A nurse from Houston spends at least two hours a day with her husband playing a casino-style smartphone game called Jackpot Magic.

She and 20 other people spoke with NBC News about the gambling apps that have them hooked. Some said they lost thousands of dollars in the apps, which offer no way for players to cash out winnings. But these apps aren’t regulated like traditional gambling, leaving them in a regulatory gray area.

“You know what I tell people? It’s a cult, and they suck you in, and once you’re in you can’t get out,” said another user. “You want to play, and you want to spin.”