Player support
Responsible Gambling
AussieOnlineCasinos takes gambling harm seriously. Here is what to do if you are worried about your play, and the support services available across Australia.
Written by
Joshua K.
Last updated:
Signs you may need to take a break
Gambling stops being entertainment when it starts to affect other parts of your life. If any of the following describes your experience, it may be time to step back, take a break, or seek help.
- You gamble more than you planned to, more often than you want to, or with money you had budgeted for essentials
- You feel restless, irritable or anxious when not gambling
- You have hidden the extent of your gambling from family or friends
- You are gambling to recover previous losses, or to lift a low mood
- You have borrowed money, sold possessions or committed to future spending to fund gambling
- Family members, friends or colleagues have expressed concern about your gambling
Any single one of these signs, in isolation, does not necessarily indicate a problem. Two or more, especially if they persist, is worth taking seriously.
Support services available in Australia
Every Australian state and territory has publicly funded gambling-harm support services. These are free, confidential and available 24/7. You do not need to be in crisis to access them; they help with early-stage concerns just as much as with acute problems.
Support and self-exclusion options
| Gambling Help Online – national helpline | 1800 858 858, 24/7, free and confidential. Chat and phone counselling available. |
|---|---|
| Gambling Help Online – website | https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au for real-time chat, forums, and self-help resources. |
| BetStop – national self-exclusion register | https://www.betstop.gov.au to self-exclude from every licensed Australian wagering provider in one step, for periods between 3 months and lifetime. |
| State-level gambling helplines | Each state operates its own service in addition to the national line. Search ‘Gambling Help + your state’ for the local number. |
| Lifeline – mental health support | 13 11 14, 24/7. Crisis support for anyone in emotional distress, including gambling-related distress. |
Setting your own limits
Every legitimate offshore casino provides in-account tools that let you set your own deposit, loss and session limits. Setting a limit before you play, and sticking to it, is one of the most effective protections available.
- Deposit limit – daily, weekly or monthly maximum you can add to your account
- Loss limit – maximum net loss the account will process in a session before restricting play
- Session time limit – maximum continuous play time before you are prompted to take a break
- Cool-off period – temporary account restriction from a few hours up to seven days
- Permanent self-exclusion – account closure with a bar on re-registration
You do not need to be worried about your play to use these tools. Setting a deposit limit is a normal part of a healthy budget-conscious approach to gambling.
For friends and family
If you are concerned about someone else’s gambling, Gambling Help Online provides counselling for family members and friends as well as for gamblers themselves. The 1800 858 858 line is available to anyone affected by gambling harm, not just the person doing the gambling. Talking to a counsellor about your concerns before raising them with the person can help you decide the best approach.
Our editorial position
AussieOnlineCasinos advocates informed, considered play. We publish honest explanations of house edges, wagering requirements and payout mechanics precisely because informed players make better decisions. We do not glamourise big wins, we do not run bonus-hunting content, and we do not encourage chasing losses. If our content makes you rethink whether a bonus is worth claiming or a game is worth playing, that is the intended outcome.