Guide to Responsible Gambling
Casino games, like many other things in life, can be addictive. It is important to understand that neither the casinos, nor the services they offer (including pokies, card games, live dealer tables, or any other games) are the problem itself if a person knows how to set boundaries. This is what we generally call responsible gaming and it refers to having a good time playing fun and amusing casino games while understanding that they are playing a game of chance.
What Is Responsible Gambling?
Responsible gambling means enjoying games of chance for entertainment, while staying firmly in control of your actions, your time and your money. It involves setting clear limits on how much you spend and how long you play by sticking to them.
It is also about ensuring that your gambling habits never harm your mental well-being, financial stability or relationships.
If you find yourself struggling to stop, chasing losses, hiding your gambling behaviour, feeling anxious or depressed, or facing money issues because of it, these are strong warning signs. They could indicate that you are losing control or may already be facing a gambling addiction.
Our Philosophy On Responsible Gambling
Casino Buddies, as a socially responsible business, focuses on providing the best information for players, not only about the best online casinos in Australia but also about responsible gambling and how to promote it. Here we would like to explain how to enjoy casino games in a safe way, how to set gaming limitations, how to identify addiction in the early stage, where to look for help for gambling addiction, and how to protect yourself from being stuck in a cycle of problems.
Tips To Responsible Gambling
In short, responsible gambling means playing at online casinos with some sort of control and being aware of your gambling habits. You should try to keep it fun and enjoy the process as you would playing any other type of game. The key point to understand is that casino games such as online pokies are referred to as ‘games of chance’. It means that the possible winning or losing is determined by probability or luck, and your skills can’t make an impact. All Australian online casinos require KYC verification, normally before you cash out from your account.
Once you understand this, you will feel better in the long run after losing a round. At the end of the day – it happens! The best advice is to try to maintain the attitude: “It was fun, but now it’s over”. To make it easier for all our players, our team of experts share some tips below on how to gamble responsibly.
Choose A Reputable Casino
The first and most crucial thing is to avoid any suspicious or illegal casinos. Such sites don’t care about their players and try to take their money in unreasonable ways. Learn about casino licences and their role in gambling. At Casino Buddies we make sure to conduct in-depth audits and provide honest casino reviews so our players can feel certain that they playing at reliable casinos where they can receive not just great bonuses, but also all the information needed about responsible gambling. You can also take a look at how casino auditors work.
Set Your Limits
Sometimes, if we feel very engaged and interested in an activity (whether it is working out, chatting with friends, watching a TV series, or playing pokies), we can easily lose track of time. To avoid this when gambling, turn on a timer for a particular amount of time or set up a spending limit. If you use e-wallets such as Skrill, ecoPayz, or other banking options accepted by online casinos, you can control your finances and set up daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits.
Review Your Gaming History
Our recommended Australian online casinos have a tracking function, so players can check up on their activities anytime. It’s a very useful habit to review how much money you spend or what games might not be the best options for you. For example, if you are playing at live dealer tables and you don’t have a clear picture of what you have spent so far, the gaming history feature may be a good way to understand if that type of game is the best fit for you.
Don’t Keep It A Secret
Playing at online casinos is an absolutely normal way to have fun, so there’s no reason to hide it from friends or family. Be confident and show people that the rumors about online casinos are just empty myths – invite your friends to join the same Poker or Blackjack room and have an amusing gaming session together. This will also help you gamble responsibly because you’ll have someone keeping tabs on you.
Give Yourself A Break
Responsible gambling also means knowing when it’s time to step away. If you see that things are getting out of hand, use the function of self-exclusion. When you enable this function, you can’t log into your casino account or place a bet on any casino games. All the details are up to you, so you decide for how long you are willing to be excluded and from what online casinos.
Recognising Problem Gambling In Yourself Or Someone You Care About
Gambling addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their background or intent. When responsible gambling measures are overlooked, the risk of developing a problem increases. If you or someone close to you enjoys gambling and you are beginning to sense it might be getting out of hand, here is a guide to help you identify red flags.
