Explaining What Responsible Gambling Is

We spend a lot of time on this site talking about playing pokies, giving gambling tips and reviewing online casinos to ensure that they are safe enough to use. While it’s all for fun and enjoyment, we want to remind players that it’s important to gamble and play casino games in a responsible manner.

What does gambling responsibly mean? While there’s nothing wrong with gambling on occasion, if you find yourself starting to lose control or obsess over gambling, then you might have a problem. To prevent this from happening, we offer some tips in this guide on how to engage in casino activities in a responsible way.

How To Gamble Responsibly

The most important thing to understand is that responsible gambling means being aware of your habits, knowing that you’re playing a game of chance and that no skill is required. Once you understand this and adopt this attitude, gambling becomes something to do to pass the time rather than as a means to pay the bills or get back what you lost.

Tips for gambling responsibly:

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Set Deposit Limits
  • This can help restrict how much you can deposit each day, week or month.
Track your play
  • You can see how much you’ve won or lost which will help give you an overview on your playing habits.
Never chase losses
  • Don’t try to win back what you lost and instead stop playing when you’ve played through your budget.
Stick to a bankroll budget
  • Set budgets and stop playing when your bankroll is done.
Get help early
  • If you are concerned about yourself possibly having a gambling addiction, it’s best to seek help early.
Don’t drink or take drugs while gambling
  • Avoid gambling while under the influence as it can lower your inhibitions.
Self-exclusion
  • If you feel that you need a break from gambling, enable the self-exclusion option in your casino account.

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Signs of Compulsive Gambling

If you find yourself experiencing any of the following signs, you might not be gambling responsibly and it’s advised that you seek further help and support from a professional.

  • Find it hard to stop playing
  • Find yourself chasing losses
  • Play past your time and budget limits
  • Start borrowing or stealing money to gamble
  • Feel more restless, irritated or depressive when not gambling
  • Spend a lot of time thinking about gambling
  • Prioritise gambling over friends, family, job and other life activities

Getting Help

There’s no shame in admitting that you might have a gambling problem or reaching out to get help. If you believe that either you or a loved one might be struggling with gambling, it’s important to understand that it can be treated just like any other addiction. Australia offers many resources, professional help and support to help individuals who may be going through problems like this.

We’ve found the following resources to be very helpful. They vary from forums and online chats to hotlines and self-help groups.

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Organisation Services Available Contact Info
Gambling Help Online Counselling, information & support 24/7
Lifeline 24/7 crisis support
Gamblers Anonymous Support groups

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Responsible Gambling FAQs