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Responsible gaming

Gambling should stay fun and stay affordable. This page explains the player-protection tools a regulated casino should give you, how to use them, where to get free help in Australia, and a short confidential self-check.

Player-protection tools you should have

The tools below reflect the player-protection measures required of licensed operators under the Malta Gaming Authority’s Player Protection Directive — a useful benchmark for any casino, wherever it is licensed.

Deposit and loss limitsCap how much you can deposit or lose over a day, week or month. A regulated operator must offer at least one of these, and you should set yours before you start, not after a losing run. Reductions should apply quickly; increases should take effect only after a cooling-off period.
Wagering and session limitsLimit how much you can stake or how long a session runs. When the limit is reached, play pauses.
Reality checksFor fast, repetitive games like pokies, an on-screen reminder shows how long you have played and your wins and losses, and you must acknowledge it before continuing.
Time-outs (cooling-off)Take a short break — a day, a week or a month — during which you cannot log in to play. Useful when things feel like they are slipping.
Self-exclusionExclude yourself for a fixed period or indefinitely. Under the MGA framework this must be simple to request; a definite exclusion can be lifted only after at least a 24-hour cooling-off period, and an indefinite one after at least 7 days.
Clear information before you depositOperators must show responsible-gaming information and access to these tools before your first deposit, verify that players are 18+, and never target minors or vulnerable people in advertising.
Signs to watch for
  • Spending more time or money than you planned
  • Chasing losses to win them back
  • Borrowing money or selling things to gamble
  • Hiding your gambling from people close to you
  • Feeling anxious, guilty or low about it
Free, confidential help in Australia

Gambling Help Online — 1800 858 858, 24/7 — gamblinghelponline.org.au

Lifeline — 13 11 14, crisis support

BetStop — betstop.gov.au, the national self-exclusion register that blocks you from all licensed Australian operators at once

A two-minute self-check

This short, anonymous self-check uses the nine questions of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), part of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index. Thinking about the last 12 months, choose the answer that fits best. Each answer scores 0 to 3. Nothing is sent or stored — the result is worked out in your browser.

How scores are read: 0 = no problem indicated · 1–2 = low risk · 3–7 = moderate risk, some consequences · 8 or more = high risk. A score of 8+ suggests it is worth seeking support and considering self-exclusion.
1. Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
2. Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts to get the same feeling of excitement?
3. Have you gone back another day to try to win back money you lost?
4. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
5. Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
6. Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
7. Have people criticised your betting, or told you that you had a gambling problem?
8. Has your gambling caused financial problems for you or your household?
9. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

This self-check is for guidance only and is not a medical diagnosis. Source: Problem Gambling Severity Index (Ferris & Wynne, Canadian Problem Gambling Index, 2001). If you are worried, please talk to one of the free services above. Page reviewed by Jason Finley · last updated 21 July 2026.

You must be 18 or over to gamble in Australia. Keep your account details away from anyone under 18. Treat any money you gamble as the cost of entertainment, never as a way to make money or solve financial problems.

The Pokies Net

An independent review of The Pokies Net for Australian players, published by the editorial team at thepokiesnetcasino.org. We are not the casino operator.

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© 2026 thepokiesnetcasino.org. This site contains affiliate links and is an independent review, not the operator. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Gambling involves financial risk and is not a way to make money. Play only with funds you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. You can self-exclude from Australian licensed operators through BetStop. You must be 18 or older to gamble.