Free, confidential help, 24/7
When gambling is harming you or someone you care about, help is available straight away, day or night. Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. It's free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rather not talk on the phone? Start an online chat at gamblinghelponline.org.au. The service is for adults aged 18 and over.
Gambling is entertainment, not income
It helps to see gambling as something you pay for, much like a cinema ticket or a night on the town. You put in a fixed amount for the enjoyment, not in the hope of walking away richer. Each game has a house edge built in, so over time the odds favour the casino, however lucky you might feel on the night. Relying on gambling for income, to cover bills or to recover past losses almost always leads somewhere bad.
Get your expectations straight before your first deposit. The money you spend is the price of the fun, and a win is a nice extra, never something to count on.
Set your limits before you play
No habit is more valuable than choosing your limits calmly, before a session begins instead of in the middle of one. Consider setting:
- Deposit limits: a cap on the amount you can put into your account each day, week or month.
- Loss limits: a firm figure for the most you're prepared to lose. Reach it and you stop playing, full stop.
- Time limits: a set session length, so a few quick spins don't drift into a whole evening.
Keep money meant for rent, bills, groceries or your family well away from gambling. Never borrow to play, and never lift your stakes to chase a loss. Trying to recover money you've already lost is one of the quickest ways to find yourself in a downward spiral.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Gambling problems rarely appear overnight. More often they build slowly, so it's worth taking an honest look at your own habits. Watch out for signs such as:
- Gambling for longer, or with more money, than you intended.
- Chasing losses by placing bigger bets to recover money you've lost.
- Dipping into money set aside for rent, bills or other necessities.
- Borrowing cash, selling possessions or lying to others so you can keep playing.
- Getting anxious, cranky or restless when you try to cut down or quit.
- Hiding the amount you gamble from friends or family.
- Neglecting work, study, relationships or hobbies because of gambling.
- Gambling to get away from stress, a low mood or other problems.
If any of this sounds familiar, please don't ignore it. Getting help early really does make a difference, and every support option listed below is free and confidential.
Tools the casinos offer
Any decent casino gives players tools to stay in control. Look for them in your account settings or in the site's responsible-gambling section:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Caps how much you can deposit into your account per day, week or month. |
| Loss & wager limits | Puts an upper limit on your losses or total stakes across a period you choose. |
| Reality checks | Shows on-screen reminders telling you how long you've been playing. |
| Cooling-off periods | Locks you out for a set number of hours, days or weeks. |
| Self-exclusion | Shuts your account for a fixed number of months or years, or for good. |
Every casino we assess gets checked for these tools and for how easy they are to use. If an operator buries them deep in a tangle of menus, it loses marks in our review.
Where to get help in Australia
Nobody has to face this alone. Anyone in Australia affected by gambling can get free, confidential, professional support, and that includes people worried about a friend or relative as well as their own play.
- Gambling Help Online: ring 1800 858 858 any time, 24/7, at no cost. You can also get phone counselling, online chat and email support through gamblinghelponline.org.au.
All gambling involves risk and is for adults aged 18 and over only. The moment it stops being fun, take a step back and contact someone who can support you.