Help, limits and self-exclusion

Setting limits before you open a game

Decide what you can afford to lose before you log in, not after a bad run. A deposit limit set with our partner caps how much can go into the account over a period you choose, which means the decision is made once and then holds. Session reminders do the same job for time: they interrupt play rather than ending it, so you get a chance to stop on your own terms.

Limits only work if they are set below what you would spend without thinking. If you have ever topped up an account after telling yourself you were finished, set the limit lower than that number. Our partner applies limits at the account level, so they apply across the games you play there, and tightening a limit should not be something you have to argue for.

How loss chasing shows up

Chasing is staking more to recover what has already gone. It usually starts small: a bigger bet than usual to get back to even, then another after that fails. The tell is the purpose behind the bet rather than its size — playing to recover money is a different activity from playing for entertainment, and it rarely ends where the person intends.

Pokies returns are long-run averages, and a return figure says nothing about a single session. No limit, stake or pattern of play changes the outcome of the next spin. If you notice yourself raising stakes after a loss, or playing past a time you set for yourself, that is the moment to stop rather than the moment to try harder.

Support services and setting your own limits

Gambling Help Online offers free counselling and support for people affected by gambling, including family members. BetStop is the national self-exclusion register: it blocks you from opening new accounts and from gambling with licensed operators for the period you choose. Both are free to use and separate from anything our partner does, which matters if you want a barrier that does not depend on one operator.

If money is already tight, talk to a financial counsellor before borrowing to play. Support services in Australia are confidential, and using them does not require you to have stopped gambling already. Our partner is a commercial site and its bonuses are a marketing tool, not a safety net; if play has stopped being fun, the help above is the place to start.

Can I set a limit after I have already opened an account?

Yes. Deposit and session limits are applied at the account level and can be set or tightened after sign-up. Ask our partner's support team to apply a lower limit rather than leaving it to willpower during a session.

What is the difference between a break and self-exclusion?

A break is a shorter pause taken with one operator, while self-exclusion through BetStop covers licensed operators nationally for a period you choose. If you are unsure which you need, the national register gives the wider barrier.