Common Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Obsession with Gambling Activities
They may constantly talk about gambling or spend excessive time thinking about bets, odds or upcoming games. You might notice they arrange their schedule to gamble or come up with excuses to play.
Increasing Wager Sizes to Feel the Same Rush
Often, gamblers start small but eventually need to wager larger amounts to feel the same excitement.
Failed Attempts to Stop
They might try to cut back or quit gambling altogether, but find it difficult to follow through. Promises made to loved ones go unkept.
Emotional Turmoil when Reducing Play
If someone feels anxious, restless or irritable when not gambling, these could be signs of withdrawal and dependency.
Gambling as an Emotional Escape
Some use gambling as a way to avoid emotional distress, such as anxiety, guilt or sadness, turning it into an unhealthy coping mechanism.
Chasing Losses
Trying to win back money by placing riskier bets leads to greater financial strain.
Secrecy and Dishonesty
They may lie about how many times or how much money they spend gambling, hide bank statements or gamble in secret to avoid judgment.
Issues with Personal Relationships and Responsibilities
Problem gambling can strain or ruin relationships and may lead to skipped work, missed school or declining performance due to constant distraction.
Financial Dependence on Others
They might start borrowing money to cover gambling losses, max out credit cards or ask friends and family for financial bailouts.
If you suspect a loved one is struggling with gambling, approach the conversation with empathy, not judgment. Avoid all types of confrontation and instead focus on offering support along with information on resources that can help.
Are You Gambling Responsibly?
It never hurts to ask yourself the following 5 questions to see if you are gambling responsibly. Sometimes we don’t realise if something is a problem until it is too late. These questions could be helpful for yourself or for someone you may be worried about.
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How often do you play for more than you can afford to lose?
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Do you often continue playing to recover losses?
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Do you often borrow money or sell things to have more to play with?
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Do you ever feel anxious, stressed or depressed during or after gambling?
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Has anyone close to you ever commented on your gambling?
Note:
These questions are a good starting point, but it does not confirm that you have a gambling problem. If you suspect that you might be an addiction after answering the questions, then you should seek advice of a professional such as a psychologist who can help you.
Take Control: Self-imposed Limits at Online Casinos
If you ever feel like you are depositing too much or spending more than intended, it is wise to seek out casinos that offer responsible gambling tools, such as personal limits and self-exclusion.
Many Australian-friendly online casinos now offer flexible responsible gambling features, giving players the power to set boundaries and stick to them.
These tools work best when used in a responsible manner. If you have a gambling addiction, these tools can only help you to some extent.
Here are some of the responsible gambling tools available at casinos:
Session Time Reminders
These are friendly pop-ups that appear after you have been playing for a set amount of time. They are designed to let you know how long you have been playing online. You can either take a break or keep going. Many players find these nudges helpful for staying grounded.
Deposit limits
Struggling to rein in how much you are adding to your account? Deposit limits let you set a maximum daily, weekly, or monthly amount you are allowed to deposit. For example, you might decide you don’t want to make deposits of more than $250 per week. Once that cap has been reached, the casino blocks any further deposits until the reset period.
Daily limits usually reset at midnight, while weekly and monthly limits reset based on the day they were first activated. Changes to these limits are not instant. Reductions might be immediate, but increases often come with a mandatory waiting period to prevent impulsive decisions.
Wagering limits
If depositing is not the problem, you may also notice that you are wagering higher amounts. If you are doing this on a frequent basis, consider applying wager limits. These controls set a weekly cap on how much you can wager in total.
Loss limits
Another valuable tool, the loss limit, sets a hard stop on how much you can lose over a chosen time period. If you are getting close to that amount, the casino will issue a warning, and once the cap is hit, your gameplay is paused automatically.
Self-exclusion
If time limits and monetary caps do not seem or work, or you feel your gambling behaviour is spiralling, it may be time to consider self-exclusion. This feature allows you to lock yourself out of the casino site by blocking access to deposits and real-money play.
