Talk to someone now
- Gambling Help Online — 1800 858 858. Free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone, chat or email at gamblinghelponline.org.au. It is for people who gamble and for their family and friends.
- Lifeline — 13 11 14. 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention. You can also text 0477 13 11 14.
Block yourself from betting sites
BetStop (betstop.gov.au) is the national self-exclusion register, an Australian Government initiative. Registration takes about five minutes and blocks you from all licensed Australian online and phone betting providers. BetStop covers licensed Australian bookmakers; it doesn’t reach offshore casino sites, which operate outside Australian licensing.
How a pokie actually pays
- Every spin is decided by a random number generator at the moment you press the button. The previous spin, the time of day and how long a machine has gone without a feature change nothing.
- A machine’s return to player is a long-run average across a huge number of spins. Over an evening, a session can land anywhere.
- There is no system or “cheat” that changes the result. We explain why on the main Where’s the Gold guide.
Simple limits that work
- Decide the amount before you start and leave cards at home when you play in a venue.
- Set a time limit and take breaks away from the machine.
- Treat what you spend as the cost of entertainment, not a way to earn money.
- If you catch yourself chasing losses, stop and call 1800 858 858.
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.