Responsible gambling

Ball Knowledge takes no bets and sells no picks. This page is here because we track sports betting shows, and sports betting can hurt people.

What Ball Knowledge is for

Ball Knowledge shows you what public betting shows say and how those calls turn out, so that nobody can sell you a record they did not earn. It is information and entertainment. It is not advice, it does not tell you what to bet, and it cannot make any wager a good one. A caller's record, however long, says nothing certain about their next pick. The books have the edge, and most people who bet lose money over time.

Rules we hold ourselves to

• We accept no wagers, hold no money for wagering, and run no contests.
• We do not link to, advertise for, or take money from any sportsbook, casino or betting affiliate.
• We show losses next to wins, always. Nothing is deleted when it goes wrong.
• We will never tell you a pick is a "lock", "guaranteed" or "can't lose". Nobody can honestly say that, and we treat any caller who does as a warning sign, not a selling point.
• We do not market to anyone under 21 and the app is rated for adults.

If you bet, bet like this

• Only with money you can afford to lose, from a budget you set before the game, never from money for rent, bills or family.
• Only with a licensed, regulated operator, in a state where it is legal, in your own name.
• Never to win back a loss. Chasing is how a bad night becomes a bad year.
• Never when you are drunk, angry, bored or sad.
• Set deposit, loss and time limits with your operator. Every regulated book offers them. Use them before you think you need them.
• Treat picks from any show, including every record you see here, as entertainment. If you tail someone, you are still the one placing the bet.

Signs it has become a problem

• Betting more money, or more often, than you meant to.
• Chasing losses, or betting to feel "even" again.
• Hiding bets or losses from the people close to you.
• Borrowing money, missing payments or selling things to bet.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
• Betting to escape stress, anxiety or depression.
• Thinking about betting most of the time, or losing interest in other things.

Two or more of these, over months, is worth a call. The helpline is not only for a crisis; it is for a conversation.

Self-exclusion

Every state with legal sports betting runs a self-exclusion programme that bars you from all licensed operators for a period you choose, usually one year to lifetime. Your state's gaming regulator or the operator's responsible-gaming page explains how to enrol. Many operators also offer app-level "cool-off" and permanent closure options. If you want to stop seeing betting content altogether, you can also delete Ball Knowledge from your device at any time; there is nothing to cancel if you have no subscription, and a subscription can be cancelled in your Apple ID settings.

Help by state

1-800-GAMBLER routes to your state's own helpline. Several states also run their own lines and websites, for example:

If your state is not listed, 1-800-GAMBLER still works, and the National Council on Problem Gambling keeps a directory of every state programme.

For family and friends

Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org) supports people affected by someone else's gambling. 1-800-GAMBLER takes calls from family members too.

Tell us

If you think any part of Ball Knowledge encourages reckless betting, or if a caller we track is marketing "guaranteed" picks or targeting minors, write to support@getballknowledge.net. We want to know.