Play it safe

Bet with a plan, or don't bet.

Statmint is a research tool. It can't make betting safe or profitable, and no one can. Here's how to keep it fun, what to watch for, and where to get free help if it stops being fun.

Free, confidential help, 24/7

Anywhere in the U.S.1-800-MY-RESETCall or text 1-800-697-3738, or chat online. Run by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
In New York1-877-8-HOPENYCall 1-877-846-7369 or text HOPENY (467369). The state's HOPEline.
Talk with people who've been thereGamblers AnonymousFree meetings. For family and friends: Gam-Anon.
In crisis or thinking about suicideCall or text 988The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.

Habits that keep it fun

  • Set your budget before the day starts, and never top it up. Money you can't afford to lose isn't betting money.
  • Bet a small, fixed amount each time. Many careful bettors stick to 1 to 2 percent of their budget per bet.
  • Never chase losses. A bigger bet to win it back is how a bad night becomes a bad month.
  • Skip betting when you're drinking, upset or tired. Those are the nights decisions get worse.
  • Set a time limit and take breaks. Step away for a day or a week now and then.
  • Track every bet honestly. Statmint's My Bets tracker shows what you've really won and lost.
  • Be careful with parlays. Each extra leg makes a win much less likely. Bet Lab shows the real chance before you place one.

Warning signs

If any of these sound familiar, it's worth talking to someone. The lines above are a good place to start.

  • Betting more money or more often than you planned.
  • Chasing losses, or feeling you have to win it back.
  • Borrowing, or using money meant for bills, to bet.
  • Hiding or lying about how much you bet.
  • Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back.
  • Thinking about betting most of the time.
  • Betting getting in the way of work, sleep or family.

Tools inside your sportsbook app

Licensed sportsbooks let you limit yourself. Look in your account settings, usually under "Responsible gaming."

  • Deposit and wager limits cap how much you can put in or bet per day, week or month.
  • Time limits and reminders tell you how long you've been playing.
  • Cool-off breaks lock your account for a set time.
  • Self-exclusion blocks you from betting for months or years. Many states also run a statewide self-exclusion list through their gaming regulator.

Statmint's promises

  • We never call a pick a lock or a sure thing.
  • We show every result, losses included, on our public track record.
  • We say "no edge" when there isn't one, which is most of the time.
  • We don't take bets, hold your money or push you to bet more.
  • Statmint is for adults 21 and older.