Responsible gambling

Set your limits before you start playing

Decide what you can afford to lose before you open a game, not after. A deposit limit set with our partner caps how much can go into the account over a period you choose, and a session limit prompts you when time is up. Set both while you are calm and not mid-session, because limits are easier to choose honestly before any money is on the line.

Treat the deposit limit as a ceiling, not a target. If you reach it, the session is over until the period resets. Our partner lets you lower limits at any time; raising them usually involves a waiting period, which is deliberate — it gives you room to change your mind. Read the terms on the partner's site for how its limits work.

The pattern of chasing losses

Chasing losses is increasing stakes or deposit size to win back money already gone. It often feels like a plan at the time: one more spin, a bigger bet, a change of game. In practice a pokie's return figure is a long-run average, and a session is not the long run — no sequence of spins owes you a payout because of what came before.

Other signs worth noticing: playing longer than you intended, playing to escape stress or boredom, hiding your play from people close to you, and borrowing money to keep going. If any of these sound familiar, the useful step is to stop and speak to someone rather than to keep playing while you decide.

Support services across Australia

Free and confidential support is available. Gambling Help Online offers counselling and chat for anyone affected by gambling, including family members. BetStop is the national self-exclusion register — you can register to be excluded from licensed online gambling services, and the register is run independently of any operator, including our partner.

Our site is for adults. If you are under 18, you should not be using it or any gambling service. If you are worried about your own play or someone else's, contact Gambling Help Online or register with BetStop. Our partner also provides account tools such as deposit and session limits, and you can ask for your account to be closed.

Can I raise a deposit limit straight away if I change my mind?

Usually not. Raising a limit typically involves a waiting period so the decision is not made in the moment. Lowering a limit generally takes effect immediately — check the partner's terms for the exact process.

Does self-exclusion cover every site I might use?

BetStop is a national register, so registering covers licensed online gambling services that participate in it. It does not cover everything you might do offline, so if you need broader support, speak to Gambling Help Online as well.