Editor’s note: Birches Health  is the leading national provider of Problem Gambling treatment and Responsible Gaming resources, offering specialized problem gambling support from the privacy of home, covered by insurance.

September is Responsible Gaming Education Month, and this year it lines up with a NASCAR Cup Series championship that looks different from any in the past decade. The Chase is back: 16 drivers, 10 races, no eliminations, and the driver with the most points after Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8 is the champion.

That change matters for fans who bet. The elimination playoffs of recent years created a series of do-or-die weekends, and the betting markets built around them (advancing to the next round, surviving a cutoff race) no longer exist. In their place is a points race that plays out over 10 weeks, which rewards patience over big swings. Here is how to enjoy The Chase and practice responsible sportsbetting, without letting the stakes run higher than you intended.

Understand the new format before you bet

Under The Chase, the 16 drivers are reseeded once at the start of the postseason, from 2,100 points for the top seed down to 2,000 for the 16th, with the regular-season winner earning a 25-point cushion over second place. From there, points simply accumulate across all 10 races with no resets and no eliminations. (MORE: The Chase 101: How NASCAR’s new championship format works)

A bad day at Talladega hurts, but it does not end a season the way a cutoff race once did. Before placing any futures or race-week bets, take a few minutes to understand how the standings work now, because assumptions carried over from the playoff era can lead to bets that no longer make sense. Sportsbooks may also change or drop the props they offered in past years, so check what is actually on the board.

Treat futures as entertainment, not a plan

Championship futures are the most tempting bet of the fall, and under a cumulative points format they are also the slowest to resolve. Money placed on a title pick in September is tied up until November, and the odds will move every week. If you want a rooting interest, size the bet small enough that it stays fun for 10 weeks even if your driver falls out of contention early.

Keep race-week exposure steady across all ten races

The 2025 guide to betting on NASCAR responsibly made the point that popular races invite bigger wagers, and The Chase compounds that with 10 weeks of elevated stakes in a row. Decide now how much of your bankroll each remaining race gets, and hold that number through Homestead. Ask the same question every week: if every pick loses, what is my total loss? If the answer changes as the standings tighten, that is the moment to stop and reset rather than push.

Know the rules of your book, and where you are betting

Sportsbook house rules on weather-shortened races, overtime finishes, and post-race penalties differ, and they can decide whether a bet wins or loses. Read them before you wager. It is also worth knowing what kind of platform you are using. Licensed sportsbooks in 39 states plus Washington, D.C. are required to offer deposit limits, timeouts and self-exclusion. Fans in other states may encounter prediction markets, which are regulated differently and may not provide those same protections. If the tools are not there, set the limits yourself before the race starts.

Use the tools your platform gives you

Common sportsbook features that support responsible betting, such as deposit limits, wager limits, and loss limits exist on every licensed sportsbook and take about a minute to set. The best time to set them is now, at the start of The Chase, when you are thinking clearly about the season as a whole, rather than in the middle of a cold streak. A limit set in September protects the version of you that is watching a late restart at Martinsville in November.

Watch for the signs that betting has stopped being fun

The most common warning sign for sports betting we see in our recovery clients is chasing losses: betting more to win back what was lost earlier in the week or the season. Others include betting money set aside for bills, hiding wagers from family, or feeling irritable when not betting. If any of these sound familiar, the most responsible bet of The Chase is to step away for a race or two.

Know where to turn for support

Following best practices reduces the chance that betting becomes a problem, but it does not eliminate the risk. Birches Health has a nationwide team of certified clinicians specially trained to help people dealing with gambling-related struggles. Care is confidential, available from home across the United States, and can be covered by insurance or state funding.

To book a consultation or learn more about Birches Health, just click here, call (866) 843-5917, or email [email protected].

Editor’s note: Birches Health is the leading national provider of Problem Gambling treatment and Responsible Gaming resources, offering specialized support from the privacy of home, covered by insurance.

As The Chase heats up and excitement continues to build, it is important to also recognize that September is Responsible Gaming Education Month. Led every September by the American Gaming Association (AGA), this annual campaign aims to educate and empower bettors and fantasy players with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage with those activities in responsible ways.

As a proud AGA partner, NASCAR supports their “Play Smart from the Start” campaign that encourages bettors to always understand why they’re playing, know the upside and downside of every bet beforehand, and set personal limits. When bettors play smart, they’re in control throughout the entire experience.

Playing smart also isn’t a one-time action; it is a cycle players return to every time. A positive betting experience begins before placing that first wager.

With that in mind, the AGA is also transparent about the likelihood of bettors turning a profit:

The House Really Does Always Win in the Long Run
“Casinos and sportsbooks maintain the ‘house advantage’ — a mathematical edge built into every game that ensures that over time, they always win. Depending on what you’re playing, it might be called the “vigorish,” “the vig,” the rake, hold, edge or juice. Whatever you call it, it’s keeping the casino or sportsbook in business so they can keep providing an exciting gaming experience for everyone… While sports bettors use knowledge of teams, players, etc., to inform their wagers, the mathematical reality remains: the odds ultimately favor the house. This isn’t hidden or deceptive — it’s simply how gambling economics work.”

