Tunebite.co.uk is mostly about recording software, but we also have a page about online pokies and the casinos that offer them. Because of that, we want to be clear about the risks. This page explains how to keep gambling under control, how to tell when it is turning into a problem and where to find free, confidential help.
We do not run a casino or take bets, and we do not want anyone to gamble more than they can afford. If you choose to play for real money, we want you to do it safely.
Need help now?
Help is free and confidential, and you do not have to face this alone. Start with one of these services:
- Worldwide: Gambling Therapy offers free online support and live chat in several languages.
- United States: the National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by the National Council on Problem Gambling: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
- United Kingdom: the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare: 0808 8020 133 in England and Scotland and 0808 2819 265 in Wales, free and open 24 hours a day.
- Australia: Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858.
- New Zealand: the Gambling Helpline: 0800 654 655, or send a free text to 8006.
If your country is not listed, Gambling Therapy can point you to local services, and your doctor can refer you to support where you live.
What responsible gambling means
Gambling responsibly means you stay in charge. You decide before you start how much time and money you will spend, you treat that money as the price of entertainment, and you accept that you will probably not get it back.
Pokies, also called slots or slot machines, are games of pure chance. Each spin is random and does not depend on the spins before it, so a machine is never “due” to pay out. The return to player (RTP) figure shows what a game pays back on average over millions of spins, not what you will get back in one session. The house always keeps a share in the long run, and no system or bonus changes that.
When gambling stops being fun, or you keep playing to win back what you have lost, it is time to stop.
Habits that keep you in control
- Set a deposit limit with the casino before your first deposit, and a loss limit if one is offered.
- Decide how long you will play and use a timer or the casino’s reality checks.
- Keep gambling money apart from money for rent, bills and food.
- Never borrow money to gamble.
- Do not chase losses with bigger bets or longer sessions.
- Be careful with autoplay and fast spin settings, which make it easy to lose track of how much you bet.
- Read the terms before you accept a bonus or free spins: wagering requirements can keep you playing longer than you meant to.
- Avoid gambling when you are tired, stressed, upset or have been drinking.
- Take regular breaks, and use the time-out or self-exclusion options if you need a longer pause.
Warning signs of gambling harm
Gambling problems often grow slowly and can be hard to see, both for the person who gambles and for the people around them. Look out for these signs:
- spending more money or time on gambling than you planned
- gambling again to win back money you have lost
- borrowing money, or using money meant for something else, to gamble
- hiding how much you gamble or how much you have spent
- gambling to escape boredom, stress or loneliness
- gambling getting in the way of work, study, sleep, money or relationships
- feeling guilty, anxious or ashamed about gambling
Even one of these signs can mean gambling is starting to cause harm. Noticing it is a good reason to talk to someone, and getting help early makes the biggest difference.
Check your gambling
If you are not sure whether gambling has become a problem, go through the warning signs again and answer each one honestly. Your account history at the casino and your bank statements show what you have really spent, which is often more than it feels like. For a second opinion, call or message one of the helplines above. The conversation is confidential, and you can stay anonymous.
Ways to get help
- Helplines: free support by phone, text or chat, listed by country at the top of this page. Advisers can also put you in touch with free counselling near you.
- Self-help groups: Gamblers Anonymous runs free meetings for people who want to stop gambling, in many countries and online.
- Self-exclusion: licensed casinos let you set limits, take a time-out or exclude yourself completely. Some countries also have national schemes that block you from all licensed operators at once, such as GAMSTOP in the United Kingdom and BetStop for online wagering in Australia.
- Blocking tools: gambling-blocking software and the screen-time settings on your phone or computer can make it harder to reach gambling sites.
- Your doctor can offer support and refer you to specialist help.
For family and friends
When someone gambles too much, the people close to them are affected too: partners, children, parents and friends. Feeling worried, angry or powerless is normal, and you can get support for yourself. Most of the helplines above also talk to family members.
Try to bring up the subject calmly and without blame. Protect your own money, and think carefully before paying off someone else’s gambling debts, because that can keep the problem going. Only the person who gambles can decide to get help, but you can make sure they know where to find it.
Age limits and the law
You must be of legal age to gamble, and the limit depends on where you live. It is 18 in most countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. In New Zealand you must be 20 to enter a casino, and many US states require you to be 21 for casino gambling. Online casinos are licensed in some countries, restricted in others and not allowed at all in some.
Check the age limit and the rules where you live before you gamble for real money. Your national or state gambling regulator publishes them, for example the UK Gambling Commission, the gaming commission of your US state, or New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs. Only play with operators that are licensed where you live.