Get Help

Seek help. Get help.

Has your lottery play lost its fun? It might be time to check yourself. We’ve got more information on when and how to ask for help for you or a loved one.

Help is Here.

Lottery purchases sometimes can get out of hand. When things go wrong, we can help you make them right. You can call, text, or chat with a trained licensed clinician, willing to listen, counsel, and support you in your time of need, for free. It’s all confidential.

We can help. Please call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 877-718-5543.

Text: morethanagamenc to 53342

Setting limits is part of playing smart! And the Lottery has tools to help, so when you play you’re in control and calling the shots.

Set deposit limits.
When you play lottery games online, you have the option to set deposit limits for play. If you decrease your deposit limit, the change will be effective immediately and an increase to your deposit limit will be effective after 48 hours.

Set loss limits.
When you play lottery games online, you have the option to set a limit on losses. Login to your online account and go to “My Account,” select “Daily loss limit,” enter a value, and submit. It’s a smart way to draw a line and never cross it.

Time to stop playing?
When you play lottery games online, you have the option to exclude yourself from playing. You can choose to block play temporarily or to permanently exclude yourself by contacting the NCEL Online Play Support Center at 1-866-934-0289.

Help a Friend in Need

If you know of a friend or family member that might have a problem, the best thing you can do is speak up. Your words and actions make a difference. If you do not know where to start, that’s completely normal. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available to help.

A good place to start is by calling, texting, or chatting with a trained, licensed clinician. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Talk: 877-718-5543

Text: morethanagamenc to 53342

Online Chat:

If you’re going to have the initial conversation with a friend or family member, it can be hard. Here are some tips to help.

Understand the problem.
Look for support.
Encourage them to seek help.
Support their efforts.

Remember, you’re being a good friend by reaching out.

Take the Quiz

What does a potential gambling problem look like?

Not all people who gamble have a problem, but sometimes it’s hard to determine if you do. To help, answer the following 10 questions.

  • Have there ever been periods lasting 2 weeks or longer when you spent a lot of time thinking about your gambling experiences, planning out future gambling ventures or bets, or thinking about ways of getting money to gamble with?

  • Have there ever been periods when you needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money or with larger bets than before in order to get the same feeling or excitement?

  • Have you ever felt restless or irritable when trying to stop, cut down, or control your gambling?

  • Have you ever tried and not succeeded in stopping, cutting down, or controlling your gambling 3 or more times in your life?

  • Have you ever gambled to escape from personal problems, to relieve uncomfortable feelings, such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?

  • Has there ever been a period, if you lose gambling money one day, you would often return another to get even?

  • Have you lied to family members, friends, or others about how much you gamble, and/or about how much you lost on gambling, on at least 3 occasions?

  • Have you written a bad check or taken money that didn’t belong to you from family members, friends, or anyone else in order to pay for your gambling?

  • Has gambling ever caused serious or repeated problems in your relationships with any of your family member or friends? Or has your gambling ever caused you problems at work or at school?

  • Have you ever needed to ask family members, friends, a lending institution, or any one else to loan you money or otherwise bail you out of a desperate money situation that has been largely caused by your gambling?

  • You answered “Yes” to 0 questions

    Most people who are at risk of developing a potential problem will answer ‘Yes’ to at least one of these questions.

    If you feel you might have a gambling problem or have a desire to stop gambling, you can speak to someone right now:

    Call: 877-718-5543
    Text: morethanagame to 53342
    Chat morethanagame.nc.gov

    REMINDER: This quiz will help you figure out if there is a potential problem, but only a professional can diagnose if it is a gambling problem, a different problem, or both.

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So Many Ways to See If You Won

It’s never been easier to check your tickets to see if you have a winner. Download the NC Lottery Official Mobile App and scan your tickets or use a Ticket Checker at a NC Education Lottery retail location.