Talk to someone
- Gambling Help Online: call 1800 858 858 or chat at gamblinghelponline.org.au. Free, professional and confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends.
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 for 24-hour crisis support.
- BetStop: betstop.gov.au is the national self-exclusion register for licensed online and phone betting providers. It covers betting, not lottery tickets, so if you also want to stop buying lotto online, ask your lottery provider about its own limits and exclusion options.
Keep it in proportion
- Decide on a weekly amount before you buy, and treat it as the cost of entertainment rather than an investment.
- Look at the odds before choosing a bigger entry. Every game’s odds are on its page on this site, straight from the operator.
- Don’t chase a jackpot by spending more when it grows: a bigger jackpot doesn’t change the odds of a single game.
- Check whether your provider offers spending limits in your account, and use them.
Signs it may be time to talk
Spending more than you planned, borrowing to buy tickets, hiding how much you spend, or feeling anxious until the results are out are all good reasons to call. You don’t need to have a “problem” to use Gambling Help Online; many people call early, and many call on behalf of someone else.