Responsible Gambling USA: Setting Limits on Betting Apps

The Scale of the Problem

About 22% of Americans and 48% of men aged 18-49 report having at least one online sportsbook account. That's a massive population betting through apps, and the NCPG estimates that about 2.5 million US adults experienced severe gambling problems in 2024, with an additional 5-8 million considered at risk.

A 2025 US News survey also found that one in four sports bettors worries they can't control their gambling, and one in three has hidden betting debts from a loved one. Fortunately, US sportsbook apps have responded by offering comprehensive tools to help keep sports betting and online casino gambling a fun hobby. 

What Responsible Gambling Tools US Sportsbook Apps Offer

FanDuel Self-Exclusion Process

DraftKings has one of the most complete responsible gaming setups and is completely following NGB guidelines. Its "My Budget Builder" tool lets users set customized limits on deposits, wagers, losses, and session time, and its "My Stat Sheet" gives a transparent breakdown of your betting history. 

To access everything, just tap your profile icon and select Responsible Gaming under the General section. From there you can set deposit limits, activate a play-break (cool-off), or initiate self-exclusion. DraftKings allows self-exclusion for one or five years or a cooling-off period as short as one day and as long as two months.

FanDuel is the most user-friendly when it comes to responsible gaming. Its dedicated page includes how-to videos for setting limits on deposits and wagers, links to local and national support resources, and an easy-to-enable self-exclusion program. 

Specific Limits to Set

Even if you trust your discipline, it’s still worth activating responsible gaming tools, as they act as a safety net when a bad beat or adrenaline rush tempts you into chasing losses and draining your bankroll.

For your monthly deposit limit, experts recommend allocating between 1% and 5% of your monthly disposable income. 

Remember disposable income means money left over after rent, food, utilities, savings, and debt payments, not your gross salary!

When it comes to individual bet sizing, you should stake between 1% and 5% of your gambling budget per wager, an approach known as flat betting. If your monthly deposit is $60, each individual bet should be no more than $1-$3. This sounds small, but trust me, it keeps a losing streak from becoming a crisis.

FanDuel Deposit Limits

I also personally set a hard cap of 60-90 minutes per session, with no more than two or three sessions per week. This establishes positive behavioral cues and prevents me from wasting an entire day betting. BetMGM's Play Timer and FanDuel's time limit feature both make this automatic. 

Many apps also let you set a daily or weekly loss limit separately from your deposit cap. Set your weekly loss limit at 50% of your monthly deposit. If you hit it before Sunday, the session is over. 

What to Do If You Think You Have a Problem

You must activate a Play-Break on every app you use right now, today, before doing anything else. Then use DraftKings' My Stat Sheet or FanDuel's betting history tool to pull up your actual numbers over the past three months. Most people find the number is worse than they thought.

After you’ve digested the problem, reach out to the NCPG's National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET, which connects you with help in your state and offers a free gambling behavior self-assessment. It is confidential and available 24/7. If calling seems like too much, text is available too. 

The NCPG also hosts self-help meetings and support groups where people share their experiences and maintains a resource directory of local and national counseling services.