Free, confidential help, 24/7
If gambling is harming you or someone you care about, help is there for you right now. Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, a service that is free, confidential and open around the clock, every day of the year. Online chat is available too at gamblinghelponline.org.au. The service is for adults aged 18 and over.
Gambling is entertainment, not income
The healthiest way to think about gambling is as paid entertainment, much like buying a ticket to a show. You hand over a set amount because you enjoy it, not because you expect to come away richer. Every game carries a house edge, so across the long run the maths is simply not in your favour. Relying on gambling to earn money, cover bills or claw back past losses is a habit that rarely ends well.
Set your expectations before you ever put down a cent: treat whatever you stake as the cost of the entertainment, and treat any win as a nice surprise rather than something to bank on.
Set your limits before you play
The most useful habit of all is setting your limits while your head is clear, before a session begins rather than halfway through it. Limits worth putting in place include:
- Deposit limits: a cap on how much you add to your account across a day, week or month.
- Loss limits: a firm number for the most you are willing to lose. Hit it and you stop, no exceptions.
- Time limits: a fixed length for each session, so a quick spin does not quietly turn into hours.
Never gamble with money set aside for rent, bills, food or your family. Never borrow to gamble, and never chase a loss by staking more. Trying to win back what is already gone is one of the quickest ways for things to get out of hand.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling usually creeps up gradually rather than landing all at once, so being honest with yourself about where you are really counts. Some of the more common warning signs include:
- Putting more money or more time into gambling than you had intended.
- Chasing losses, that is, staking more to try to win back what has already gone.
- Dipping into money that was meant for rent, bills or other essentials.
- Borrowing cash, selling possessions or lying to people so you can carry on gambling.
- Feeling tense, snappy or on edge any time you try to cut back or stop.
- Hiding how much you gamble from family or friends.
- Letting work, study, relationships or hobbies slip because of gambling.
- Using gambling as a way to escape stress, a low mood or other troubles.
If any of that rings true, please do not leave it. Reaching out sooner rather than later makes a genuine difference, and the support listed below is free and confidential.
Tools the casinos offer
Any casino worth recommending provides tools that help players stay in control. You will come across these in your account settings or in the site's own responsible-gambling section:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Caps what you're able to deposit within a day, week or month. |
| Loss & wager limits | Puts a ceiling on how much you can lose or stake over a set period. |
| Reality checks | Sends pop-up reminders showing how long you've been playing. |
| Cooling-off periods | Locks you out for a short, defined break of hours, days or weeks. |
| Self-exclusion | Shuts off your account for months, years or for good. |
Confirming that these tools are there and simple to use is a standard part of how we review a casino, and any site that hides them away deep in the menus loses marks in our assessment.
Where to get help in Australia
No one has to deal with this alone. Free, professional and confidential support is on hand for anyone in Australia affected by gambling, whether it is their own play or that of a friend or family member.
- Gambling Help Online: call 1800 858 858, free and open 24/7. Phone counselling, online chat and email support can all be reached at gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Gambling in any form carries risk and is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. The moment it stops being fun, step away and reach out for support.