What is Responsible Gambling?
Responsible gambling means staying in control of your gambling at all times. It’s not about avoiding gambling completely or never placing a bet. It’s about treating gambling exclusively as entertainment, setting a gambling budget, and limits on when to stop.
Basically, responsible gambling can be summed up in these 4 points. This is what a responsible player looks like:
- Knows how much they can afford to lose
- Doesn’t chase losses
- Doesn’t rely on gambling to make money
- Can walk away at any time
That last point is the most important one. Gambling always comes with a cost, and even if you win in the short term, the odds are designed in favour of the casino in the long run. Responsible gambling means understanding these terms and playing anyway, but on your own terms.
Be honest with yourself about how much time and money you’re able to afford for gambling. It’s easy to walk in or log in to your casino account thinking, “I’m just playing for fun”, but the hard part comes when you lose track of your budget and time and end up spending more than you planned. It’s you who should be in control, not the game.
Why Is Responsible Gambling Important?
It’s easy to think that responsible gambling doesn’t really apply to you. Most players assume that problems only happen to “other people”, the ones who take things too far.
But in reality, it usually begins with small things: playing a bit longer than planned, increasing bets after a loss, playing when under the influence, or trying to win back what you just lost. Or worse, a combination of these. None of these things looks like a big issue on its own, but they add up over time and can be especially dangerous in combination.
The financial side is the most obvious one. Gambling can become expensive very quickly, especially if you don’t have a pre-set budget (and rarely one does), or you’re not paying attention to how much you’re spending. How many times have you seen someone spend thousands of dollars more than they originally planned?
Then there’s the mental side. Gambling while frustrated, stressed, or trying to “fix” other things in life leads to poor decisions. That’s usually when players lose the most, and worse, they turn to borrowing money to gamble, which can be detrimental.
Here’s the thing: it doesn’t feel like a problem right away, but it will eventually become one. That’s why responsible gambling matters. It’s not about reacting when things go wrong; it’s about preventing those situations in the first place.
10 Signs You Might Be Losing Control
One of the biggest problems with gambling is that it’s not always obvious when things start going wrong. It starts slowly – just one more hand, or just a few more spins before the jackpot hits, or “I’ll play this machine because it’s due to give”.
Most players don’t suddenly lose millions overnight. It usually happens gradually, and by the time you notice that you have a problem, it’s too late. Here are 10 early signs that you need to watch out for and seek help before it’s too late:
Chasing losses
You’re trying to win back money you’ve already lost instead of accepting it and moving on.
Increasing your bets after losing
If you find yourself raising your stakes to recover faster, this usually leads to bigger losses.
Playing longer than planned
Set a playing time (like 1 or 2 hours), and stick to it. Don’t let yourself start thinking “just one more spin” or “one more bet”, because they usually lead to bigger losses.
Gambling more frequently
What used to be an occasional weekend fun becomes a regular habit.
Ignoring your budget
Setting a budget is a must. If you find yourself ignoring it, you have a problem.
Gambling when you’re emotional
Playing while frustrated, stressed, bored, or trying to escape something usually leads to poor (and, unfortunately, costly) decisions.
Feeling the need to win
If you’re not playing for fun anymore, but feeling like you ‘have to win’, you’ll usually end up losing more.
Thinking about gambling outside sessions
If you find yourself planning your next session or replaying losses in your head, it might be a sign that you need a cool-off period.
Hiding or downplaying your gambling
If you’re not being honest about how much you play or lose with yourself or with your loved ones, it’s usually an early sign that you have a problem.
Borrowing money to gamble
If you start borrowing money for gambling, this is a major red flag, and you should seek immediate help.
Tip from Australian Gamblers: If you recognise a few of these, it doesn’t automatically mean there’s a serious problem, but it’s a clear sign to take a step back and think about your gambling habits. If needed, don’t hesitate to seek help early.
Responsible Gambling Tools You Can Use
All Australian online casinos offer responsible gambling tools in one form or another. Some let you set them up directly from your account settings, while others may require you to contact customer support to activate them. Both options are easy to use, and what’s most important is that they’re there, and they’re actually very useful if you use them properly.
Here are the most important RSG tools you can use:
- Deposit Limits: This tool lets you set a maximum amount you can deposit over a certain period (daily, weekly, or monthly). Once you hit the limit, you won’t be able to deposit more at the casino.
- Loss Limits: Similar to deposit limits, you can set a limit on how much you can lose. Once you reach that limit, your account is restricted, and you won’t be able to play more until the period is over.
- Wager Limits: This limits the total amount you can bet within a set timeframe (a day, a week, or a month), and is intended to help you limit your spending.
- Session Time Limits: You can set how long you’re allowed to play in one session. Once the time is up, you’ll either get logged out or receive a reminder to stop. Some casinos have automatic reminders.
