Online gambling is a popular pastime in Australia. Many Aussies enjoy spinning the reels on their favourite pokies, betting on some live dealer games, or playing classic table titles. While fun, it’s important that gambling stays a form of entertainment and doesn’t become a source of income. That’s where responsible gaming comes into the picture. This page takes a closer look at what responsible gambling is, signs of gambling problems, and shares some tools to help you overcome this type of behaviour.
Before we take a deeper dive into responsible gambling, let’s first consider what the term really means.
In short, it means treating gambling as a type of pay-for-play hobby. It’s a fun and entertaining activity, and it stays like this. It also means acknowledging things like the casino’s advantage over time with its house edge.
When you gamble responsibly, you’re not using online casinos as a way to escape from stress, boredom, or anxiety. There’s no emotion attached to your sessions.
It means you are in control of your gambling habits. There are no signs that gambling is taking over or causing problems in your life. You know when to stop, and you understand why setting budgets for your gambling sessions is super important.
Recognising the signs of problem gambling is really important. These are signs that often develop gradually. They don’t show up overnight. And this is also why so many people miss them until gambling has become a real problem in their lives. It’s not just about your own life - if you have a loved one who enjoys gambling, being able to identify the signs of problematic gaming behavior can be very useful.
The specific signs can differ from one person to another. But here are some things that you should look for:
Just One More Bet: Chasing losses is one of the earlier signs of problem gambling. You get this mentality that just one more bet would allow you to recover your losses.
Preoccupation: Your mind may constantly feel preoccupied. When will you make your next bet? How will you fund your next gambling session?
Social withdrawal: Some people begin to show signs of social withdrawal. This means withdrawing from social settings you’d usually find yourself in - family gatherings, hanging out with friends, or even not showing up for work.
Financial problems: It’s also common to see newly developed financial strain. Making it to your next paycheck becomes harder.
Emotional problems: Anxiety, restlessness, and irritability may set in, especially when you haven’t gambled in a while.
There are several steps you can take to keep yourself responsible when you gamble online. We’ll start by taking a look at a few tips that anyone can easily implement. This doesn’t mean you have a gambling problem. It just means you’re taking proactive steps to protect yourself.
Can you afford to lose money: This is the first question to ask yourself. Never bet or deposit more money than you can afford to lose right now. If you go over this amount, you’re digging into money meant to go to groceries, bills, and other important payments.
Take breaks: Setting time limits for yourself is another great tip. Take breaks at least every 30 minutes. This helps you maintain perspective.
Understand the rules: Don’t just pick out games randomly. Do research and find games with high payout rates (RTP) and fair overall rules.
There are several tools you can use to stay in control of your habits and spending when you gamble online. Many casinos have these tools implemented, so it’s a good idea to take full advantage of what they offer.
Limits are really important when it comes to responsible gambling, yet so often overlooked. Setting limits to both time and money can be very helpful.
Start with time. Set session limits. Many people find that taking a break every 20 to 30 minutes helps.
Then consider your budget. You can usually limit your overall maximum deposit amount at online casinos. If they are licensed through reputable authorities like the MGA, the casino must enforce these rules you set for yourself.
There are also self-exclusion tools that you can use at online casinos. These are mostly for people who begin to notice signs of problem gambling. If you identify the signs we talked about, then you should consider this, especially if gambling is starting to take over.
BetStop is the “big one” in Australia. It’s part of the Australian Government’s National Self-Exclusion Register. You can ban yourself from more than 150 licensed platforms in Australia instantly. You can set the ban from three months to la ifetime.
You can also request self-exclusion from individual websites by contacting the support department.
Australia has several helplines and resources you can turn to if you need more professional support.
These include:
National Gambling Hotline: Free and confidential, available 24/7. Phone 1800 858 858 for support.
National Debt Helpline: Specialised advice on financial issues related to gambling. You can contact them on 1800 007 007.
We focus on providing transparent information in all cases. Responsible gaming and player safety are incredibly important for our experts. By taking a look at the casino sites we review, you’ll notice we only focus on casinos that are licensed and adhere to standards set out in Australia. We also offer educational resources that players can use to set limits and make themselves more wary of problem gambling.
Safety is something we prioritise over bonus chasing. This ensures you get a realistic view of what casino bonuses offer, including wagering requirements and how fair they are.