Responsible Gambling

What Safer Gambling Tools Are For

Pokies and casino games are built for entertainment, not income. Safer gambling tools help you stay in control of your time and spend, so play stays enjoyable rather than stressful.

These tools sit inside your Yabby account and let you set your own boundaries before a session starts. You decide the limit, you decide the duration, and you can adjust or remove most settings as your circumstances change.

This page explains each tool plainly, how to switch it on, and where to find confidential, free support in Australia if gambling stops feeling fun. Everything here is for players aged 18 and over only.

Safer gambling is not a one-off setting you tick and forget. It works best as a habit: check your limits the way you'd check a budget, review them after a big win or a losing streak, and treat the tools as part of normal account management rather than something you only reach for in a crisis. Building that habit early, before play ever feels like a problem, is what makes these tools genuinely useful rather than a last resort.

Self-Exclusion and How It Works

Self-exclusion lets you close the door on your account for a period you choose. Once it's active, you cannot log in, deposit, or play until the period ends.

It exists for the moments when a limit on spend or time isn't enough on its own, and what you actually need is distance from the account altogether. Some players use it after noticing early warning signs in themselves. Others use it proactively, during a period of financial pressure, stress, or change, as a way of removing temptation entirely rather than relying on willpower alone.

How to request self-exclusion

1. Contact support through your account and ask for self-exclusion.
2. Choose a timeframe: a short break or a longer, extended exclusion.
3. Confirm the request. The exclusion applies immediately once processed.
4. Marketing emails and promotional contact stop for the duration of the exclusion.
5. Any remaining balance is handled according to standard withdrawal conditions.

What happens after exclusion starts

You won't be able to reopen the account or create a new one during the excluded period. If you need support beyond this, Gambling Help Online can provide ongoing, independent guidance.

It's worth being honest with yourself about the timeframe you choose. A self-exclusion period that's too short can mean you're back at the login screen before the urge to play has actually settled. If you're unsure, asking for a longer period is generally the safer choice, since you can always decide not to return once it lapses, but you cannot shorten an active exclusion once it has started.

Safer Gambling Tools at a Glance

These tools are designed to work together rather than in isolation. A deposit limit controls how much money enters your account, a loss limit controls how much of it you're allowed to lose before deposits pause, a time limit controls how long a session can run, and a reality check keeps you mentally aware of the clock even if you haven't hit your time cap yet. Self-exclusion is the tool for when you need all of the above removed from the equation entirely, for a defined stretch of time.

Setting a Limit: Step by Step

1. Log in to your Yabby account and open your account settings.
2. Find the responsible gambling or limits section.
3. Choose the type of limit: deposit, loss or time.
4. Pick a timeframe: daily, weekly or monthly.
5. Enter the amount or duration and confirm.
6. Review the confirmation message to make sure the limit is active.
7. Contact support if you want to lower a limit immediately or raise one, since increases apply only after a cooling-off period.

Start with a figure you can comfortably afford to lose, treat it as entertainment spend, and review it regularly as your situation changes.

Choosing a sensible starting figure

A practical approach is to work backwards from money you've already budgeted for entertainment in a normal week or month, the same mental bucket you'd use for a night out or a streaming subscription, rather than money earmarked for bills, savings or rent. If you're unsure where to start, picking a lower figure and raising it later (after the cooling-off period) is easier than setting a high limit and trying to wind it back under pressure. Remember that a deposit limit only caps what goes in, it does not guarantee you'll win it back, so pair it with a loss limit if you want a firmer ceiling on what a session can actually cost you.

Daily, weekly or monthly: which to pick

Daily limits suit players who want a hard reset every 24 hours and prefer not to carry a weekly total in their head. Weekly limits give a bit more flexibility for an occasional bigger session balanced by quieter days. Monthly limits suit players managing gambling spend alongside a monthly pay cycle or budget. There's no single right answer: the best timeframe is whichever one you'll actually stick to without needing to contact support to raise it every few days.

Recognising the Warning Signs

Problem gambling can build gradually. Noticing the early signs in yourself or someone close to you makes it easier to act before things get harder to manage.

• Spending more time or money on pokies than you planned
• Chasing losses by depositing again to try to win them back
• Hiding how much you play or lying about your spending
• Borrowing money, selling items, or missing bills to fund play
• Feeling irritable, anxious or low when you're not playing
• Neglecting work, study, relationships or sleep because of gambling
• Using gambling to escape stress, boredom or sadness

If several of these sound familiar, it's worth pausing and reaching out for support. Acting early makes a real difference.

It's also worth watching for signs in people around you, not just yourself. A partner, housemate or family member who becomes secretive about their finances, asks to borrow money repeatedly, or seems unusually anxious about their phone or bank balance may be dealing with exactly this. Gambling Help Online supports family members and friends as well as the person gambling, so you don't need to wait until someone asks for help before you reach out on their behalf for guidance.

Where to Get Help Locally

Free, confidential support is available across Australia, 24 hours a day, separate from any casino operator.

• Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858, available 24/7, gamblinghelponline.org.au
• Lifeline: 13 11 14, for crisis support and emotional distress

These services offer counselling, financial guidance and practical steps, whether you're worried about your own play or someone else's. You can also use Yabby's own limit and self-exclusion tools alongside this support.

Gambling Help Online's counsellors work with people at every stage, from someone who just wants to tighten up their own limits to someone dealing with serious financial or relationship fallout. The service is free, it doesn't require a referral, and nothing you discuss is shared with Yabby or any other operator. Using it alongside your account's own deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion settings gives you both a practical control layer and an independent person to talk things through with.

Gambling is strictly for players aged 18 and over. If you're under 18, you must not attempt to create an account or play.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does self-exclusion last on Yabby?

You choose the duration when you request it, from a short break to a longer, extended period. The account stays locked for the entire chosen timeframe, with no option to reverse it early.

Can I lower my deposit limit immediately?

Yes, lowering a deposit limit takes effect straight away. Increasing a limit applies only after a cooling-off period, which gives you time to reconsider before higher spending is allowed.

What happens to my balance if I self-exclude?

Any remaining balance is handled according to standard withdrawal conditions once self-exclusion begins. Contact support for details on how your specific balance will be processed.

Is Gambling Help Online free and confidential?

Yes, Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 is a free, confidential service available 24/7 across Australia. It's independent of any casino operator and open to anyone affected by gambling, not just the player.

Can someone else request self-exclusion on my behalf?

Self-exclusion requests need to come from the account holder directly through support. If you're concerned about someone else's gambling, Gambling Help Online can advise on how to support them.

Do reality checks stop me from playing?

No, a reality check simply sends a reminder showing how long you've been playing during a session. It's designed to keep you aware of time spent, not to end your session automatically.

Can I use more than one safer gambling tool at the same time?

Yes, the tools are designed to be combined. Many players set a deposit limit and a loss limit together, add a time limit for session length, and keep reality check notifications turned on, so several layers of control are active at once rather than relying on just one setting.