You can request a cooling-off period (24 hours to permanent) by contacting the operator's customer support and asking for "self-exclusion." Reputable operators honor the request without arguing. If they don't, that's a signal to walk away regardless.
For the regulated retail casinos in Arkansas (Saracen, Oaklawn, and Southland), self-exclusion is handled through the Arkansas Racing Commission and applies to all three properties.
Your bank can block gambling-related transactions on your debit and credit card on request — call the customer-service number on the back of the card and ask for a "gambling block." Crypto exchanges (Coinbase, Crypto.com, Cash App) don't yet support a similar block, so if crypto is your funding method consider deleting the exchange app from your phone as a friction point.
If you're worried about someone else's gambling, Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org) is a support group for family members of problem gamblers. Local chapters exist in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Hot Springs.
If you're in crisis, call 1-800-GAMBLER or text "HOME" to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). Both lines are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.