Responsible Gambling: Help And Assistance In Australia
Here is a list of links with some reliable sources to help you to stop gambling. Uncontrolled gambling is an addiction which must be prevented. We hope that the links below will help you.
Here support for gambling addiction is offered round the clock every day. Gamblers are offered useful information, counseling and assistance in preventing the addiction.
This is a free and absolutely confidential gambler’s help service.
This gambling help service offers free phone counseling 24/7, free face-to-face counseling with professionals in a friendly non-judgmental environment and online support. There is a variety of local services across metropolitan and country South Australia.
This is online help for those, who prefer to chat online or need support via email.
Free, anonymous help for deaf young people, or people with hearing and speech impairment.
1800 858 858
Get professional free support. Here you can request a call back.
1800 262 376
Here is a hotline for young people under 25s. It is open 24/7 and completely confidential. This help is free from fixed landlines, do not hesitate to call if you feel your betting is getting out of control and you need help.
This is an international website of the community of THE gam-Anon Family Groups.
This is a fellowship of people who share their experience and strength to help others to recover from gambling.
Gambling Help Queensland is a free support service offering counseling, education programs, different networking activities and community training. They raise awareness of responsible gambling.
This is a project of the Office of Responsible Gambling offering different kinds of help and support.
(02) 6215 9400
Lifeline Australia
Tips how to enhance awareness while playing in online casinos and minimize the risks of gambling addiction are outlined below:
- An individual should never gamble with borrowed money. A person should also never gamble with money which is saved for food, rent, education, medicine and so on. It is vital to gamble only with money affordable to lose.
- An individual should not dedicate all their free time to gambling. It is crucial to focus on hobbies, spend time with family or friends and make new friends.
- It is better not to use credit cards to make deposits on an account. A person should avoid having multiple accounts at online casinos. It is also important to set deposit limits, win/loss and gambling sessions in order to be aware of time and money spent on gambling. An individual should also use player protection tools in order to control gambling habits.
- Never gamble after taking alcohol or drugs. Gambling is not a way to escape from depression or anxiety. If you feel that you have any psychological issues you should contact a professional.
You can ask yourself a list of the following questions in order to identify if you have problem gambling:
- Have you made ineffective attempts to quit gambling?
- How often do you think about gambling while working and in the mornings?
- Have you ever tried to hide the fact that you gamble?
- How often do you prefer gambling to your family, friends, hobbies or job?
- How often do you chase losses?
- How often do you gamble because you feel anxious or distressed?
- Do you feel irritated or nervous when you are not gambling?
- Have you ever borrowed or stolen money to gamble?
Reputable online casinos offer a player to set their own limits. This is the way you can avoid gambling outside the limits which you set for yourself and a casino must adhere to your self-imposed limits. A variety of self-limit options is usually offered by a casino:
Session Limits
After having played for a particular amount of time a pop-up reminder shows you your playing time and offers you to log out. This is a friendly and useful tool to remain aware of gambling sessions.
Deposit Limits
Deposit limits are about a maximum admissible amount you can deposit within a day/week/month. If you change your mind and decide to increase or decrease the limits it may take 24 hours to a week.
Betting Limits
It is a self restriction on your betting or wagering amount. If you have set an amount of how much you can wager per week, a casino won’t let you wager more than that.
Loss Limits
This is a kind of restriction which does not allow you to lose a bigger amount than you have set daily/weekly. In case if you have lost almost the amount which you have set, a pop-up message will remind you.
Self-exclusion
This is an important and responsible step if any restrictions listed above have not helped. With self-exclusion a casino has your permission to stop you from logging in or playing for real funds.
Temporary self exclusion – is a solution for those who need a break before they want to come back to gambling entertainment. However after being temporarily self excluded a player will need to contact a casino support to be able to come back.
Permanent self exclusion – is a no way back path. Therefore a player should withdraw all money from their account beforehand as after choosing this option there will be no access to an account.
Online gambling is about fun and entertainment. Responsible gambling is about awareness and self control, when a person enjoys playing within the limits of his/her bankroll and with money affordable to lose. If you feel that you have a gambling problems do not hesitate to ask for help and professional assistance.