Responsible Gambling

You must be 18 or older to gamble. Pokies are entertainment with a price, and the maths always favours the house over time. If you ever feel that you are playing to chase losses, hide spending or escape a bad mood, treat that as a signal to stop. This page lists the help available in Australia and the limits you can set yourself.

If gambling is a problem

The National Gambling Helpline is 1800 858 858. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Department of Social Services lists it among Australia’s gambling support services.

Gambling Help Online offers online counselling, including live chat and email support. You do not need to be sure you have a problem to use it. Worry about your own gambling, or about someone else’s, is reason enough.

BetStop: what it covers and what it does not

BetStop is the free national self-exclusion register run by the Australian Government. Once you register, licensed online and phone wagering providers cannot let you place a bet, open a new betting account or send you marketing. The minimum period is three months, and you can choose up to a lifetime.

BetStop applies to licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. It does not apply to online casino games or other services provided illegally in Australia. The casinos we list are offshore, so registering with BetStop will not stop you using them. If you need to stay away from pokies sites, you have to take extra steps yourself, and the next section covers them.

Limits you can set yourself

Your bank is the strongest tool you have, because it sits between you and every PayID payment.

• Lower your daily transfer limit. Banks let you set limits in the app or online banking. NAB, for example, has you change limits in web Internet Banking. Our how to use PayID page has a dated table of published limits.
• Know what card blocks do. Several major banks let you block gambling on a card. These are card controls based on merchant codes. They are not PayID or Osko blocks and they do not stop a bank transfer.
• Decide a budget first. Pick a fixed amount you can lose without affecting rent, bills or food, and treat it as spent once it is deposited.
• Set a time limit. Decide how long you will play before you open the cashier.
• Do not use credit. Do not borrow to gamble. Online wagering services in Australia cannot take payment by credit card, a ban in force since 11 June 2024.

Talking to someone

You do not need to wait for a crisis. Tell a friend or family member how much you are spending, and ask them to check in. Many people find that saying the number out loud changes how they feel about it. If you share a bank account with a partner, remember that every PayID transfer shows in the transaction history. Counsellors on the helpline can also speak to family members who are worried about someone else’s gambling.

Warning signs

Think about whether any of these sound familiar:

• You gamble for longer or with more than you planned.
• You hide how much you spend or lie about it.
• You chase losses with bigger deposits.
• You feel anxious or irritable when you are not playing.
• Gambling gets in the way of work, study or relationships.

None of this is a diagnosis. If two or three fit, call the helpline and talk it over.

18+ and play for entertainment

Gambling is not a source of income, and no pokie, bonus or payment method guarantees a win. Never gamble with money you need. Do not play when you are drunk, upset or tired. Winnings from recreational gambling are generally not taxed in Australia, according to Australian Taxation Office guidance we read through excerpts, but we are not tax advisers.

Our own tools

The wagering calculator on this site shows how much you would have to bet to clear a bonus, which is often more than people expect. It is there to help you decide whether an offer is worth taking, and it does not predict results. Read more about how we work on our about page, check the safety checklist in is PayID safe for pokies, or return to the PayID pokies comparison.