WattleWagerWattleWager · Updated 12 October 2026
Responsible Gambling
Betting should only ever be a form of entertainment. Here is how to keep it that way, and where to find free, confidential help if it stops being fun.
Keep Betting in Its Place
Gambling is never a way to make money or solve financial problems. The odds are designed to favour the bookmaker over time, so every bet should be treated as the cost of entertainment.
- Decide on a budget before you start and never go over it.
- Set a time limit for each session and stick to it.
- Never try to win back money you have lost.
- Avoid betting when you are stressed, upset or have been drinking.
- Keep gambling separate from money set aside for bills, rent and essentials.
- Balance betting with other hobbies and time with friends and family.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Spending more money or time on betting than you intended
- Borrowing money or selling belongings to gamble
- Hiding your betting from people close to you
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not betting
- Missing work, study or family commitments because of gambling
If any of these sound familiar, it is a good time to talk to someone. Support is free, confidential and available 24/7.
Tools Licensed Bookmakers Must Offer
Under the National Consumer Protection Framework, licensed Australian wagering providers must give you access to:
- Deposit limits – cap how much you can deposit each day, week or month.
- Activity statements – regular summaries of your wins and losses.
- Take-a-break and self-exclusion – pause or close your account.
- BetStop – the national register that blocks you from every licensed online and phone bookmaker at once.
Free Australian Support Services
In an emergency, or if you are thinking about harming yourself, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.