Responsible Gaming
Gambling Should Be Entertainment
At agneswatermuseum.com, we believe that playing pokies and other casino games should always be a form of entertainment — never a way to earn money, pay bills, or escape financial difficulties. Gambling outcomes are based on chance, and the house always has an edge over time. Please only ever gamble with money you can comfortably afford to lose, and treat any winnings as a bonus rather than an income.
If gambling stops feeling like fun, it's time to stop. This page provides practical tools, warning signs, and Australian support services to help you stay in control in 2026 and beyond.
Age Verification — 18+ Only
In Australia, you must be at least 18 years of age to gamble legally. Underage gambling is illegal, and all reputable PayID casinos we reference are required to verify the age and identity of their players before allowing real-money play.
If you share your devices with minors, we strongly recommend:
- Never leaving your casino account logged in on shared devices.
- Using parental control software (e.g., Net Nanny, Qustodio) to block gambling sites.
- Keeping your PayID and banking details secure and inaccessible to children.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can affect anyone. Ask yourself honestly whether any of the following apply to you:
- Chasing losses — gambling more to try to win back money you've lost.
- Hiding your gambling from family or friends, or lying about how much you spend.
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or using credit to fund gambling.
- Spending more time or money on pokies than you originally planned.
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, loneliness, or depression.
- Neglecting work, study, relationships, or responsibilities because of gambling.
- Feeling irritable or restless when trying to cut down or stop.
- Being unable to stop, even after deciding that you want to.
If you recognise one or more of these signs in yourself or someone you care about, please consider reaching out to one of the support services listed below. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Self-Help Tools to Stay in Control
Most licensed online casinos offer built-in responsible gambling tools. We encourage you to use them proactively:
- Deposit Limits: Set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on how much you can deposit into your account.
- Loss Limits: Restrict the total amount you can lose within a set period.
- Session Time Limits: Limit how long you can play in a single session.
- Reality Checks: Enable on-screen reminders showing how long you've been playing and how much you've spent.
- Cooling-Off Periods: Take a short break (24 hours to several weeks) from your account.
- Self-Exclusion: Block access to your account for an extended period, or register with BetStop — the Australian National Self-Exclusion Register (www.betstop.gov.au) — to exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online wagering services in one step.
Support Organisations for Australians
Free, confidential, and professional help is available across Australia, 24 hours a day:
- Gambling Help Online — free, confidential counselling and live chat support for Australians affected by gambling. Available 24/7. Visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au or call 1800 858 858.
- BetStop — National Self-Exclusion Register — exclude yourself from all Australian licensed online and phone wagering providers. Visit www.betstop.gov.au.
- Lifeline Australia — crisis support and suicide prevention. Call 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au.
- Gamblers Anonymous Australia — peer support meetings across the country. Visit www.gamblersanonymous.org.au.
Each Australian state and territory also operates its own free Gambling Help service — search "Gambling Help" plus your state (e.g., NSW, VIC, QLD) to find local face-to-face counselling.
If Gambling Is No Longer Fun, Seek Help Today
Problem gambling is treatable, and recovery is possible. If you feel your gambling is becoming difficult to control — or you're worried about someone close to you — please don't wait. Reach out to Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for free, confidential support, available 24/7 across Australia.
Remember: gamble for fun, set your limits before you play, and never chase your losses. When the fun stops, stop.