Responsible Gambling

Core principles of safer gambling

Treat gambling as an entertainment expense

Gambling can produce wins, losses and uncertainty. Treat any amount spent as an entertainment cost, not income or a way to solve financial problems.

Set limits before playing

Choose a spending limit and a session length before starting. Use only money you can afford to lose, keep essential bills separate, and stop when a limit is reached.

Accept losses as part of the activity

Losses are not a debt that must be recovered through another wager. Do not increase stakes, borrow money or continue because a bonus or winning streak makes stopping feel inconvenient.

A pre-play self-check

Before depositing or opening a game, pause and answer these questions honestly:

1. Have essential bills, regular commitments, and planned expenses been covered?
2. Is this money genuinely available for entertainment?
3. Am I calm enough to accept losing the full amount?
4. Have I decided how long I will play?
5. Am I gambling because I want entertainment, or because I feel stressed, bored, lonely, or under pressure?
6. Would I be comfortable telling someone I trust about this session?
7. If the planned amount is lost, can I stop without depositing again?

If the answer to any question raises concern, postponing play is a sensible choice. A short delay can make it easier to distinguish an entertainment decision from an emotional reaction.

Managing money and payment access

Practical controls can reduce impulsive decisions. Depending on the available tools, consider:

• Keeping a separate entertainment budget
• Using a payment method with a defined spending limit
• Removing saved payment details after a session
• Avoiding instant access to additional funds
• Disabling promotional deposit reminders where possible
• Reviewing account activity and transaction notifications
• Asking a trusted person to help monitor a budget

Do not rely on gambling winnings to cover future deposits or everyday expenses. If deposits are becoming difficult to track, pause gambling and review bank or payment records. Several small deposits can become a significant amount over time.

Managing time and attention

Time can pass quickly during continuous play, especially when games offer frequent rounds, rapid results, or autoplay features. Before starting, use a timer or calendar reminder and decide what activity will follow the session.

Useful habits include:

• Taking regular breaks away from the screen
• Avoiding gambling when tired, intoxicated, or distracted
• Keeping gambling separate from work, study, sleep, and family responsibilities
• Ending a session when the time limit is reached, even after a win
• Reviewing the actual start and finish time rather than relying on memory

If gambling is interfering with sleep, work, relationships, or routine responsibilities, that is a reason to stop and seek support.

Bonuses, promotions, and wagering requirements

A bonus is not the same as free money. Promotional terms may include minimum deposits, wagering requirements, game restrictions, maximum stake conditions, expiry periods, or withdrawal conditions. The exact effect depends on the relevant operator’s rules.

Before accepting an offer, consider:

• Whether the required deposit is affordable without the bonus
• How much wagering may be required before any associated balance can be withdrawn
• Whether the games being considered contribute fully, partially, or not at all
• Whether a maximum stake applies while the bonus is active
• Whether accepting the offer changes withdrawal or account conditions
• Whether the bonus is encouraging play that was not planned

Never increase spending simply to complete wagering requirements. If the terms are unclear, do not accept the offer until they can be understood. A promotion must not override a personal money or time limit.

Recognising possible warning signs

Warning signs are signals to pause and review behaviour, not labels or diagnoses. Concern may be warranted when someone:

• Spends more time or money than originally planned
• Deposits again after reaching a limit
• Chases losses or raises stakes to recover money
• Keeps gambling despite financial, work, sleep, or relationship problems
• Thinks about gambling constantly or feels restless when not playing
• Hides gambling activity or gives misleading explanations about spending
• Borrows money, sells possessions, or delays important payments to gamble
• Uses gambling to escape stress, sadness, anger, or boredom
• Neglects meals, sleep, responsibilities, or personal commitments
• Feels unable to stop after deciding to stop

One warning sign is enough to justify a break. Several signs, or a repeated inability to follow limits, indicate that stronger controls and outside support may be appropriate.

Cooling-off, time-out, and self-exclusion

A cooling-off period is a short break that creates distance from gambling. A time-out may block or restrict access for a selected period. Self-exclusion is a more formal request to prevent access to a particular gambling account or service for a chosen period, where that operator provides the option.

Players may rely on these tools when they want a firm barrier rather than relying on willpower. Their names, durations, activation methods, and cancellation rules can vary. Review the relevant operator’s instructions carefully and select a period long enough to allow a clear decision.

During a break, remove gambling applications, promotional notifications, and saved payment details where possible. A time-out is more effective when it is combined with financial controls, support from a trusted person, and a plan for dealing with urges.

If one account is closed or restricted, opening another account to continue gambling may defeat the purpose of the break. The safest approach is to respect the chosen restriction across gambling services.

When control starts to slip

Stop gambling as soon as limits are being ignored or gambling feels difficult to control. Do not try to finish a bonus, recover a loss, or reach a preferred result first.

Practical next steps include:

1. End the current session and close the gambling application or website.
2. Do not make another deposit or borrow money.
3. Activate available deposit limits, time-outs, or self-exclusion controls.
4. Remove saved payment methods and block gambling-related notifications.
5. Tell a trusted person what has happened.
6. Write down recent deposits, losses, debts, and upcoming essential expenses.
7. Contact a qualified support service or professional familiar with gambling-related harm.
8. If financial safety is at risk, prioritise food, housing, utilities, and other essential needs.

Support can be requested without waiting for a crisis. A person does not need to prove that the problem is severe before asking for help.

Australian support contacts

If gambling is becoming difficult to control, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. The service is free and confidential and is available 24/7 across Australia. It can provide practical support before the situation becomes a crisis.

If there is immediate danger, call 000. Lifeline provides crisis support on 13 11 14, 24/7. Move to a safe place and ask someone you trust to stay with you while you contact help if speaking alone feels difficult.

Protecting minors and other vulnerable people

Gambling accounts and payment methods must not be made available to minors. Keep passwords, devices, and payment access private, and use appropriate device or family controls where available. Do not ask a minor to create an account, place a wager, or manage gambling activity for another person.

Adults who may be particularly vulnerable because of stress, financial difficulty, impulsive behaviour, or other personal circumstances may need stronger safeguards. A trusted person can help with budgeting, account restrictions, and removing access to payment methods.

Stop-now checklist

Stop immediately and take the following actions if gambling feels unsafe or uncontrolled:

• Close the current session.
• Do not chase losses.
• Do not deposit again.
• Move away from the device.
• Activate a time-out or self-exclusion option if available.
• Remove saved payment details.
• Tell someone trustworthy.
• Protect money needed for essentials.
• Seek specialist or professional support.

Conclusion

Set limits before play and treat them as firm. When gambling no longer feels controlled, stop, add practical barriers and ask for support.