- Reality Checks: Like the session time limit reminders, there are also pop-up reminders that show how long you’ve been playing and sometimes how much you’ve spent or lost.
- Cool-Off Periods: It’s a tool that allows you to take a short break from gambling (usually 24 hours to a few weeks). During this time, you won’t be able to access your account.
- Self-Exclusion: It’s a longer-term option where you block yourself from accessing your account for months or even permanently.
- Account Closure: Every casino allows you to permanently close your account if you feel you shouldn’t be gambling at all.
It must be pointed out, though, that no matter how useful these tools are, responsible gambling is primarily in your head. These tools can be useful, but they can’t replace discipline and awareness when you’re actually playing.
Practical Tips for Responsible Gambling
Responsible gambling isn’t just about knowing the RSG principles, but about applying them every time you play. It might seem like you’ve heard some of these tips a million times before, but they’re repeated for a reason: the only way to enjoy gambling long-term is to gamble responsibly. These are the most important do’s and don’ts regarding responsible gambling:
You should always decide how much you’re willing to lose before you even log in, and treat that amount as the cost of entertainment. Sure, you might get lucky and win, but you should be comfortable even if you lose. This is what a proper budget management system is all about.
It’s so easy to lose track of time when playing. Decide how long you’ll play, and close the game regardless of whether you’re winning or losing at the time. Don’t forget to watch the clock from time to time to ensure you don’t lose track of time.
Chasing losses is how you lose more. Accept that losing is part of gambling and every game comes with a built-in house edge. Trying to win it back rarely works, and chances are that you’ll make things worse and lose even more.
A good rule is to keep your bets at around 1-2% of your total bankroll per round. If your gambling budget is A$1,000, it means that your single bets (per round or per spin) should be A$10 to A$20.
If you’re playing pokies, it’s best to stick to the lower end of this range because spins tend to go fast. On the other hand, if you’re playing games like blackjack or video poker, the rounds are a bit slower, so you can bet higher.
The longer you play, the more likely you are to lose focus, ignore the limits you have set up, or start making emotional decisions. To combat this, make it a habit to take short breaks, even when things are going well. Don’t worry, your luck won’t run out that easily. Just step away from the screen, get some fresh air, have a glass of water, and come back in a few minutes.
At the same time, keep track of how much you’re spending. You don’t necessarily need a spreadsheet (although we strongly suggest preparing one), but at least have an idea of how much you deposited, lost, or won during the session. It’s very easy to underestimate this if you don’t pay attention.
Note from Australian Gamblers: Visit the My Account section when logged in to your casino account, and you’ll usually see a section where you’ll find a log of all your transactions and bets.
We have prepared a detailed guide on gambling fallacies and how to avoid them, but the most important thing to remember is that there’s no such thing as a machine being “due to pay” or a ”hot and cold numbers” you can predict.
Every spin, hand, or round is completely independent. Just because something hasn’t happened in a while doesn’t mean it’s about to happen now. This kind of thinking leads players to make poor decisions, such as increasing bets or switching games based on assumptions that aren’t true.
The only thing you can do is choose games with high RTP, like blackjack, crash, mines, or video poker, but believing in fallacies can do more harm than good.
Make it a rule to never-ever play under the influence; alcohol or anything else that affects your judgment will almost always lead to worse decisions.
You’re much more likely to ignore any strategy you might have, place bigger bets, and keep playing longer than planned. Even if it feels more “fun” in the moment, it usually ends with unnecessary losses.
Before you claim a bonus, always read the terms and conditions. The most important condition is the wagering requirements, which, depending on the bonus, can be more lenient or stricter.
Ask yourself: Can I realistically clear the 50x wagering requirements in 3 days? If the answer is no, then the bonus is not worth claiming.
You can check our guide on how to clear wagering requirements, but you should set realistic expectations about any bonus you’re claiming.
Where to Get Help for Gambling in Australia
Even if you have the best intentions and habits, things don’t always go as planned. If you feel like gambling is starting to get out of control, it’s crucial to act early. The best course of action is to contact one of the several organisations in Australia that offer free and confidential support for gambling-related issues:
- Gambling Help Online: Available 24/7 via chat and phone for free. Offers counselling, tools, and practical advice.
- Lifeline Australia: Provides crisis support if gambling is affecting your mental health.
- Gamblers Anonymous: A support group where you can speak with people who have gone through similar experiences. Meetings are available both in person and online.
Moderation is Key
Gambling should always feel like entertainment, not something that adds pressure or stress. As long as you know your limits and stick to them, there’s no reason why it can’t stay that way. However, the moment it stops being enjoyable, that’s your signal to step back and think about your actions.
It doesn’t take much to stay on track, as long as you do it consistently. Set a budget and a time limit, combine that with the tools and tips covered in this guide, and you’ll avoid most of the common gambling pitfalls.
And if things ever feel like they’re getting out of hand, don’t ignore it. Prevention and acting early are always better than trying to fix things later.
