Gambling responsibly

Set your limits before you start

Decide what you can afford to lose before you open a game, and treat that amount as the full cost of the session. Set a deposit limit with our partner and a session reminder on your device so the decision is made once, not in the middle of play. A limit set in advance is easier to keep than a promise made to yourself after a loss.

A session limit is about time as well as money. Choose a finish time and stop when it arrives, whether you are ahead or behind. If you find yourself negotiating with your own limit, that is a signal to stop for the day rather than a reason to adjust it.

Spotting loss-chasing behaviour

Chasing losses means increasing your stake or speed to win back money you have already lost. It often starts with a small loss and a feeling that one more spin will fix it. The return figure published for a pokie is a long-run average, and a single session can differ widely from it, so no sequence of spins is owed to you.

Other signs include playing longer than planned, hiding your play from people close to you, borrowing to keep going, and feeling restless or irritable when you try to stop. If any of this sounds familiar, take a break and use the support options below rather than trying to play your way out.

Support services for Australian players

Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support and counselling, and BetStop is the national self-exclusion register. You can register with BetStop to block access to gambling services covered by the scheme, and the printed details on this page give you the contact points. These services are independent of our partner.

You can also speak to your GP or a community health service, and tell someone you trust about what is happening. If money is tight, a free financial counsellor can help you deal with debts without judgement. Taking one of these steps early is easier than waiting.

Can I set a deposit limit on my account?

Our partner lets you set a deposit limit before you play, and it applies to your account going forward. Choose an amount you can afford to lose, because a limit you cannot keep is worse than no limit at all.

Is BetStop free to use?

Yes, BetStop is the national self-exclusion register and it is free to register. It blocks access to gambling services covered by the scheme, and you can find the current details printed on this page.