Gambling can be an enjoyable pastime, but it carries real risks. Understanding those risks and knowing how to manage your play are steps anyone who gambles should take, regardless of experience or budget.
Recognising Problem Gambling
Problem gambling is not defined by how much money is spent, but by the effect gambling has on a person's life. Common warning signs include:
- Spending more time or money on gambling than you intended
- Chasing losses by continuing to play after losing
- Neglecting work, study, family, or personal responsibilities because of gambling
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when not gambling
- Hiding gambling activity from friends or family
- Using gambling to escape stress, depression, or other difficult feelings
Recognising these signs in yourself or someone close to you is the first step toward getting help.
Practical Ways to Stay in Control
Setting clear boundaries before you start playing is one of the most effective habits you can build. Decide in advance how much money and time you are prepared to spend, and treat those limits as fixed once they are reached.
Other habits that support controlled play include:
- Treating gambling as entertainment, not as a source of income
- Taking regular breaks rather than playing in long, uninterrupted sessions
- Avoiding gambling when tired, upset, or under the influence of alcohol
- Keeping a record of wins and losses so you have an accurate picture of your activity
- Balancing gambling with other leisure activities
Getting Support
Gambling Help Online — gamblinghelponline.org.au — provides 24-hour counselling via web chat and email, as well as resources for people supporting someone else.
Gambling Help Hotline — 1800 858 858 — is a free, 24-hour telephone counselling service available to anyone in Australia.
Lifeline — 13 11 14 — offers crisis support around the clock and can assist when gambling-related stress escalates to mental health concerns.
Reaching out early, before problems become severe, gives people the widest range of options and the best chance of a positive outcome.
Protecting Young People
Gambling products are intended for adults only. If there is any possibility that a minor could access a device you use to gamble, consider using parental control or filtering software to block gambling-related content. Several independent filtering tools are available for this purpose and can be applied at the device or network level without relying on any individual gambling site.
Further Reading
The Australian Government's MoneySmart service (moneysmart.gov.au) includes guidance on gambling and its financial impact, alongside budgeting tools that can help you assess your overall spending. Taking an honest look at your finances is a useful complement to any steps you take to manage your gambling behaviour.