Responsible Gaming

Our Commitment to Safe Play

At aboriginalservicesdirectory.com.au, we believe that playing the pokies and other forms of gambling should always be a form of entertainment — never a way to earn money, pay bills, or escape financial difficulty. Gambling involves risk, and the odds are always in favour of the operator over the long term. You should only ever gamble with money you can afford to lose.

As an affiliate website, we promote licensed operators, but we also take our responsibility to Australian players seriously. If gambling stops being fun, it's time to stop — and help is available, free and confidential, 24/7.

Age Verification — 18+ Only

In Australia, you must be 18 years of age or older to gamble, including playing poker machines (pokies), wagering on sport, or gambling online. All operators we reference are required to verify the age and identity of their customers.

• Never share your gambling account with anyone under 18.
• Keep login details and payment methods secure from minors in your household.
• Consider using parental control software (such as device-level filtering tools) if children have access to your computer or phone.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling can affect anyone. Ask yourself honestly whether any of the following apply to you or someone you care about:

• Chasing losses — gambling more to try to win back money you've lost
• Hiding your gambling from family, friends, or your partner
• Spending more money or time gambling than you planned
• Borrowing money, selling belongings, or using credit to gamble
• Neglecting work, study, family, or social commitments because of gambling
• Feeling anxious, depressed, guilty, or irritable about your gambling
• Gambling to escape stress, boredom, loneliness, or other problems
• Needing to bet larger amounts to get the same feeling of excitement
• Unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop
• Lying about how much time or money you spend on the pokies

If you recognised yourself in several of these points, it may be time to take action. Recognising the problem is the first — and often hardest — step.

Self-Help Tools

Licensed gambling operators in Australia offer a range of tools to help you stay in control. We encourage all players to use them proactively:

• Deposit limits: Set a maximum amount you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly.
• Loss limits: Cap how much you can lose within a set period — once reached, you can't keep playing.
• Reality checks: On-screen reminders showing how long you've been playing and how much you've spent.
• Time-outs: Take a short break (from 24 hours to several weeks) from your account.
• Self-exclusion: Block yourself from gambling venues or online sites for a longer period or permanently. In Australia, you can register with BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register (www.betstop.gov.au) — to exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone wagering services in one step.

Setting limits before you start playing — and sticking to them — is the most effective way to keep gambling recreational.

Support Organisations in Australia

Free, confidential, professional help is available across Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• Gambling Help Online — free counselling, live chat, and support resources for Australians affected by gambling: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au or call 1800 858 858 (24/7).
• BetStop — National Self-Exclusion Register: www.betstop.gov.au
• Lifeline Australia — crisis support and suicide prevention: call 13 11 14 (24/7) or visit www.lifeline.org.au
• Gamblers Anonymous Australia — peer support meetings nationwide: www.gaaustralia.org.au
• Financial Counselling Australia — free help with gambling-related debt: www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au or call 1800 007 007.

Support is also available for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling — you don't have to face this alone.

Take Action Today

If gambling is no longer fun — if it's causing stress, debt, or problems in your relationships — please reach out. There is no shame in asking for help, and recovery is absolutely possible. Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 right now, or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au to chat with a counsellor online.

Remember: gambling is entertainment, not income. Set your limits, know the risks, and if it's no longer fun — it's time to stop.

Last updated: 2026.