Social casinos and sweepstakes platforms are entertainment products. For most people who use them, they remain entertainment. For a minority, they do not. This page is for that minority — and for the people around them — and for anyone who wants to keep their play in the entertainment category and not let it drift somewhere else.

This is not a substitute for income

No social casino is a viable way to make money. The dual-currency model and the prize structures involved make this mathematically true in a way that does not have exceptions. If your reason for playing is to recover losses, to pay a bill, or to supplement income, stop. Speak to someone.

Warning signs

Play that has stopped being entertainment often shows the following signs. None of them is conclusive on its own. Together, they are worth taking seriously.

You think about playing when you are not playing.

You play longer than you intended, or spend more than you intended, more than occasionally.

You hide play, spend, or wins and losses from people close to you.

Play interferes with sleep, work, or relationships.

You feel restless, irritable, or anxious when you are not playing.

You play to escape stress, low mood, or other feelings.

You chase losses — playing to try to recover money you have already spent.

What you can do

Self-exclude on the platform

Every reputable social casino offers self-exclusion. This lets you block your own access to the platform for a set period — typically anywhere from 24 hours to permanently. We document each platform's self-exclusion tools in its review.

Set limits before you play

Deposit limits, session-time limits, and reality-check prompts are available on most platforms. Set them when you create an account, not when you are already in trouble. Limits set in advance are far easier to maintain than limits set in the middle of a session.

Talk to someone trained

The National Council on Problem Gambling runs the National Problem Gambling Helpline. It is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day.

Call: 1-800-GAMBLER

Text: 800GAM

Chat: ncpgambling.org/chat

State-specific helplines and treatment networks are listed on our individual state guides.

Block payments

Most US banks and card networks allow you to block gambling and social-casino transactions at the account level. If your bank does not advertise this, ask. The block is usually free and reversible only after a delay, which is the point.

If you are worried about someone else

Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org) provides support for friends and family of people affected by problem gambling. The NCPG helpline above also takes calls from family members.

Age restriction

All platforms we cover are restricted to users aged 18 or older. Some require 21+ in certain states. Underage play is a violation of platform terms and, in many states, of law.