Responsible Gambling in Maryland
If gambling has stopped being entertainment, help in Maryland is free, confidential and available now. This page lists where to get it and the limits worth setting before you need it.
Maryland helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER — free, confidential, 24 hours a day. Text or call. You do not need to be in crisis to use it.
Where to Get Help in Maryland
- Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling — the state-funded programme, offering free treatment referrals, counselling and family support across Maryland (mdproblemgambling.com).
- 1-800-GAMBLER — the confidential 24-hour helpline.
- Maryland Voluntary Exclusion Program — administered by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA), it bars you from the state's licensed casinos and online sportsbooks for two years or for life. It cannot cover offshore sites, which is one of the practical costs of playing at them.
- National Council on Problem Gambling and Gamblers Anonymous both run national meetings and resources, including support for family members.
Why Limits Matter More at Offshore Sites
State-licensed operators are required to give you deposit limits, session reminders, cool-off periods and self-exclusion. Offshore casinos are not, and the tooling across them is inconsistent — some offer a reasonable set, some offer almost nothing. Maryland's Voluntary Exclusion Program cannot reach them either.
That shifts the responsibility to controls you set outside the account: a fixed monthly amount kept separate from money with a purpose, a hard stop when it is gone, and no deposit made to recover a loss. Chasing losses with a bonus is the most reliable way to turn a bad evening into a bad year.
Signs Worth Taking Seriously
- Gambling with money set aside for bills, rent or family.
- Depositing again immediately after a loss to win it back.
- Hiding how much or how often you play.
- Borrowing, selling or moving money to keep playing.
- Playing to escape stress, low mood or boredom rather than for entertainment.
- Feeling irritable or restless when you try to stop.
Any one of these is a reason to call 1-800-GAMBLER. It is a conversation, not a commitment.
Under-Age Gambling
Casino gambling in Maryland is restricted to those 21 and over. No content on this site is directed at anyone under that age. If you share a device, tools such as Gamban, BetBlocker and standard parental controls can block gambling sites at the device level.