A PRACTICAL GUIDE · AUSTRALIA
Responsible Gambling
If gambling is taking more time, money or headspace than you planned, you can do something about it today. This guide explains the warning signs, ways to put distance between you and gambling, and where to find free help.
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you feel overwhelmed or unsafe, Lifeline is available on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day.
START WITH THE FACTS
A casino cannot be an income plan
Responsible gambling starts with an honest view of the risk: a win can happen, but it is unpredictable. Over repeated play, casino games are designed to favour the operator. A bonus may change how much you can play; it does not make a deposit safe, erase a loss or guarantee money back. The bonus wagering guide shows how much play an offer may require. Never use gambling to pay bills, clear debt or make up for an earlier session.
Gambling harm is about what happens to your money, health and relationships. You do not need a diagnosis, a particular amount of debt or a crisis before asking for help. If a limit feels difficult to keep, choosing to stop is a valid decision.
01 / RECOGNISE IT
When gambling becomes a problem: warning signs
One sign is enough to pause and take stock. These patterns can develop gradually, so look at the whole picture rather than a single winning or losing day.
The limit keeps moving
You spend more time or money than you planned, then promise yourself the next session will be different.
Losses become a reason to play
You deposit again to try to get even, even though a previous result cannot improve the next one.
Money is going missing elsewhere
Bills, food, savings or repayments are delayed; you borrow, use credit or sell something to keep playing.
You feel you have to hide it
You conceal statements, minimise losses, or avoid telling people close to you how much gambling costs.
Life is narrowing around play
Work, sleep, plans and relationships suffer, or you feel anxious and restless when you try to stop.
Ask yourself: Am I comfortable showing someone I trust the full amount I spent in the last month? If the answer is no, speak with a counsellor before another deposit.
02 / START TODAY
Five steps when you want to stop
You do not have to solve everything at once. Make the next gambling session harder to start, then get another person on your side.
- 01
End the session
Close the game and stop deposits. Do not make a final bet to fix what has already happened.
- 02
Add a barrier
Log out, remove saved payment details and ask your bank whether it offers a gambling transaction block.
- 03
Make the cost visible
Check your statements and write down the full amount spent, including small deposits. Keep essential bills separate.
- 04
Tell one person
A simple message is enough: “I have spent more on gambling than I meant to, and I need help stopping.”
- 05
Talk to a specialist
Call 1800 858 858 or use Gambling Help Online chat. You can call about your own gambling or someone else's.
03 / LIMIT THE RISK
Set boundaries before you play — and stop if they fail
Limits work best when decided in advance. They reduce exposure; they cannot remove the risk of losing or make gambling a reliable way to earn money.
Decide before a session
- Set a fixed spending amount you can afford to lose and a time limit. Stop at whichever comes first.
- Keep rent, food, utilities, savings and repayments outside the gambling budget.
- Track all deposits and withdrawals, not just your biggest win.
- Do not borrow, use credit or gamble while drinking, stressed or angry.
If you break a limit
Do not answer it by raising the limit or planning to win the money back. End the session. Take a longer break, use self-exclusion or a bank block, and speak to a support service. A previous loss does not change the chance of the next spin.
You are allowed to decide that gambling is no longer for you.
04 / PROTECT THE ESSENTIALS
What to do about gambling debt
The amount you owe can feel easier to avoid than to face. A clear list and a free financial counsellor give you a place to start.
Another deposit adds risk to a situation that already needs a plan.
Write down each debt, minimum payment, due date and the money you need for housing, food and utilities. If you cannot meet a payment, contact the provider to ask about financial hardship options. Avoid high-cost borrowing to cover gambling losses.
The National Debt Helpline offers free financial counselling on 1800 007 007 on weekdays. A counsellor can help you prioritise bills, talk through hardship arrangements and find local support. If you need specialist gambling counselling as well, Gambling Help Online is available around the clock.
05 / CREATE DISTANCE
Self-exclusion and practical blocks
Barriers are useful when motivation changes from hour to hour. Use more than one if a single block leaves an easy route back.
Exclude from wagering
BetStop is free and covers Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers. You can register online at any time, for at least three months or up to a lifetime. It does not cover every offshore site or in-person venue.
Ask for other exclusions
Check the self-exclusion options of any betting account or venue you use. For pubs, clubs and casinos, ask about the relevant venue or state scheme. Do not assume a national online wagering exclusion covers them.
Make paying harder
Ask your bank whether it can block gambling transactions. Remove stored cards, disable marketing messages, and consider website-blocking tools. These measures can support a break, but no one tool blocks every route.
06 / FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS
How to help someone close to you
Gambling harm can affect people who never place a bet. You can ask for advice for yourself, even if the person who gambles does not want help yet.
