Back to EvenWhat your state self-exclusion doesn't cover
A state self-exclusion list is a real wall, but it only surrounds one room. Prediction markets, sweepstakes casinos, offshore sites and your bank card are all outside it. Here's the full map, and how to close each gap.
The short answer
A state self-exclusion list binds the sportsbooks and casinos that state licenses. It does not cover federally regulated prediction markets like Kalshi or Polymarket, sweepstakes casinos, offshore or crypto betting sites, sportsbooks licensed in other states you travel to, or your bank. Close each one separately: exclude from the apps, block them on your phone, and stop the money at your bank.
The wall, and the room it surrounds
Self-excluding through your state is one of the strongest things you can do. Every sportsbook licensed in that state is legally required to keep you out: the big apps, the small ones, and the ones that launch next year.
But it's a wall around one room. People trying to quit keep finding the other doors the hard way, usually at 11 p.m. with a game on. Here they are, in the order people tend to fall through them.
Door 1: Prediction markets
Kalshi, Polymarket and a growing list of others, including prediction-market products inside brokerage apps, are regulated federally as exchanges, not by state gaming boards. Your state list doesn't apply to them, and most let you in at 18.
How to close it: exclude from each one directly. Kalshi has a consumer-protection section with a full opt-out and participates in the shared SelfExclude list; Polymarket added self-exclusion in September 2026. See how to self-exclude from Kalshi and Is Kalshi gambling?.
Door 2: Sweepstakes casinos
Sites like Chumba, LuckyLand, Pulsz and dozens of others run slots and table games using "sweeps coins" that can be redeemed for cash. Because they operate under sweepstakes law, state self-exclusion programs don't bind them.
How to close it: email each company's support and ask in writing for permanent self-exclusion and account closure. Keep the reply. Then block the sites. They're on Back to Even's built-in blocklist.
Door 3: Offshore and crypto betting
Offshore sportsbooks and crypto casinos aren't licensed anywhere you live. No US list reaches them, and their "responsible gambling" pages are often decorative.
How to close it: this is where a device-level block matters most, because there is no account-level protection you can rely on. Block them on your phone and computer, and stop the money: many offshore sites depend on cards and crypto purchases you can cut off at your bank.
Door 4: Another state's sportsbooks
Most state programs only cover that state. Cross a border for a weekend and a different set of licences applies.
How to close it: if you live near a state line or travel regularly, look at the neighbouring state's program too. Some states also let you request exclusion from individual operators, which can follow your account across states. Ask each sportsbook's support.
Door 5: The money
Every door above eventually needs a payment. Blocking the payment closes all of them at once, including ones you haven't found yet.
How to close it: look in your bank app's card controls for a gambling block, or call and ask for one; remove saved cards from betting accounts and from Apple Pay if you've used them to bet. Our bank guide has the details.
The checklist
| Door | What closes it | Done? |
|---|---|---|
| State-licensed sportsbooks & casinos | Your state's self-exclusion list | ☐ |
| Kalshi, Polymarket, other prediction markets | Each platform's self-exclusion + SelfExclude | ☐ |
| Pick'em & daily fantasy apps | Each app's responsible-gaming settings | ☐ |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Written request to each company + a block | ☐ |
| Offshore & crypto sites | A device block | ☐ |
| Other states | Neighbouring state's list, operator-level exclusion | ☐ |
| The money | Bank gambling block, remove saved cards | ☐ |
Why a device block is the backstop
Account-level exclusions depend on every company honouring them and on you not opening a fresh account under a new email. A block on the phone you'd actually use catches all of it: known apps, new apps, sites typed into Safari at midnight.
That's what Back to Even's Shield is for: it blocks the betting apps you choose and a built-in list of sportsbook, prediction-market, sweepstakes and crypto sites, using Apple's Screen Time. Lock it, and taking it down early needs a 72-hour cool-down. See how it works, or read how to block gambling on iPhone for the free options too.
If you've already found one of these doors
It happens constantly, and it's not a sign that quitting doesn't work for you. It's a sign that one door was open. Close it, log the slip, and keep going. Here's how to handle the day after.
Common questions
Is it still worth joining my state's list?
Yes. It closes every licensed sportsbook and casino in your state in one step, including apps you haven't tried yet. It's just not the whole job.
If I move or travel, does my exclusion follow me?
Usually not automatically. Each state runs its own program. If you live near a state line or travel often, look at the neighbouring state's list too.
Why don't sweepstakes casinos honour self-exclusion lists?
Because they operate under sweepstakes law rather than gambling licences, so state gaming programs don't bind them. You have to ask each company directly, and blocking them on your devices is more reliable.
Back to Even is a self-help tool, not treatment or medical advice. If gambling is hurting you or someone close to you, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (US). It’s free, confidential and open 24/7. In a crisis, call 988.