Staying in control

Deciding your limits beforehand

The most reliable time to decide what you can afford to lose is before you open a game, not during a session. Work out a deposit limit that fits your budget and set it with our partner before you play; once set, it should not be raised on impulse. A session limit works the same way: decide how long you will play and stop when that time is up, regardless of whether you are ahead or behind.

Limits only help if they are real. Use the account tools our partner provides to lock them in, and treat them as fixed rather than as suggestions you can override when you feel like another go. If you find yourself looking for ways around your own limits, that is worth noticing.

How loss chasing shows up in play

Chasing losses means increasing your bets or playing longer than you planned to try to win back money you have already lost. It often feels like a reasonable response in the moment, but it is how a session that was under control turns into one that is not. The money is already gone; the next bet does not change that.

Common signs include moving to bigger bets after a loss, withdrawing more than you intended, playing past your session limit, or feeling that you cannot stop until you are back to even. A return figure on any game is a long-run average and says nothing about what will happen in your next session, so no pattern of play can guarantee a recovery.

Support services around Australia

Support is free and confidential, and you do not need to have a serious problem to use it. Gambling Help Online offers counselling and information, and BetStop is the national self-exclusion register that lets you block yourself from gambling services. Both are listed on this page for easy reference.

If you want to stop or cut back, you can also talk to your GP or a local support service. Reaching out early is easier than waiting until things feel out of hand, and asking for help is not an overreaction.

Can I change my deposit limit after I set it?

Our partner's account tools let you set and manage limits, but a limit is only useful if you treat it as fixed. Decide on an amount you can afford to lose and set it before you play, rather than adjusting it mid-session.

What is BetStop and do I need to use it?

BetStop is the national self-exclusion register, and you can use it to block yourself from gambling services if you want to stop. It is free, and you can find it listed on this page along with Gambling Help Online.