Responsible Gambling: Help for Australian Players

Help lines that work anywhere in Australia

Gambling Help Online is the national service. Call 1800 858 858 at any hour, or use the online chat and email counselling at gamblinghelponline.org.au. Counsellors can help you, and they can also help a partner, parent or mate who is worried about someone else.

Every state and territory service routes to the same number, so there is no wrong line to call:

BetStop and what it does not cover

BetStop is the National Self-Exclusion Register. Registering excludes you from licensed Australian wagering services, meaning sports and racing betting, for the period you choose.

Be clear about its limits: BetStop covers licensed Australian wagering only. It does not cover offshore online casinos such as Fair Go or RocketPlay, because those operators hold no Australian licence and are not connected to the register. Signing up to BetStop is still worthwhile if you also bet on sport or racing, but it will not lock you out of an offshore pokies account on its own. For that you need the casino's own tools, described next.

Limits, breaks and self-exclusion at Fair Go

At Fair Go, deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion are arranged through its 24/7 live chat or by email. Ask support in plain words for what you want, for example a weekly deposit cap or a full self-exclusion, and keep a copy of the conversation. Our guide to responsible gambling tools at Fair Go walks through each option, and the support page explains where to find the chat.

Before you deposit at all, a written budget helps. See bankroll management for a simple approach.

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Warning signs worth taking seriously

• Depositing more than you planned, or depositing again straight after a loss to win it back.
• Gambling with money set aside for rent, bills or food.
• Hiding how much or how often you play from family or friends.
• Borrowing, selling things or using credit to fund play.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
• Thinking about the next session during work, study or time with family.
• Telling yourself a bonus or a "due" jackpot will fix things.

One of these on its own is a prompt to pause. Several together are a reason to call 1800 858 858 today, not after the next session.

Keeping play in perspective

Pokies are built so the house wins over time; even the average return Fair Go quotes means money flows one way in the long run. Our guide to RTP and volatility explains why. Set a time limit as well as a money limit, never play when upset or drunk, and treat any win as a bonus rather than a plan.

Where to get help now

Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, any time, from anywhere in Australia, or chat online at gamblinghelponline.org.au. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services. You do not have to have a "problem" to ring; a single worried conversation is reason enough, and the people answering have heard it all before.