Self-exclusion can be applied on a definite or indefinite basis. Choosing permanent exclusion disables your account with no option to reactivate. It is highly recommended to cash out any remaining balance before activating this option, as access to your funds will be cut off once your exclusion takes effect.
How Online Casinos Verify The Age of Their Players
Online casinos operate under strict licensing conditions and are legally obliged to prevent underage gambling. To meet these legal responsibilities, operators implement Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, especially when it comes to verifying the age and identity of new players.
It is good to understand why age verification matters, especially when it comes to online gambling. Casinos are only allowed to offer services to players who are of legal gambling age, 18 years or older.
To stay compliant with gambling regulations, online casinos must ensure that every player is properly verified before allowing access to real money games, casino bonuses or withdrawals.
During the sign-up process, players are asked to provide details such as their full name, date of birth, residential address, preferred currency and payment methods. While you may gain initial access to explore the casino site, most reputable casinos will not let you deposit or cash out your winnings until they have confirmed your age and identity.
As part of the casino’s KYC procedures, you will be asked to upload one or more of the following:
- A copy of your driver’s licence, passport or national ID card
- A recent utility bill to confirm your home address
- A bank or credit card statement for payment verification
This process is in place to ensure that you are who you claim to be and that you are legally allowed to gamble.
It is also done to protect children from gaining access to the site. It is important to keep in mind the following section to safeguard your children from gaining access to your gambling account.
Keeping Children Safe From Gambling Risks
Although gambling is illegal for minors, it is never too early to educate children about the risks and realities of it. Gambling is very present online, and children are often exposed to it from a young age. Here are some practical steps you can take to protect young people:
Open conversations matter
Start by having honest, age-appropriate discussions about what gambling is. Explain that while it can be entertaining for adults in moderation, it also carries serious risks, such as losing money, going into debt or developing harmful habits.
Be a role model
If you gamble, lead by example. Show your children what healthy, controlled gambling looks like. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and avoid gambling when stressed or emotional.
Keep an eye on their digital behaviour
Stay informed about the games and websites your children are using. Many modern video games and even social media games feature gambling-like features, such as spin-to-win elements and betting mechanics.
Discuss loot boxes and in-game gambling
Loot boxes and random reward systems in games are increasingly seen as gateways to gambling behaviour. Talk with your children about what these features are and the potential risks they pose.
Teach smart money habits
Help your child understand the value of money, how budgeting works and why it is important to make thoughtful decisions about spending.
Use parental controls and blocking tools
Protective software such as NetNanny and other content filters can block access to unsafe or age-inappropriate gambling sites. These tools add an extra layer of defence against exposure to unregulated casinos that do not follow legal age requirements.
Be a supportive presence
If you are worried your child may be struggling with gambling-related behaviour, offer understanding and help, instead of punishing them.
Getting Help For A Gambling Problem
Acknowledging that your gambling habits might be out of control is a big and brave first step. It is not easy to admit, but remember that you are not alone. Many others have faced the same challenge and successfully turned things around.
If you are hoping to tackle the issue on your own, start by identifying what is triggering your urge to gamble. Do you turn to gambling to escape stress, boredom or emotional discomfort? If this is the case, try swapping that habit for healthier options, such as:
- Going for a walk or hitting the gym
- Spending time on hobbies or mindfulness practices
- Meeting up with a friend for a chat or coffee
Breaking the emotional connection with gambling takes time, but small changes can lead to big improvements.
While self-help can be a great starting point, getting professional support will provide you with more structured guidance and real tools to change your habits. Australia offers a wide range of free and confidential services to help persons and families affected by problem gambling.
Here are some of the most trusted resources:
- Gambling Help Line – Call 1800 858 858 for 24/7 confidential support and counselling.
- Lifeline – Call 13 11 14 for around-the-clock assistance with personal struggles, including addiction.
- Gambling Help Online – A comprehensive resource offering live chat, email support, and self-help tools: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
- Gamblers Anonymous Australia – Join a supportive community of people on the same journey toward recovery.
- The Salvation Army and Relationships Australia – Both organisations offer face-to-face counselling and tailored programs for gambling-related issues.
