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When gambling has damaged your finances, start here.

Free tools and plain-language guides for getting your money steady again, written by someone who maxed two credit cards before finding a way back.

Whose gambling is it?

Mine

You want to stop the chaos, see exactly what you owe, and find a realistic way out.

About 2.5 million US adults meet the criteria for gambling disorder. You're far from alone. (NCPG, 2024)

Someone close to me

You want to know what you're liable for and keep your own money and credit safe.

The average gambling problem harms six other people, usually a partner, child, or close friend. (International Gambling Studies, 2017)

Not sure where you fit? Answer two quick questions.

How this site works

  • Written from lived experienceA finance graduate who still ended up with two maxed cards and a consolidation loan.
  • No ads, everNo gambling operators, payday lenders, or "credit repair" companies.
  • Every statistic is sourcedNumbers link to the research they came from, like NCPG's 2024 survey.
  • Helplines pay us nothingFree services are listed because they help, with no referral fees.
  • Free firstGuides and tools are free. Two optional $20 kits keep the site running.

Betting is easier to reach than ever

  • 39states allow sports betting
  • 31allow it on your phone
  • 7have live online casinos

That's why so much of the damage happens quietly, on a phone, at 2 a.m. See what's legal where you live, and where to get free help nearby.

Explore the state map
AK ME VT NH WA ID MT ND MN IL WI MI NY RI MA OR NV WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CT CA UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE AZ NM KS AR TN NC SC DC OK LA MS AL GA HI TX FL

See your whole picture in about 10 minutes

Most people have never seen all of it on one page. A clear number, even a bad one, is easier to face than a vague sense of dread.

  • Your monthly surplus or shortfall
  • A realistic debt-free date
  • Whether a standard payoff plan can work, or you need a more urgent one
Run the free calculator

Runs in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere. No account.

Example result

Take-home pay
$3,400
Essential bills
−$2,450
Minimum debt payments
−$610
Left each month
$340

Illustrative numbers. Yours stay on your device.

Two kits, for two different situations

Printable PDFs, $20 once, instant download, and a 30-day refund if they don't help.

For your own gambling

30-Day Financial Reset Kit

For when your finances feel frozen and you don't know what to tackle first.

Seven tools inside

  • Survival budget template
  • Debt triage worksheet
  • Bill payment calendar
  • First 30 days checklist
  • Creditor call script
  • Debt payoff planner
  • When your numbers are bad: honest options

$20One-time. No account.

See the Reset Kit

For someone else's gambling

Family Protection Kit

For when a partner or family member's gambling is putting your money at risk.

Five tools inside

  • Debt liability checklist
  • Protect your credit worksheet
  • Conversation script
  • Financial boundaries template
  • Moving forward decision framework

$20One-time. No account.

See the Family Kit

Compare the two kits side by side

Four things that feel urgent but can wait

When money is chaotic, everything feels like an emergency. These can wait until you have a clear picture.

  • Calling every creditor today

    List everything first. Calls made without a plan can lock you into terms you can't keep.

  • A loan to consolidate the debt

    Consolidation can work, but only once you understand the full picture. New debt in week one usually makes things worse.

  • Fixing everything in one sitting

    The first week's goal is a clear picture, not a solution. A survival budget comes first, and everything else follows in order.

  • Keeping it from everyone

    Telling even one trusted person makes this easier to carry. A free counselor at GamFin counts too.

Talk to someone, for free

  • National Problem Gambling HelplineCall 1-800-522-4700, any time. Free and confidential.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988 if things feel like too much.
  • GamFinFree financial counseling for people affected by gambling. gamfin.org
  • Gam-AnonPeer support for partners and family. gam-anon.org

See all free resources

Outside the US? Find help in the UK, Canada, Australia, and 7 more countries.

Why this site exists

I graduated with a finance degree in 2023. Within two years I had maxed two credit cards, taken a consolidation loan, and was using payday and cash-advance apps to fund online casino gambling.

When I finally stopped, I went looking for practical help with the money side and found almost nothing. So I built the tools I needed then: debt triage, creditor scripts, a survival budget.

Read the full story

After the Bet is a self-help resource, not a financial advisor, therapist, or crisis service. If you're in crisis, call the NCPG Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or call or text 988. See how this site makes money and the full disclaimer.