Responsible Gambling21+ only

Gambling Warning Signs: What the NCPG and WHO Say About Problem Gambling (2026)

Problem gambling warning signs include chasing losses, betting more to feel the same rush, hiding play and borrowing to gamble. Here is the NCPG checklist, what the World Health Organization’s 2024 fact sheet says about gambling harms, and practical steps, including tracking your real losses.

By Bankroll Board TeamUpdated 5 min read
Illustration of a red warning sign next to a checklist, a phone showing a declining chart and a helping hand holding a heart
Quick answer

The most common gambling warning signs, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), are chasing losses, needing to bet more for the same excitement, being unable to cut back, feeling restless when you try to stop, gambling to escape, hiding or lying about gambling, and borrowing money or missing bills because of it. The World Health Organization’s 2024 fact sheet estimates about 1.2% of adults worldwide have a gambling disorder. If you recognize these signs, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help.

Key takeaways

  • Problem gambling is about behavior and control, not how much you win or lose.
  • Chasing losses is one of the clearest warning signs.
  • The WHO estimates ~1.2% of adults worldwide have a gambling disorder, and that a large share of gambling losses comes from people gambling at harmful levels.
  • Seeing your real net loss (deposits minus withdrawals) can cut through denial.
  • Help is free and confidential: 1-800-GAMBLER, plus deposit limits and self-exclusion in licensed apps.
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NCPG warning signs

NCPG gambling warning signs: the checklist

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) describes problem gambling as gambling behavior that is damaging or disruptive to your life. These are the warning signs it and its state affiliates most often highlight:

  • Preoccupation: constantly thinking about gambling, planning the next session, or figuring out how to get money to gamble.
  • Chasing losses: going back to win back money you lost.
  • Tolerance: needing to bet more money, or more often, to get the same excitement.
  • Loss of control: repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop.
  • Restlessness: feeling irritable or on edge when you try to cut back.
  • Escape: gambling to deal with stress, anxiety, boredom or low mood.
  • Secrecy: hiding gambling, lying about how much you spend, or getting defensive when asked.
  • Financial trouble: borrowing to gamble, missing bills, or using money meant for something else.
  • Neglect: gambling getting in the way of work, school, family or relationships.
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WHO fact sheet 2024

WHO gambling fact sheet (2024): key facts on gambling harms

In December 2024 the World Health Organization published a fact sheet on gambling that treats gambling harm as a public health issue. Its key points include:

Highlights from the WHO gambling fact sheet (December 2024)
TopicWhat the WHO says
Gambling disorderAn estimated 1.2% of the world’s adults have a gambling disorder.
Where losses come fromA large share of gambling losses (around 60%, per the fact sheet’s cited research) comes from people gambling at harmful levels.
HarmsFinancial hardship, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness and suicide, plus crime to fund gambling.
GrowthGambling is expanding quickly through smartphones, online platforms and heavy marketing.
Help-seekingOnly a very small share of adults ever seek help for gambling problems.
PolicyEffective regulation and limits on marketing matter more than optional, industry-led “responsible gambling” tools alone.
Highlights from the WHO gambling fact sheet (December 2024)

Read the full WHO gambling fact sheet for sources and definitions.

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Self-check

A quick self-check

Answer these honestly. This is not a diagnosis, but “yes” to any of them is worth taking seriously:

  1. Do you know, to the dollar, how much you have deposited versus withdrawn this year?
  2. Have you deposited again to win back a loss?
  3. Have you spent more than you planned in the last month?
  4. Have you hidden or downplayed your gambling to someone close to you?
  5. Have you borrowed money, used credit or skipped a bill to gamble?

NCPG offers free screening tools and a national helpline. A professional can help you make sense of your answers.

Step 01 of 04
See your real number

Look at your real net loss

Add up deposits and withdrawals across every gambling app so you know your true result.

App balances, bonus credits and “wins” make losses easy to underestimate. Your real result is total withdrawals minus total deposits across all apps. You can pull it from each app’s transaction history, or use a gambling tracker app such as Bankroll Board, which tracks your gambling transactions automatically and shows your real profit or loss for free.

Bankroll Board home dashboard showing honest net profit and loss over time
Seeing the real number: Bankroll Board calculates your true net result from actual deposits and withdrawals across apps, cutting through misleading in-app balances. It is free to find out your profit or loss number upon signup.
Step 02 of 04
Set limits

Turn on deposit, time and loss limits

Every licensed online casino and sportsbook offers deposit, wager, loss and time limits in its responsible gaming settings.

Set limits when you feel in control, not in the middle of a session. Lowering a limit usually takes effect immediately, while raising one is typically delayed.

Step 03 of 04
Self-exclude

Take a break or self-exclude

Use cool-off periods in each app, or join your state’s self-exclusion program to block all licensed online gambling.

Regulated states run self-exclusion programs. In Michigan, for example, the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s Responsible Gaming Database lets you voluntarily exclude yourself from licensed online gambling. Licensed operators must honor it; offshore sites often do not.

Step 04 of 04
Get help

Talk to someone

Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential, 24/7 support from the National Problem Gambling Helpline.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the warning signs of problem gambling?

Common warning signs include chasing losses, needing to bet more for the same excitement, being unable to cut back, feeling restless when trying to stop, gambling to escape problems, hiding gambling, and borrowing money or missing bills because of gambling.

What does the NCPG say about problem gambling?

The National Council on Problem Gambling describes problem gambling as gambling behavior that damages or disrupts your life, regardless of how much money is involved, and runs the 1-800-GAMBLER national helpline.

What does the WHO gambling fact sheet say?

The WHO’s December 2024 fact sheet estimates about 1.2% of adults worldwide have a gambling disorder, links gambling to financial, relationship and mental health harms, and calls for stronger regulation and marketing limits.

Is gambling disorder a real diagnosis?

Yes. Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health condition, and effective treatment and support are available.

Can tracking my gambling help?

Tracking your real net loss (deposits minus withdrawals) can make your gambling visible and help you notice problems early. It is not a substitute for professional help if gambling feels out of control.

Where can I get help for problem gambling?

Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential support 24/7. You can also use self-exclusion programs in regulated states and limit tools in licensed gambling apps.

Stop guessing. Start tracking.

Find your real profit or loss, free.

Bankroll Board is the gambling tracker app that automatically tracks your wins, losses, deposits and withdrawals across casino and sports betting apps, calculates your true profit or loss, and walks you through each signup bonus step by step. Sign up to see your real number at no cost.

Download Bankroll Board

Sources & further reading

Written by the Bankroll Board Team. Last updated October 11, 2026. Offers and laws change, so verify terms with each operator and your state regulator.

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