What Is Responsible Gambling?

Responsible gambling refers to a set of practices and behaviours that help individuals keep gambling within safe limits. For most people who choose to gamble, it remains an occasional leisure activity. For some, however, gambling can become problematic — affecting finances, relationships, and mental health.

This page provides general information about responsible gambling. It is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are concerned about your own gambling or someone else's, please contact a support organisation.

Principles of Safer Gambling

• Only gamble with money you can afford to lose — never use funds set aside for essential expenses.
• Set a budget before you start and stick to it, regardless of whether you are winning or losing.
• Set a time limit for gambling sessions and take regular breaks.
• Do not gamble to recover losses — chasing losses is a recognised warning sign of problem gambling.
• Do not gamble when you are stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
• Treat gambling as entertainment, not as a way to make money.
• Be aware of how much time and money you are spending.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can affect anyone. The following are commonly recognised warning signs. This list is not exhaustive and is provided for informational purposes only — it is not a diagnostic tool.

• Spending more money or time gambling than intended.
• Gambling to escape problems, stress, or negative emotions.
• Chasing losses — continuing to gamble in an attempt to win back money lost.
• Lying to family or friends about gambling activity or the amount spent.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities because of gambling.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling.
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to control or stop gambling.

If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you know, speaking to a professional support service is recommended.

Self-Exclusion and Limit-Setting Tools

Many regulated online casinos offer tools to help players manage their gambling. These may include:

• Deposit limits — caps on how much can be deposited over a set period.
• Session time limits — alerts or automatic logouts after a set period of play.
• Loss limits — caps on how much can be lost over a set period.
• Reality checks — periodic reminders of time spent gambling.
• Self-exclusion — voluntary bans from a casino for a set period or indefinitely.
• Cool-off periods — short-term breaks from gambling activity.

The availability of these tools varies between operators. In some jurisdictions, national self-exclusion schemes allow individuals to exclude themselves from multiple operators simultaneously. Contact your local gambling regulator or a support organisation for information about schemes available in your region.

Support Organisations

The following organisations provide support for problem gambling. This list is not exhaustive. Availability of services varies by location.

Protecting Young People

Online gambling is intended for adults aged 18 and over. If you share a device with minors, consider using parental control software to restrict access to gambling websites. Many internet service providers and third-party services offer filtering tools for this purpose.

Never allow minors to access gambling accounts or participate in gambling activity.