Responsible Play

Lotteries are a form of gambling. For most people, buying the odd ticket is a small and harmless bit of entertainment. But for some, gambling of any kind can become a problem. This page collects the key support services and practical information in one place.

Support Services

If you or someone close to you is struggling with gambling, these services are free and confidential:

Service	Contact	Details
Gambling Helpline	1800 858 858	Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Gambling Help Online	gamblinghelponline.org.au	Live chat, email support and self-help resources
BetStop	BetStop.gov.au	National self-exclusion register for online gambling
Lifeline	13 11 14	Crisis support and suicide prevention, 24/7

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a formal process where you ask to be banned from gambling services. It's taken seriously and enforced by operators.

BetStop is the national self-exclusion register run by the Australian Government. When you register with BetStop, all licensed Australian online gambling providers are required to close your accounts and stop you from opening new ones. The exclusion can be set for a minimum of 3 months and up to a lifetime. Registration is free.

In addition to the national register, most state and territory jurisdictions operate their own self-exclusion schemes for land-based venues. Check with your local gambling authority for details.

Deposit and Spending Limits

Most online lottery platforms allow you to set deposit limits — daily, weekly or monthly caps on how much you can add to your account. If you play online, it's worth setting these up even if you don't think you need them. They act as a safety rail.

Key things to know about limits:

Decreases take effect immediately
Increases are subject to a cooling-off period (usually 7 days) before they apply
You can usually set time-based reminders too, so you're alerted after a certain amount of playing time

Warning Signs

Gambling problems don't always look dramatic. They can build gradually. Some things to watch for:

Spending more on lottery tickets than you planned or can afford
Chasing losses — buying more tickets after a run of no wins to "make up" for the money spent
Borrowing money or selling things to fund gambling
Feeling anxious, guilty or irritable about gambling
Hiding how much you spend from family or friends
Neglecting other responsibilities because of gambling
Thinking about gambling frequently when you're not doing it

If any of those ring true, it doesn't mean you're a bad person. It means it might be time to talk to someone. The helpline number is right up the top of this page.

Practical Suggestions

A few straightforward things that can help keep lottery play in the entertainment zone:

Set a fixed weekly or monthly budget for lottery tickets and don't exceed it
Treat the cost of a ticket as the price of entertainment, not an investment
Don't play with money earmarked for bills, rent or essentials
Take regular breaks — you don't need to play every draw
Be honest with yourself about how much you're spending. Write it down if that helps.
Remember that the odds are heavily against winning a top prize. That's just the maths of it.

For Friends and Family

If you're worried about someone else's gambling, the Gambling Helpline (1800 858 858) offers support for affected family members and friends too, not just the person gambling. Gambling Help Online also has specific resources for people supporting someone with a gambling problem.