Start with a calm conversation
Choose a time away from gambling and explain what you have noticed: missed bills, secrecy or cancelled plans. Ask what support would feel useful. Try to focus on the impact rather than an argument about whether they “have a problem”.
Protect your own position
Be clear about money you cannot lend and any shared expenses that need protecting. You do not have to cover losses to show care. A counsellor can help you decide on boundaries and a safer plan for the household.
Support is for you too. Partners, relatives and friends can call 1800 858 858 or use Gambling Help Online chat. Young people aged 5 to 25 can contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
07 / KNOW THE RULES
Online casino play and the law in Australia
Real-money online casino games and online pokies cannot legally be offered to people in Australia. That includes casino-style games such as online roulette and blackjack. An overseas licence or a site that opens in your browser does not make the service lawful to offer there.
Australian-licensed online sports and race wagering is a separate category. BetStop applies to those licensed online and phone wagering services; it is not a universal block for offshore casinos. If you are unsure which rule applies, start with the ACMA's explanation of Australian online gambling rules.
ACMA also lists cuntspin.com among the sites blocked in its January–March 2026 report. An alternate address does not change the Australian rules.
08 / REAL PEOPLE, FREE HELP
Where to get help in Australia
Choose the service that fits what is happening. Calls about gambling do not have to wait until you are in crisis.
Gambling Help Online
Free, confidential gambling counselling for you or someone close to you.
National Debt Helpline
Free financial counselling for debts, bills and hardship options.
BetStop
Free self-exclusion from Australian-licensed online and phone wagering.
Lifeline
Crisis support when you feel overwhelmed or unsafe.
Beyond Blue
Mental health support by phone and online chat.
13YARN
Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander supporter.
Kids Helpline
Free, confidential counselling for young people aged 5 to 25, including those affected by gambling in the family.
For face-to-face gambling support near you, use the Gambling Help Online service finder or ask the helpline for a referral. If English is not your first language, call 1800 858 858 and ask the counsellor to arrange an interpreter. If there is immediate danger, call 000.
09 / STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Responsible gambling FAQ
01What does responsible gambling mean?+
It means understanding that gambling can cause harm, making an informed choice before spending, and using limits or stopping when needed. A limit cannot make gambling risk-free. If you keep breaking your own limits, take a break and seek support.
02How do I stop chasing gambling losses?+
Stop the session, leave the site or venue and put distance between yourself and a payment method. Do not deposit again to recover an earlier loss. Tell someone you trust what happened, record what you spent, and contact Gambling Help Online if the urge to return is hard to manage.
03Can I get help even if I am not ready to stop completely?+
Yes. Gambling Help Online offers free and confidential support for anyone affected by gambling. You can discuss what is happening, your options and a practical next step without waiting for a crisis.
04Is there an amount of gambling that is completely safe?+
No amount removes the chance of loss or harm. If you choose to gamble where it is legal, decide a spending and time limit in advance, keep essential money separate and stop when either limit is reached. If keeping a limit is difficult, take a break and ask for help.
05Does BetStop block every gambling website?+
No. BetStop covers Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers. It does not cover every offshore website, online casino or in-person venue. Ask about separate venue exclusions, bank gambling blocks and website-blocking tools if you need broader barriers.
06What should I do if gambling has left me with debt?+
Protect essential costs such as housing, food and utilities. Write down what you owe and when payments are due. Do not gamble or borrow to recover losses. The National Debt Helpline can connect you with free financial counselling and help you understand hardship options.
07Can I ask for help about someone else's gambling?+
Yes. Gambling Help Online also supports partners, relatives and friends. You can speak to a counsellor about your own wellbeing, boundaries and household finances even if the person who gambles is not ready to seek help.
08What if I gamble again after deciding to stop?+
End the session rather than trying to recover the money. Write down what triggered the return, put a barrier back in place and speak to someone you trust or a counsellor. A lapse does not mean you have lost the chance to make another plan.
09Is gambling support available in another language?+
Yes. If you call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, a counsellor can arrange an interpreter. Gambling Help Online also has information on support in languages other than English.
10Can online casino games legally be offered to people in Australia?+
No. Real-money online casino games and online pokies cannot legally be offered to people in Australia. A foreign licence or an accessible website does not change the rule. Australian-licensed sports and race wagering are a separate category.
ONE NEXT STEP IS ENOUGH
Ask for help before the next deposit.
Free, confidential gambling support is available to you and to people close to you.
Information checked 28 September 2026. Service hours and eligibility can change; confirm details on each organisation's website. Guidance is based on Gambling Help Online, BetStop, National Debt Helpline and ACMA.