Responsible Gambling Resources
Pokies are designed to be engaging, which means it is easier to lose track of time and money at them than at almost any other form of entertainment. This page pulls together the practical tools, the free Australian support services, and the small habits that keep pokies play in the entertainment category rather than tipping into harm.
Set Limits Before You Play
Every operator we recommend supports the following limits, all configurable from your account settings and effective immediately:
- Deposit limits — cap the amount you can deposit per day, week, or month
- Loss limits — cap the amount you can lose within a defined window
- Session time limits — auto-logout after a set duration of active play
- Cooling-off periods — temporarily disable your account for 24 hours to 30 days
- Self-exclusion — permanently close your account with no reactivation option
Set at least one of these before your first spin. The single most protective habit is a hard weekly deposit cap set to a figure you have decided in advance you can afford to lose entirely.
BetStop — The National Self-Exclusion Register
BetStop is a free Australian government service that lets you self-exclude from every licensed online wagering service in Australia in a single step. Registration is free and lasts anywhere from three months to a lifetime. Many offshore operators voluntarily honour BetStop registrations even though they are not legally required to.
Register at betstop.gov.au.
Free Support Services in Australia
Every service listed below is free, confidential, and available to anyone in Australia. If you are worried about your own gambling or someone else's, they are the right first call.
- Gambling Help Online — 24/7 web chat and phone support, 1800 858 858
- Lifeline — crisis support, 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue — mental-health support, 1300 22 4636
- Gambler's Help — Victoria-specific counselling network
Signs to Watch For
Some patterns are early warning signs. If any of the following describe your recent play, consider stepping back and reaching out to one of the services above:
- Spending more than you planned to at least once a month
- Chasing losses with additional deposits within the same session
- Playing to escape stress or difficult emotions rather than for entertainment
- Hiding the extent of your play from family or friends
- Borrowing money to play or to cover play-related shortfalls
- Feeling irritable when you cannot play
Support for People You Care About
If you are worried about someone else's gambling, Gambling Help Online offers a dedicated stream for families and friends. You do not need the person's permission to reach out for advice on how to help them. Speaking to a trained counsellor before raising the subject often makes the difference between a helpful conversation and an unhelpful one.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act, all online wagering services operating in Australia must be 18+. Every offshore operator we list enforces the same age check. If you are under 18, please do not access these sites. For more on how we approach operator due-diligence, see our about page.