How to Limit Your Gambling

A popular self-help strategy for gambling is setting limits.

Setting limits is a practical way to control gambling and avoid unwanted habits. If you’re not ready to stop gambling entirely, that’s okay — small steps can make a big difference.

In this blog post, we’ll explore strategies for setting limits on online betting, pokies, and casino gaming across Queensland.

Online betting limits

Online betting accounts and gambling apps provide tools to help you gamble responsibly.

Options include:

• App notifications: Track time or spending with helpful reminders
• Top-up limits: Control how often you can add funds to your account
• Marketing opt-outs: Block promotional texts and emails to reduce triggers
• Deposit limits: Restrict how much money you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly.

By law, Australian gambling websites must prompt you to set a deposit limit when creating an account and remind you annually. If gambling begins to feel unmanageable, adjust these limits in your account settings to help regain control.

Register for self-exclusion

Self-exclusion services like BetStop allow you to take a break from gambling securely at no cost. You can self-exclude from online betting for short-term, long-term, or for life.

To stop gambling at clubs, hotels, or casinos, Queenslanders can access venue-based self-exclusion. Speak to venue staff or contact your nearest Gambling Help service at 1800 858 858 for guidance.

Here are the steps to ban yourself.

Limiting gambling with options from your bank

Many banks offer features to help manage gambling-related spending, such as:

• Spending limits on transactions
• Withdrawal caps to restrict access to cash
• Transaction alerts to track spending in real time
• Gambling blocks to stop payments to gambling services.

A gambling block is an effective way to limit or stop gambling, and it can usually be activated through your banking app. Remember, using credit cards for gambling is banned in Queensland.

If you need assistance, reach out to your bank or visit a local branch.

Pre-commitment programs

Pre-commitment programs let you set limits on the time or money spent playing pokies.

Here’s how a pre-commitment program works:

1. Choose a daily or weekly spending or time limit
2. Use a programmed card that tracks and enforces these limits
3. Once you reach your limit, play will stop for the set period.

You can learn more about pre-commitment program options by asking the staff at the venue where you wish to set limits.

Self-Help Strategies to Limit Gambling

Setting personal boundaries can be an effective strategy to reduce gambling harm:

• Carry only a set amount of cash
• Choose venues without pokies or gaming rooms
• Create a budget specifically for gambling and stick to it
• Leave extra bank cards at home to limit access to funds
• Avoid gambling when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Socialise with friends who don’t gamble to reduce gambling triggers
• Spend time on fulfilling hobbies like exercise, cooking, or DIY projects
• Set time limits during gambling activities – you can set alarms as reminders.

If you gamble across multiple platforms, like pokies, sports betting, or scratchies, consider stopping or limiting one type at a time. For instance, you might pause online gambling while continuing other activities.

“It may be helpful to limit or stop one type of gambling if you are gambling on multiple platforms, like pokies, sports betting, or scratchies. For example, you might take a break from online gambling using BetStop while still playing lottery.”

-Helen, Gambling Help Counsellor

Gambling Help is available

Are you ready to take back control of your gambling? Support is always here:

• Call the Gambling Helpline at 1800 858 858—available 24/7.
• Book free face-to-face counselling with a qualified professional.

Here are some tips on how to stop gambling and save money.