Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming means making conscious decisions about when, how often and how much you gamble. Before you play, consider whether gambling fits comfortably within your personal budget and whether you have enough time for your other responsibilities. Gambling outcomes are uncertain, and no strategy can guarantee a win. Each game is governed by chance or other rules that determine the result, so previous results do not predict what will happen next.

Only gamble with money you can afford to lose after essential expenses have been covered. Gambling should never take priority over rent, household bills, food, education, medical costs, debt repayments or other important commitments. Do not use money set aside for essentials, savings, tax, family needs or emergencies. Borrowed money and credit intended for necessary spending should not be used for gambling.

Set a personal spending budget before you begin and treat that budget as a firm limit. You may also wish to decide how much time you are willing to spend playing. Take regular breaks, review your activity and stop when your planned session or budget ends. A limit is most useful when it is decided in advance, rather than changed during a session because of excitement, frustration or a desire to continue.

• Think of gambling as paid entertainment rather than a source of income.
• Never chase losses or increase your spending to recover money already lost.
• Keep gambling separate from essential household spending and financial commitments.
• Take regular breaks and keep track of deposits, withdrawals, spending and playing time.
• Avoid gambling when you are upset, tired, under pressure or affected by alcohol or other substances.
• Do not gamble to escape stress, loneliness, boredom or other difficult emotions.
• Talk openly with someone you trust if gambling begins to concern you.
• Stop playing when gambling no longer feels enjoyable, affordable or voluntary.

You must meet the legal age requirement that applies where you live to use gambling services. In Australia, gambling is generally restricted to adults aged 18 or over, subject to applicable laws and requirements. Do not allow children or other unauthorised people to access your account, device or payment methods. Keep your login information private and take reasonable steps to prevent others from gambling through your account.

Planning ahead can make it easier to stay in control. Where available, use the safer gambling features provided through your account or contact process. These features may include deposit limits, loss or spending limits, session reminders, reality checks, temporary breaks and self-exclusion. The exact options, settings and waiting periods can vary according to the service and applicable requirements, so review the information shown before confirming a restriction.

Using limits effectively

1. Choose an amount that is affordable after essential expenses, savings and other commitments have been considered.
2. Set the limit before gambling, rather than after you have started playing.
3. Choose a time limit or reminder if you tend to lose track of how long you have been online.
4. Do not increase a limit during a session because you have lost money or want to continue playing.
5. Treat a limit as a boundary, not as a target that must be reached.
6. Review your activity regularly and consider whether your gambling remains affordable and enjoyable.
7. If you need stronger protection, consider a longer break or self-exclusion instead of relying only on willpower.

A temporary break can be useful when you feel distracted, emotional or uncertain about your gambling. During a break, remove saved payment details where possible, avoid gambling-related messages and ask a trusted person to support your decision. If you choose self-exclusion, read the conditions carefully and do not attempt to bypass the restriction by opening another account or using someone else’s account.

Account and payment security are also part of safer gambling. Use a strong, unique password and keep it confidential. Do not share access with another person, and contact the appropriate support channel if you believe your account has been accessed without permission. Review transactions and account activity so that unexpected deposits, withdrawals or changes can be identified promptly.

No tool can remove every risk or guarantee that gambling will remain controlled. Limits work best when combined with honest self-monitoring, clear financial boundaries and support from people you trust. If you have already tried limits and still feel unable to stop or reduce gambling, seek independent assistance and consider a longer exclusion period.