Responsible gambling
Nobody under 18 may hold an account at any of the six brands ranked here, and each cashier checks age at verification. A casino balance is entertainment spending, in the same column as a concert ticket, and it should never come from rent, groceries, school fees or a repayment already owed to someone else.
The behaviours worth watching for are specific: raising stakes to win back a loss, playing longer than planned once the session limit has passed, borrowing to fund a deposit, and keeping the time spent playing away from the people you live with. Two or three of those together are enough to warrant a break.
All six brands ranked here let you set a deposit limit, a session reminder and a cooling-off period inside the account. Set them before the first spin. A tightened limit applies straight away; a loosened one only takes effect after a waiting period, which is the point of it.
Free and confidential help is available around the clock from Gambling Help Online at gamblinghelponline.org.au and on 1800 858 858, and from Gambler's Help in Victoria. Both services also counsel partners and family members.