Responsible gaming

Everything we publish describes what has already happened and what the market’s number says. Trends with a sample size, line movement, matchup history, and answers drawn from our database. It can be wrong, it can be out of date, and past results don’t decide future games.

Sportsbooks build a margin into every price, and most people who bet lose money over time. Treat betting as entertainment you pay for, never as a way to make money or get out of a hole. Nothing on this site is betting, financial or investment advice.

• Decide on a budget you can afford to lose, before the week starts, and stop when it's gone. Never use money meant for rent, bills, food or debt.
• Set a time limit too. Betting on every game on the slate is a lot of hours, not just a lot of money.
• Don't chase losses. A bigger bet to win it back is how a bad night turns into a bad month.
• Don't bet when you're drunk, angry, stressed or trying to feel better.
• Use the tools your sportsbook already has: deposit limits, wager limits, time-outs and reality-check reminders are in the account or responsible-gaming settings of every licensed book.
• Keep your own running total of what you've put in and taken out. If you don't want to look at it, that's worth noticing.

Any one of these is a reason to pause and talk to someone:

• Betting more often, or with more money, than you planned to.
• Needing bigger bets to feel the same excitement.
• Chasing losses, or feeling you have to win it back.
• Borrowing money, selling things or skipping bills to bet or to cover losses.
• Hiding or lying about how much you bet.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back, or failing when you try to stop.
• Betting to escape problems, stress or a low mood.
• Arguments at home, or trouble at work or school, because of betting.

Help is free and confidential. You don’t need to be in crisis to call.

• 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537): problem gambling helpline, 24/7.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline from the National Council on Problem Gambling: call or text 1-800-522-4700 (also reachable at 1-800-MY-RESET), or chat online at ncpgambling.org/chat.
• Help in your state, including counselors and treatment: ncpgambling.org.
• Gamblers Anonymous, in-person and online meetings: gamblersanonymous.org.
• For family and friends of someone who gambles, Gam-Anon: gam-anon.org.
• If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.

If you want to stop, these make it harder to start again on a bad day:

• Your sportsbook: every licensed book lets you take a time-out or close your account through self-exclusion. Look for Responsible Gaming in the account settings, or ask their support team.
• Your state: most states with legal sports betting run a voluntary self-exclusion list through the gaming regulator that covers every licensed operator there. Find yours through the state pages at ncpgambling.org.
• Blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker stops gambling sites and apps on your phone and computer.
• Your bank: many banks and card issuers let you block gambling transactions from the app.
• Us: you can cancel a membership any time from your account page, and if you want your account closed for good, email Sizzlinsports@gmail.com.

You must be 21 or older to create an account, start a membership or buy a pass. We don’t market to anyone under 21, and we don’t aim our ads, emails or social posts at minors.

If you think someone under 21 has an account, email Sizzlinsports@gmail.com and we’ll close it. Legal betting age and what’s allowed vary by state; it’s on each of us to know the law where we are.