Responsible Gambling Guide for Buffalo Players

Responsible gambling means playing within your means, understanding the odds, and recognising when play stops being fun. For Buffalo and all pokies, it means:

• Setting a budget you can afford to lose.
• Playing for entertainment, not to make money or recover losses.
• Taking regular breaks.
• Knowing when to stop.

Pokies are games of chance with a built-in house edge. Over time, the odds favour the venue or casino, not the player. No strategy or timing can change this.

Most venues and online casinos offer tools to help you stay in control.

Deposit Limits

Set a maximum amount you'll deposit in a day, week or month. Once reached, you cannot deposit more until the period resets. This is one of the most effective harm-reduction tools.

Loss Limits

Some venues and online services let you set a maximum loss amount. If you hit this limit, your account locks until the next period.

Time Limits

Decide how long you'll play in a session (e.g. 30 minutes) and stick to it. Use a phone timer if needed.

Betting Limits

Choose a bet size that lets you play for a reasonable length of time without exhausting your budget. For example, if your session budget is $50 and you want at least 50 spins, aim for $1 per spin or less.

[!TIP] Set your limits before you start playing. Write them down or screenshot them so you can refer back if you feel tempted to increase stakes.

If you feel your gambling is becoming a problem, self-exclusion is a formal way to ban yourself from a venue or online service for a set period (usually 6 months to 5 years).

• Land-based venues (pubs, clubs, casinos): Ask staff or management to place you on a self-exclusion list. You'll be refused entry and refused service if you try to gamble.
• Online casinos: Log into your account settings and select "Self-Exclude" or contact customer support. The site will close your account and block deposits.
• Multi-venue self-exclusion: Some states offer schemes that cover multiple venues at once. Ask your local venue or contact Gambling Help Online for details.

Self-exclusion is free and confidential.

If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you care about, help is available immediately and at no cost.

Gambling Help Online (National)

• Phone: 1800 858 858 (free, confidential, 24/7)
• Website: https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
• Services: counselling, self-assessment tools, referrals to local services

Gambling Help Online is run by Relationships Australia and is independent of venues and casinos.

Lifeline (Mental Health Crisis Support)

• Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)
• Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Use Lifeline if you're in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm. Gambling harm often overlaps with depression and anxiety.

State-Based Services

Each Australian state and territory runs its own gambling support services:

• NSW: GambleAware NSW - search "GambleAware NSW" for counselling and support.
• VIC: Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF) - https://www.vrgf.org.au
• QLD: Gambling Help Service QLD - 1800 006 886
• SA: Gamblers Help - 1800 858 858 (same national line)
• WA: Problem Gambling Services - 1800 858 858
• TAS: Tasmanian Gambling Helpline - 1800 858 858
• ACT: ACT Gambling and Racing Commission - search "ACT problem gambling support"
• NT: NT Licensing NT - search "NT problem gambling support"

All are free and confidential.

Seek help if you notice:

• Playing longer or with larger bets than planned.
• Chasing losses (playing more to win back money you've lost).
• Borrowing money to gamble.
• Neglecting work, study, family or relationships because of gambling.
• Feeling anxious, irritable or guilty about your gambling.
• Lying to friends or family about how much you gamble.
• Using gambling to escape stress, sadness or other difficult feelings.

If any of these apply, contact Gambling Help Online or Lifeline today. Early help makes a real difference.

Australian pubs and clubs are required by law to display responsible gambling information and contact numbers. Look for:

• Posters with helpline numbers.
• Information brochures near the pokies.
• Staff trained to recognise problem gambling.

You can ask venue staff to:

• Place you on a self-exclusion list.
• Reduce your access to ATMs or cash-out facilities.
• Provide information about support services.

If you play Buffalo-style pokies at offshore online casinos, use the same discipline as land-based play:

• Set deposit, loss and time limits before you log in.
• Use the casino's self-exclusion tool if you need to stop.
• Never chase losses by depositing more.
• Remember that offshore casinos are not regulated by Australian authorities, so dispute resolution is limited. Play only at reputable sites with clear terms and transparent RTP information.

[!RISK] Online gambling carries financial risk. Offshore casinos are not licensed in Australia, so you have limited legal protection if disputes arise. If gambling stops being fun or you feel out of control, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 immediately.

• Treat Buffalo and all pokies as entertainment with a cost, not as a way to make money.
• Set limits on deposits, losses, time and bet size before you play.
• Use self-exclusion if you need to stop.
• Reach out to Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) or Lifeline (13 11 14) if you're struggling. Help is free, confidential and available 24/7.

For more information on where to play Buffalo safely, see our home page or payments guide.