Responsible Gambling

Keeping your play in check

A handful of simple habits make the difference between play staying fun and sliding into a problem.

• Decide the amount you are willing to lose before you start, and hold the line regardless of what happens, because chasing a loss back is how a budget usually blows up.
• Switch on deposit, loss and session limits the moment you open an account, instead of waiting until a bad run forces you to.
• Build breaks into longer sessions, and avoid using gambling as a way to deal with stress, boredom or a low mood.
• Keep alcohol and gambling separate, and never bet with money that you have borrowed.
• Remember that every casino game carries a built-in house edge, so the maths favours the house over enough spins. Treat it strictly as entertainment, not as a way to earn.

Warning signs that it's time to pause

Take it seriously if you catch deposits climbing above what you had budgeted, start concealing how much you play from the people around you, gamble specifically to recover an earlier loss, or feel irritable on days you are not playing. Any one of those is reason enough to activate a cooling-off period or self-exclude. Both options work best when used early rather than after the situation has worsened.

Confidential support services

Each organisation listed below provides help that is free, confidential, and open to concerned family members as well as the people playing: