Responsible Gambling
The pokies are meant to be entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops being fun, free confidential help is available 24/7.
Gambling can be addictive. The house edge guarantees that, over time, the odds favour the operator — so treat any money you put through the pokies as the cost of entertainment, not an investment. Set a deposit limit before you start, only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, take regular breaks, and never chase a losing run by betting more to win it back. You must be 18 or over to gamble.
Warning signs
Be honest with yourself. Spending more than you planned, betting money meant for bills, chasing losses, hiding your gambling from family, or feeling anxious or low about it are all signs it's time to step back and get support.
Free, confidential help in Australia
You don't have to sort it out alone. These services are free, confidential and available around the clock:
- Gambling Help Online — 1800 858 858, 24/7 phone and live-chat counselling.
- BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register. Registering blocks you from every licensed Australian online gambling service in one step.
- Lifeline — 13 11 14, for anyone in crisis or needing someone to talk to.
Tools that help
Most casinos offer deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion in their responsible-gambling settings — set these before you play, not after. Blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker can stop access to gambling sites on your devices.