Responsible Gambling

Gambling can be an enjoyable experience and there are many betting sites in Australia you can choose from, some even offering free horse racing tips or free sports betting tips. However, if things go too far, it can be harmful to yourself and your loved ones. 

Problem gambling is an issue that cannot be ignored and many organisations provide useful resources. On top of these organisations, all betting apps and sites have to provide information on responsible gambling. 

This includes where to find tools from external organisations and some even go as far as providing their own responsible gambling tools within their platform, like deposit limits. External organisations also have tools for those experiencing problem gambling as well as tools for loved ones to support them.

There are plenty of places you can get help if needed. As you probably already see at the end of bookmaker ads, whether it be online, on TV or elsewhere, there is a responsible gambling message that directs people to Gambling Help Online.

Gambling Help Online is certainly one of the biggest responsible gambling organisations in the country, but there are a range of other organisations that can assist including:

• Gambling Therapy
• BetStop
• Gamblers Anonymous 
• 100 Day Challenge
• Gambler's Help

BetStop is an external organisation that offers assistance to those experiencing harm from gambling. This organisation only launched in 2023, but it has had a major impact on the industry, so we believe it warrants its own section.

BetStop makes it much easier to self-exclude from bookmakers. While individual bookmakers offer self-exclusion tools (which we will discuss later on this page), BetStop allows you to self-exclude all licenced bookies in the country in one go.

It is a free government initiative and once you have registered, phone and online gambling providers aren’t able to:

• Allow you to place a bet (including live betting).
• Allow you to reopen your account (or create a new one).
• Send you any marketing messages.

It takes just five minutes to register and you can choose how long you would like your self-exclusion period to last from three months to a lifetime. The BetStop website also offers a range of helpful resources to help keep you on track during your self-exclusion period.

Getting help from an external organisation is a recommended option and there are things you can do yourself to ensure you are gambling responsibly. These tools are offered by bookmakers themselves and OnlyRacing prefers partners with bookmakers that offer responsible gambling tools.

The range of responsible gambling tools that you will see offered by Australian bookmakers or external organisations include:

Deposit Limits

Deposit limits have become one of the biggest and most used tools on offer from Australian bookmakers. With this tool, you can place a limit on the amount of money you are allowed to deposit over a chosen period (which can be over a week, month or other period). You’ll have to set a deposit limit for every bookmaker you have an account with.

After you’ve set this up, you won’t be able to deposit more than that amount. So, if you have set a weekly deposit limit of $50, for example, you won’t be able to deposit any more than $50 every week. Any time you try to deposit more than $50 per week, the deposit will be rejected.

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion can now be done through a bookmaker individually, or through BetStop (which we discussed above). This tool is more definitive and results in not being able to access your betting account for a certain amount of time. You can’t change your mind midway through the exclusion period either, you have to wait until the end.

There are usually a few options for self-exclusion through a bookmaker, including one month, six months, one year or longer. This means that if you have an urge to place a bet, you won’t be able to as you don’t have access to your account. Previously, you would have to self-exclude from bookmakers individually, but BetStop makes the process much easier.

Take a Break

Similar to self-exclusion, it is offered as well as that tool with some bookmakers. It provides gamblers with the option for a shorter self-exclusion period. The self-exclusion period can vary from bookie to bookie, however, it can be as short as one day to three months.

During the time you are taking a break, you won’t be able to use your betting account to place bets or make deposits. Just like with self-exclusion, this cannot be undone and you’ll have to wait until the period is over before you have access to your account again.

Monthly Bookmaker Activity Statements

Bookmakers now send monthly activity statements and while this isn’t strictly a responsible gambling tool, it can help to shine a light on your betting activities and be a conversation starter if you’re letting gambling take over your life.

Your monthly bookmaker activity statement will display things like the number of bets you placed during that particular month as well as how much money you won or lost. Other facts like how much money you deposited, your stake amount and more are also included.

Self-Assessment Questionnaires

The best self-assessment questionnaires can be found on Gambling Help Online and there are a couple of different questionnaires that provide useful information on where you stand. If you’re looking for more information about your current situation, these questionnaires are very useful.

Gambling Calculators 

Gambling calculators available with Gambling Help Online are another useful tool for you to get a better idea of your gambling behaviour. You can compare your behaviour to other Australians and see how gambling is affecting your life in general. Remember, the calculator is just an indication of where you sit.