As the leading virtual counseling platform for disordered / problem gambling, Kindbridge has seen and heard countless firsthand accountings of what clients have lost prior to seeking help. Incurred debt tends to top the list of consequences of unhealthy gambling behavior. Logically, financial strain negatively impacts other areas of their lives, leaving career prospects and relationships with partners, families, and other loved ones in its wake. Gambling losses are relative, mind you, as for some, a period of self-exclusion with counseling support can be enough to return life to normalcy. But for others, financial consequence (and reverberating harm) is much more serious. This is particularly true for the tens of thousands of Americans who report having gambled away their homes. Tens of thousands? That’s what data from Google / Gemini AI search confirms. Each month, up to 100 people per largely populated U.S. city, or state, visit Google / Gemini and enter “lost my house gambling” into their search browser. This doesn’t even account for those who instead use AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and Perplexity to voice their distress.
To put things in context, we looked at Google / Gemini search data specifically for the largest cities in the United States, some of which are in states that do not allow and regulate sports betting.
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, up to 100 individuals per month indicate having lost their home due to gambling. Indicating even greater concern, is the +∞ symbol under the 3-month change and year-over-year (YoY) change. This infinity symbol represents extremely-high (more then 900%) growth in search occurring for the period. Context comes into play with respect to home values. In Los Angeles, Zillow reports (at press) that the median value for a single-family home is approximately $1,149,000, while the broader Los Angeles County median is around $949,000. This may suggest that when someone loses their home due to gambling, they have incurred losses around the $1 million mark. This aligns with data we uncovered in this recent analysis of search data for California and various other U.S. states. Also worth noting, is that sports betting is illegal in California, hinting that beyond tribal casino gaming, Angelenos may be using unregulated offshore betting sites to gamble. These unregulated operators do not have protections in place to flag users who are gambling well-beyond their limit.
New York City
New York exhibits extremely-high (more then 900%) growth in search over a three-month period, while the YoY change is stable. In NYC, Zillow reports that the average home value is above $810,000, suggesting that when someone loses their home due to gambling, they too have sustained startling financial losses.
Chicago
Chicago exhibits consistent and ongoing search volume of up to 100 residents (homeowners?) over a three-month and YoY period. In Chicago, Zillow reports that the average home value is above $310,000, suggesting that when someone loses their home due to gambling, they are facing nearly one-third of a $1 million in losses.
Phoenix
Phoenix exhibits a search volume of up to 100 residents per month, which declined from the previous three-month period, and is consistent with YoY search volume. In Phoenix, Zillow reports that the average home value is above $407,000.
We’ll conclude the metropolis comparisons there. For the casual observer, the information paints a shocking picture of what tens of thousands of Americans across the towns, cities, and states of our nation are going through. For those who arrived here after they themselves searched “lost my house gambling”, the information indicates that they are not alone in their circumstance. If among this group, find peace of mind that you have arrived where you need to be to embark on a road to recovery. Read ahead for next steps.
Next 4 Steps to Take When Seeking Help to Recover from Losing Your House to Gambling
Step 1: Receive a FREE Initial Assessment
Your recovery begins today, starting with a FREE assessment (click here) to confirm the severity of your gambling behavior. Those on the outside looking in may confidently assume that anyone who lost their entire house gambling has a severe case of gambling disorder. However, such an assumption may not account for one’s overall financial picture, and whether it was the result of an accumulation of losses from a long history of gambling, or from a few high-volume wagers over a short period of time. There are also a variety of other nuances that make the issue more complex than it may seem to others. None of their opinions matter. What matters, is getting to the bottom of where you stand in the grand scheme of things.
You can begin by completing a FREE questionnaire to assess gambling behavior (click or tap here). Or, you call 1 877-426-4258 to speak to care coordinator for a no-cost conversation that will help your team of care providers assess for problem gambling and cooccurring issues (view them here) that may intersect.
Step 2: Confirm Insurance Coverage
There is a good likelihood that treatment for problem gambling will be covered (partially or fully) through your insurance provider. You don’t have to figure this out on your own, as your care coordinator will confirm level of coverage together with you. Call 1 877-426-4258 to ask.
Step 3: Choose Counseling That’s Right for You
a) One-on-One Counseling
One-on-one counseling is highly effective because it provides a tailored, confidential, and safe environment to address the unique root cause of your gambling behavior. By working directly with a counselor who is trained to address your specific circumstance (problem gambling and any cooccurring mental health issue/s) you can identify specific triggers, challenge irrational beliefs, and develop personalized coping strategies to maintain long-term recovery. It’s also important to note that improvements in behavioral and mental health are often associated with improvements in financial wellbeing (view research and data), which indicates a well-rounded return-on-investment.
After your free assessment, enter into a customized one-on-one counseling session to address problem gambling and potentially underlying issues for just $165.
*Note: Counseling is FREE to both members of the military (active or retired) and student athletes (access here) in the state of Colorado.
b) Couples and Family Counseling
As someone who lost their house gambling, it goes without saying that there is a high likelihood that others have been directly impacted by your gambling behavior. We can’t tell you here that these relationships will be repaired, but if loved ones are open to it, odds of success or some semblance of repair are increased through a shared counseling experience.
Couples counseling is highly effective because it treats the behavioral addiction as a relationship issue rather than just an individual problem. It improves communication, rebuilds trust, and creates shared accountability, which helps prevent relapse and repairs the emotional damage caused to the relationship. Family counseling is effective because it treats the issue as a “family condition” rather than just an individual problem, fostering healing for everyone involved. It repairs broken communication, helps family members stop enabling behaviors, and strengthens emotional support systems, which research shows reduces gambling-related problems.
After your free assessment, enter into your first customized couples or family counseling session for just $195.
*Note: Couples and family counseling is FREE to members of the military (active or retired) in the state of Colorado.
c) Group Counseling
As identified in the introduction of this article, the number of those who have joined you in entering “lost my house gambling” into online search may run into the tends of thousands across the United States. Considering this, support groups for problem gambling can make a lot of sense. Support groups are highly effective for your circumstance because they reduce isolation, combat shame, and provide a safe space to share experiences with peers who understand the struggle. They foster accountability, offer practical coping strategies for urges, and create a sense of community that helps rebuild life and maintain long-term recovery. Support groups can be effective as a supplement or alternative to one-on-one counseling or couples/family counseling, depending on insurance coverage and what you are prepared to invest.
After your free assessment, enter into your first support group session for just $50.
Step 4: Work Towards Getting Your Life (and home) Back
In Step 3, we briefly mentioned how a commitment to counseling may not just improve your behavioral/mental wellbeing, but your financial position as a reverberating benefit. That being said, you will need to take proactive action to repair finances and attempt to get your home (or a home) back.
There are financial and debt consolidation services in your area that will require some homework and research on your end. Explore these options, but also reference Debt.org which is a debt assistance organization that serves millions of Americans through accurate and accessible online information about personal finances. As the gambling crisis grows across the United States, their intake specialists are becoming accustomed to receiving emails and calls from people who share your experience.
