Gambling should be optional entertainment for adults aged 21 and above. It is not an income plan, debt solution or investment. No strategy removes the chance of loss.
Before any session
Pay essential expenses first. Choose a small entertainment amount you can lose in full without affecting daily life. Set a time limit and decide which games or markets are off-limits. Do not use credit, loans, bill money or funds belonging to another person.
During play
Keep stakes within the written plan. Take regular breaks. Do not increase stakes after losses or extend a session because an outcome feels “due.” Alcohol, stress, anger and sleep loss impair decisions; stop rather than attempting to manage through them.
Warning signs
Pause and seek help if you hide gambling, borrow to play, miss obligations, chase losses, feel anxious when stopping, or repeatedly break limits. Account limits and self-exclusion are protective tools. If there is immediate risk of self-harm or harm to someone else, contact local emergency services now.
A simple stop plan
- Close the app or website and step away from the device.
- Tell a trusted person what is happening.
- Block payments or access where appropriate.
- Use the operator’s time-out or self-exclusion process.
- Seek qualified local health or counselling support.
Our bankroll planning guide can help with prevention, but it is not a substitute for professional support.