Our position on responsible gambling
At Chicken Road Australia, we believe gambling should be entertainment — a bit of fun, a bit of excitement, nothing more. Australia has a complex relationship with gambling, and with Aussie punters increasingly accessing offshore online casinos, personal responsibility becomes even more critical. Without ACMA regulation of offshore platforms, the safety net falls on you.
The Productivity Commission estimates that problem gambling costs Australia over $4.7 billion annually in social harm. Approximately 1.5% of Australian adults experience significant gambling problems, and a further 3-4% are at moderate risk. These aren't just statistics — they represent families, friendships, and livelihoods affected by gambling harm.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling develops gradually. Watch for these signs in yourself or others:
- Betting more than you can afford to lose
- Borrowing money or selling things to fund gambling
- Neglecting work, family, or responsibilities
- Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling
- Chasing losses with bigger bets
- Hiding gambling from family or friends
- Using gambling to cope with stress or emotions
- Feeling guilty about gambling behaviour
- Unable to cut back despite wanting to
Practical safe gambling tips
Budget strictly: Decide your session budget before you start. When it's gone, stop. Not "maybe stop" — stop. Full stop.
Set time limits: Use a timer. When it goes off, take a break or end the session. Time disappears fast when you're gambling.
Never chase losses: The most destructive behaviour in gambling. Accept losses as the price of entertainment.
Don't gamble under the influence: Alcohol and drugs impair judgement. Sober gambling is safer gambling.
Keep balance in life: Gambling shouldn't be your primary hobby, social outlet, or stress relief.
Use casino tools: Deposit limits, loss limits, time alerts, cooling-off periods, self-exclusion — use them proactively.
Australian support services
Free, confidential help is available 24/7:
- Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858 or gamblinghelponline.org.au
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- BeyondBlue: 1300 22 4636
- Financial Counselling Australia: 1800 007 007
Self-exclusion
Most offshore casinos offer self-exclusion periods from 24 hours to permanent closure. For land-based gambling, Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register allows you to exclude from pokies venues across multiple states. Contact Gambling Help for assistance.
Protecting young Australians
Online gambling must never be accessible to minors. If young people are in your household:
- Never share casino login details
- Use parental controls to block gambling sites
- Have honest conversations about gambling risks
- Model responsible behaviour
Our commitment
Every piece of content we publish includes responsible gambling messaging. We never glorify wins, promote unrealistic expectations, or suggest gambling as a money-making activity. If gambling isn't fun, it's not worth doing.
Read also: about us, contact us, disclaimer, privacy policy.
International Resources
- GamCare — Counselling and support for problem gambling
- BeGambleAware — Information and advice to help you gamble responsibly