Responsible Gambling

Support is available now

You do not have to wait until a situation feels severe. If you are worried about your behaviour, debt, a relationship or the urge to keep playing, talking with a trained counsellor is a useful first step. You can ask about local services and practical options without making a commitment to gamble less in a particular way.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger in Australia, call 000. For crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. This website is not an emergency or counselling service.

Our role and adult audience

Velqandarim is an informational publication for adults aged 18 and over. We do not run gambling games, accept money, provide gambling accounts, arrange event entry or handle payouts. Venue coverage does not mean that gambling is appropriate for every visitor.

Reading about poker does not require participating in it. A meal, sports broadcast or conversation can be the whole evening. If a venue’s gambling environment could trigger an urge to play, select a different location. The age confirmation on our guide is a self-declaration; venues and organisers apply their own identification and admission checks.

Understand the risk

All gambling carries the possibility of losing money. Poker involves decisions and skill, but neither experience nor a strategy removes chance, uncertainty or the risk of a loss. A previous result does not make a future win due. Do not treat gambling as employment, a savings plan or a solution to debt.

Entry fees, re-entries and other event costs can accumulate. Longer participation can also affect time with family, work, sleep and concentration. A low initial price does not make an activity harmless. Alcohol, fatigue and emotional distress can make it harder to follow decisions made earlier.

Practical boundaries for a night out

• Choose whether to gamble before arriving. Not playing is always a valid choice, including when friends are participating.
• Protect essential spending. Rent, food, bills, savings commitments and transport home should never become gambling money. Do not borrow, use credit or sell possessions to continue.
• Set both time and spending limits. Include all possible participation costs in the amount you can afford to lose. Stop at the limit; do not change it after a loss.
• Avoid chasing. Trying to recover money by playing longer or spending more can increase harm. Leave the event rather than planning a recovery session.
• Keep decisions clear. Do not gamble while intoxicated, exhausted, upset or under pressure. Take breaks away from the table and consider leaving the venue entirely.
• Make a leaving plan. Arrange transport and let someone you trust know your plan. A supportive friend can help you keep a boundary without taking responsibility for your play.

Limits can reduce exposure but do not make gambling safe. If you repeatedly find it difficult to follow them, take a break and speak with a support service.

Warning signs worth acting on

Pay attention if you spend more than planned, hide spending, think constantly about the next session, feel irritable when you cannot play or miss commitments because of gambling. Other signs include borrowing money, using bill money, chasing losses and feeling that you need to win to make things right.

A single concern is enough reason to seek support. You do not need to diagnose yourself. Write down what has changed, avoid the next gambling environment and speak to someone you trust or a gambling counsellor. For money-related harm, National Debt Helpline provides information about free financial counselling.

Taking a break and self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is a formal way to ask to be kept out of selected gambling services or areas. For physical venues in New South Wales, ask the venue or a GambleAware counsellor about the options, scope and duration. Do not assume that one request covers every pub, every event organiser or every form of gambling.

GambleAware NSW explains venue self-exclusion and how to get assistance. Ask specifically how any arrangement would apply to the live poker event or venue you are concerned about.

BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, is a free Australian Government service for licensed Australian online and telephone wagering providers. It is not a substitute for arranging exclusion from a physical bar or poker event. A counsellor can help you consider separate measures for different types of gambling.

If you are worried about someone else

Choose a calm, private time to describe the changes you have noticed. Focus on specific effects, such as missed bills or commitments, and listen without trying to win an argument. Avoid lending money to cover losses or taking over gambling decisions. Protect your own essential money and wellbeing.

Encourage professional help and offer to sit with the person while they make a call, if they want that support. Family members and friends can contact Gambling Help Online themselves, even if the person who gambles is not ready to speak. If there is abuse, threats or immediate danger, prioritise safety and seek urgent assistance.

Trusted Australian resources

• Gambling Help Online — counselling and support resources.
• Australian Government gambling support services — national support information.
• GambleAware NSW — local support and information.
• BetStop — online and telephone wagering self-exclusion.
• Lifeline — crisis support.

These organisations operate independently of Velqandarim. Follow their current guidance and contact a qualified professional for advice about your own circumstances.