Responsible Gaming tips and best practices

Responsible Gaming Education Month is a great time to run through some reminders about best practices for playing in a sustainable manner. Let’s run through a few of the most important tips.

— Approach betting as paid entertainment: As the AGA points out, you are statistically likely to lose money in the long term if you choose to bet. Therefore, you should view it as an entertainment expense, similar to paying to go to the movies or attend a NASCAR race. Bets can provide extra rooting interests to increase excitement while watching, but winning them should never be something you depend on financially.

— Bankroll management: It is critical to determine your “bankroll” before betting. This can be thought of as a betting budget and needs to be an amount that you can afford to lose entirely without it impacting your financial wellbeing.

— Set limits: Sportsbooks and other gaming platforms nowadays offer Responsible Gaming tools that allow users to set limits that help them play responsibly. These act as helpful guardrails for all bettors to keep their play in check. They can include Deposit Limits, Bet Limits, Loss Limits and Time Limits. And if you’d ever like to take a break, they often offer “Cool Down” periods to suspend your account for a set time frame.

— Never chase losses: Counselors at Birches Health have found that “chasing” losses is the at-risk behavior exhibited most commonly in gambling recovery clients before entering the program. Loss chasing involves betting more — additional wagers and often larger amounts — in attempts to win back what was lost. You are never “due” for a win, so accept losses as the cost of entertainment and move on to another (non-gambling) activity.

Responsible gaming tools can be useful guardrails, but they are not a test of willpower and they do not work equally well for everyone. If you repeatedly go past limits, feel unable to stop after a loss, hide your betting, or find gambling affecting your finances or relationships, it may be time to look beyond self-management and speak with someone who understands gambling & sports betting recovery.

For more on betting responsibly during NASCAR’s new championship format, see: Guide to betting on The Chase responsibly.

Gambling Addiction treatment & resources

Even if you are betting responsibly, there’s still the potential that you or someone you know may end up having a gambling problem. Therefore, it’s also important to know where you can turn for support if that ever happens.

Nowadays, there are gambling-specialized treatment options available nationwide. Birches Health offers the leading virtual gambling recovery program in the United States, featuring a team of counselors who have been specially trained to help individuals struggling with gambling addiction and related challenges. Treatment with Birches is confidential, available from the comfort of home, and can be covered by insurance or state funding for eligible residents.

If you or someone you know would like to speak with a Birches Health care specialist, simply click here, email [email protected] or call (866) 843-5917.

Editor’s note: Birches Health is the leading national provider of Problem Gambling treatment and Responsible Gaming resources, offering specialized support from the privacy of home, covered by insurance.

Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, 39 states have legalized sports betting in some form. During that time, NASCAR has seen significant increases in betting popularity and the number of bet types available at sportsbooks. As more racing fans get involved with sports gambling, it’s important to know how to engage with NASCAR betting in a responsible and sustainable manner. 

The excitement of NASCAR races often involves many lead changes, penalties, weather impacts and critical strategic decisions that regularly result in exhilarating finishes. For many fans, placing bets on different types of outcomes adds another level of engagement and rooting interests as they watch. But with hundreds of betting options available every race week, taking a measured and disciplined approach is key. 

Betting on NASCAR in a responsible, sustainable manner

The same general best practices for responsible sports betting naturally also apply to NASCAR betting, but there are nuances with making picks and predictions for NASCAR races that warrant special attention. So let’s run through some Responsible Gaming tips for NASCAR specifically. 

Limit your bets and risk

There are countless NASCAR bets available every race week, especially when you factor in live-betting opportunities. Therefore, it’s critical to enter with a plan for how many bets you’re comfortable placing and how much money you can comfortably lose. Ask yourself, “if all of these picks lose, what will my total losses be?” It’s common to think that at minimum some of them will win, but that is not always the case (even when diversifying with different bet types), so calculating your entire risk exposure is key. Always check beforehand that your total amount wagered isn’t going to surpass what you can afford to lose.  

Don’t increase your exposure for big races

The excitement around popular races like the Daytona 500 and The Chase may lead some bettors to risk more than usual. Increased exposure can quickly lead to heavier losses than expected, potentially your entire bankroll. Stay disciplined and don’t let the high stakes of an iconic race lead to your own stakes getting higher than usual. 

Learn the race format and rules

The variety of tracks, stage lengths and race formats creates excitement and intrigue throughout the season and playoffs. So before betting on a race, be sure to have a full understanding of all factors that could impact your wager(s).

Research the “house rules” of your sportsbook

Rules for grading wagers can vary from one sportsbook to another, so be sure to check your preferred platform’s individual set of rules before betting. Some will even have specific rules published for NASCAR, as approaches to grading certain bet types in unusual situations like post-race inspection penalties, multiple overtimes or weather-shortened races can differ notably and potentially be the difference between your bet winning or losing. Licensed sportsbooks are also required to offer deposit limits, timeouts and self-exclusion; if you are using a platform that does not, set those limits yourself before the race starts.

