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Responsible Gambling

Pokies are paid entertainment for adults aged 18 and over, never a way to make money. Offshore sites sit outside Australian licensing, so the safeguards below matter more here, not less. Set a budget first, use the tools, and reach out early if play stops being fun.

Updated

Rules we play by

Everything on Online Pokies is written for adults aged 18 and over. We do not promise wins, we do not suggest a system that beats a pokie, and we say so when a bonus is hard to clear. A pokie is a random number generator with a published long-run return, and no session length, bet pattern or time of day changes that. Our how pokies work guide explains the maths behind RTP and volatility.

Set a budget before you open the lobby

Decide the amount you can lose without it touching rent, bills or savings, and treat it as the cost of an evening out. Then:

  • deposit only that amount, and do not top up to chase a loss;
  • stop when the budget is gone, not when the balance looks better;
  • never play with borrowed money;
  • keep gambling away from times when you are tired, stressed or drinking.

Bonuses make this harder. A large welcome package with 40x wagering asks you to stake many times the bonus before you can withdraw anything, and that pressure is how a small budget turns into far more spending than planned. Our free spins and bonuses guide shows what the turnover costs in A$, and a smaller deposit can be the safer choice, as the minimum deposit pokies guide explains.

Use the casino’s own tools

Player controls differ from site to site, and you have to switch them on yourself. WinCrown lists wager, loss and deposit limits, cooling-off from one week to six months, and self-exclusion from six months to indefinite. Drakaris lists deposit, loss and wager limits, cooling-off and self-exclusion. Check the account settings or ask live chat before you deposit, and set a limit on day one while you are thinking clearly.

If a casino lists no limit or exclusion tool, treat that as a reason to play smaller or to choose another site. The casino reviews note what each site prints about player protection.

BetStop and its limits

BetStop is the National Self-Exclusion Register, a free Australian Government service. Once you register, licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers cannot let you bet, open new betting accounts or send you marketing. Exclusion runs from three months up to a lifetime. You can extend it at any time through your account; cancelling early is only possible after three months and needs a statutory declaration.

The catch for pokies players is scope. BetStop covers licensed Australian wagering providers. It does not cover online casino games provided illegally in Australia, which includes the offshore sites we review. To block yourself at an offshore casino, use that casino’s self-exclusion tool or contact its support. Read what the law says about offshore pokies for the wider picture.

Free, confidential help

  • Gambling Help Online: call 1800 858 858, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone counselling is always open; chat and email counselling run through gamblinghelponline.org.au.
  • BetStop: register at betstop.gov.au, which takes about five minutes.
  • Someone you trust, such as a friend, partner or GP. Saying it out loud is often the hard part.

You do not need to be in crisis to call. If you are chasing losses, hiding your play, borrowing to gamble or feeling anxious when you cannot, those are reasons enough.

Signs it may be a problem

  • You spend more time or money than you planned, repeatedly.
  • You return to win back what you lost.
  • Gambling causes arguments, secrecy or money stress.
  • You feel restless or low when you try to stop.

If any of these sound familiar, stop depositing and call the number above. Our about page explains why we say this plainly even though we earn commission from sign-ups, and the affiliate disclosure covers the detail.

If a friend or family member gambles

Gambling Help Online is not only for the person gambling. If someone close to you is struggling, you can start with the same free line on 1800 858 858 and ask what support exists for you.