Responsible Gambling
Gambling should be entertainment, never a way to make money or solve financial problems. The vast majority of Australians who gamble do so within their means and without any harm. For some people, however, gambling can become compulsive — and the move from controlled play to harmful play is often gradual and hard to spot. This page is here to help you recognise warning signs, take practical steps to stay in control, and find free, confidential support if you need it.
Strict 18+ age rule
All gambling content on this site is intended exclusively for adults aged 18 years or older. If you are under 18, please leave the site now. Parents and guardians should consider installing parental control software (such as Net Nanny, Qustodio or platform-level Screen Time / Family Link controls) to prevent minors from accessing gambling-related content.
Warning signs of gambling harm
Problem gambling rarely starts dramatically — it usually creeps in. Common warning signs include:
Spending more money on gambling than you can comfortably afford to lose.
Chasing losses — trying to win back money you've already lost.
Lying to family, friends or partners about how much you gamble or how much you've lost.
Borrowing money, selling possessions or using credit to fund gambling.
Neglecting work, study, relationships, hobbies or sleep because of gambling.
Feeling restless, anxious or irritable when you try to cut down or stop.
Gambling to escape stress, loneliness, depression or other negative feelings.
Continuing to gamble despite clear negative consequences.
If two or more of these statements feel familiar, it is worth taking a closer look at your gambling. None of them on their own means you have a problem, but together they form a pattern that has been clinically validated in screening tools such as the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
Practical tools to stay in control
Most reputable online casinos, including National Casino, offer a suite of responsible-gambling tools accessible from your account settings. Use them proactively — not after the harm has already occurred:
Deposit limits. Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week or month. Once set, the limit cannot be increased instantly — there is a cooling-off period.
Loss limits. Cap the total amount you can lose in a given period.
Bet / wager limits. Cap the maximum stake per spin or hand.
Session reminders. Get a notification after a set amount of play time (e.g. every 30 or 60 minutes).
Time-outs. Block your access to the casino for a defined cooling-off period (24 hours, 1 week, 1 month).
Self-exclusion. Permanently or semi-permanently close your account. Standard periods are 6 months, 1 year or "until further notice".
Reality checks. See your net win/loss for the session at a glance.
Personal harm-reduction strategies
Decide on a budget before you start playing — and never exceed it.
Treat any money spent on gambling as the cost of entertainment, not as an investment.
Set a time limit as well as a money limit. Walk away when either runs out.
Never chase losses. The "I'll just play one more to win it back" instinct is the single most reliable route into trouble.
Don't gamble when you are tired, stressed, depressed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Keep gambling balanced with other interests — exercise, work, family, friends.
Talk openly about your gambling with someone you trust.
Free support services in Australia
If gambling has become a problem for you or someone close to you, free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day:
Service | Contact | What they do |
|---|---|---|
Gambling Help Online | gamblinghelponline.org.au | 24/7 free online counselling, self-help tools, chat and email support. |
National Gambling Helpline | 1800 858 858 | Free, confidential telephone counselling, available 24/7. |
Lifeline Australia | 13 11 14 | Crisis support and suicide prevention, 24/7. |
Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 | Support for anxiety and depression that can co-occur with gambling harm. |
Gambler's Help (Victoria) | 1800 858 858 / gamblershelp.com.au | State-based face-to-face counselling. |
GambleAware NSW | gambleaware.nsw.gov.au | NSW resources, support and self-exclusion services. |
National self-exclusion: BetStop
BetStop is Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register. By registering, you exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online wagering operators for a period of your choosing (3 months minimum, lifetime maximum). Registration is free and operators are legally required to honour the exclusion. Visit betstop.gov.au for details. Note: BetStop applies to Australian-licensed sports betting operators; it does not cover offshore casinos, so additional steps may be needed if your gambling is on offshore platforms.
Support for family and friends
If someone close to you has a gambling problem, that affects you too. You can call Gambling Help Online or the National Gambling Helpline to speak to a counsellor — you don't have to be the gambler yourself to get support. Practical steps include protecting your finances (separate accounts, removing yourself as a guarantor), avoiding lending money for gambling, and encouraging — but not forcing — the person to seek help.
Software-level blocking
If you want to block your own access to gambling websites at the device level, several free and paid tools can help:
Gamban — paid gambling-specific blocking software (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android).
BetBlocker — free open-source gambling blocker available worldwide.
Net Nanny / Qustodio — broader parental-control tools with gambling-site categories.
If you are in crisis
If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide as a result of gambling losses, please reach out immediately. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or, in an emergency, dial 000. You are not alone and free, confidential help is available right now.