Steady as you go

The NASCAR Cup Series season spans February through early November every year, and The Chase alone runs 10 races from Labor Day weekend through the finale at Homestead-Miami, so taking a measured approach is strongly recommended. The cliche “marathon, not a sprint” applies here, as almost all bettors who wager throughout the season will encounter cold streaks. Therefore, betting exposure for any one race should only be a portion of your total bankroll. 

Problem Gambling Treatment

Learning and following best practices for betting responsibly may help reduce the chances of it ever turning into a problem, but it doesn’t fully eliminate that risk. Therefore, all bettors should be aware of the specialized resources available in case gambling-related issues arise. 

Birches Health has a nationwide team of certified counselors specially trained to help people dealing with gambling-related struggles. Birches’ leading gambling recovery program can be covered by insurance or state funding. Care is fully confidential and available from the comfort of home across the United States. 

To book a consultation or learn more about Birches Health, just click here, call (866) 843-5917, or email [email protected].

Editor’s note: Birches Health is the leading national provider of Problem Gambling treatment and Responsible Gaming resources, offering specialized support from the privacy of home, covered by insurance.

September is officially Responsible Gaming Education Month, but learning and following recommended best practices for betting and playing fantasy responsibly needs to be a year-round focus. Therefore, NASCAR has collaborated with Birches Health to provide guidance around responsible play to help try to ensure that fans who engage with these different forms of gaming do so in a healthy, sustainable way. 

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind if you are of legal age and choose to bet on NASCAR races or any other sporting events. 

1. Determine your bankroll

Your “bankroll” can be most simply thought of as a budget for betting and/or fantasy. This should be a portion of your disposable funds and an amount that you can afford to lose fully without any impact on your finances. Your bankroll should be sustainable for multiple weeks or months to avoid feeling a need to increase it or deposit more into your account. 

2. Pick a unit size and stick to it

Related to bankroll management is the concept of unit sizing. A “unit” in sports betting is your usual amount for a single wager. Some recommend that this be between 1-4% of your total bankroll. Being disciplined and keeping your unit size small should allow you to maintain funds during inevitable “cold streaks” without the need to deposit again or increase your bankroll. 

3. Set limits

Setting limits is an easy process nowadays. Sportsbooks and fantasy platforms provide tools to let players set personal limits that can help them play responsibly. These can be seen as an extra set of guardrails that assists all users (not just those who may have a problem) keep their play in check. Platforms generally offer: Deposit Limits (this can help with bankroll management, as noted above), Bet/Entry Amount Limits (set these to align with your unit size), Loss Limits, Time Limits and “Cool Down” periods.

4. See betting and fantasy as paid entertainment

The reality is that you are more likely than not to lose money in the long term when betting. Knowing that, it is recommended that bettors and DFS players approach it as an entertainment expense, such as buying tickets to a NASCAR event to elevate the experience of watching the race. Picks and lineups can create another level of engagement, but their outcomes should not ever impact your financial health. If your picks are correct and you do win, it can be a pleasant surprise. But in the (more likely) case that they result in a loss, it should be seen as a cost that helped increase your excitement throughout, not something you need to try to win back.

5. Never “chase” losses

Chasing losses involves betting or playing more – additional bets/picks, often at larger amounts – in hopes of winning back what was lost before. Our partners at Birches Health have seen first hand that loss-chasing is the most common at-risk behavior exhibited by individuals before entering their problem gambling recovery program. No matter how many times you’ve lost or come close to a win, you are not “due” for a correct pick. Betting more can result in compounding losses that may reach unforeseen levels.

6. Only bet with a clear mind

Your decision-making skills and risk-assessment abilities are critically important when betting or playing fantasy, so it’s paramount to only do so when able to think clearly. If you’re in a highly emotional state or have been drinking, you should not be risking your hard-earned money on sports picks.

7. Never borrow to bet

If you don’t have the funds for betting, you should not be wagering in the first place. Using borrowed money or credit to bet can be extremely risky and result in debts that you may not be able to pay.

8. Take breaks

Be sure to maintain balance between gaming and all other parts of life. If making picks, setting lineups or researching plays is taking up too much of your day, take time away to focus on other activities and priorities. The “Time Limit” options on gaming platforms can be a big help in making sure you’re not dedicating too much time to gaming. 

9. No such thing as a sure thing

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a “lock” or “guarantee” in sports betting or fantasy. There is an incredibly large number of variables that can impact the outcomes of sporting events and make it difficult to predict their outcomes correctly, so no pick is ever guaranteed to win. Always keep this in mind when making a pick – huge upsets and highly unlikely results happen regularly in the world of sports, including NASCAR.

10. Know where to turn for support

In case sports betting or fantasy ends up leading to issues for you, a friend or family member, being aware of the specialized resources available is also very important. 

Birches Health has a nationwide team of counselors specially trained to help people dealing with gambling-related struggles. Birches offers the leading gambling recovery program in the United States, with costs that can be covered by insurance or state funding for eligible residents. Care is fully confidential and available virtually from the private comforts of home.

If you or someone you know could benefit from a conversation with Birches Health, you can simply click here, call (866) 843-5917 or email [email protected].