Responsible Gambling Resources and Support

Responsible gambling means playing pokies (including Wild Panda) within limits you set in advance, treating the activity as paid entertainment rather than a way to earn money, and stopping if it stops being fun.

Key principles:

• Set a budget before you play and stick to it.
• Play with money you can afford to lose - never gamble with rent, bills, or savings.
• Understand the odds - pokies are designed so the house has a mathematical edge over time. No strategy or betting pattern changes this.
• Take regular breaks and don't chase losses.
• Know when to stop - if gambling is causing stress, debt, or relationship problems, seek help immediately.

If gambling is becoming a problem, free, confidential help is available 24/7 across Australia.

National services

Gambling Help Online

• Phone: 1800 858 858 (24 hours, 7 days)
• Website: https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
• Services: Counselling, self-help resources, local referrals, live chat
• Operated by Relationships Australia; no cost, no judgment

Lifeline Australia

• Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours, 7 days)
• Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au
• Services: Crisis support, counselling, referrals
• Useful if gambling distress is linked to broader mental health concerns

State and territory services

Each Australian state and territory runs dedicated gambling support programs:

All services are free and confidential.

Before you play Wild Panda or any pokie online, use the responsible-gambling features offered by your casino.

Deposit limits

• Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month.
• Once reached, the casino blocks further deposits until the period resets.
• Example: Deposit limit of $100/week means you cannot add more than $100 to your account in any 7-day period.

Loss limits

• Set a maximum loss you're willing to accept in a session or time period.
• Once you reach this loss, your account is temporarily locked.
• Example: Loss limit of $50/day means if you lose $50, you cannot play again until the next day.

Session time limits

• Set a maximum session duration (e.g. 1 hour, 2 hours).
• The casino will log you out automatically when the time expires.

Betting limits

• Restrict the maximum bet per spin to reduce the speed of losses.
• Example: Max bet of $2 per spin means you cannot wager more than $2 on any single spin of Wild Panda.

[!TIP] Use these tools before you start playing, not after losses mount. Set limits when you're calm and thinking clearly.

If you need a complete break from gambling, self-exclusion is a formal agreement between you and the casino to block your account for a set period (typically 6 months to 5 years).

How it works:

1. Contact your casino's support team or log into your account settings.
2. Request self-exclusion and choose your exclusion period.
3. Your account is frozen; you cannot log in, deposit, or play.
4. The casino will not contact you with promotions during the exclusion.
5. After the period ends, you can request reactivation, or it may remain closed.

Multi-operator self-exclusion:

• Some Australian states offer cross-casino self-exclusion schemes (e.g. NSW has the Gambling Help Online register).
• Ask your state's gambling regulator or Gambling Help Online whether a shared registry exists in your area.

[!RISK] Online gambling carries financial risk. Australian players accessing offshore casinos do so outside the regulatory framework of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth). If gambling stops being fun, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or visit https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Warning signs that gambling may be becoming a problem:

• Chasing losses - playing longer or betting more to recover money you've lost.
• Hiding gambling - keeping your activity secret from family or friends.
• Neglecting responsibilities - missing work, school, or family commitments to gamble.
• Borrowing to gamble - using credit cards, loans, or borrowed money to fund gambling.
• Mood swings - feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed when not gambling.
• Failed attempts to cut back - trying to reduce or stop but finding it difficult.
• Gambling with essential funds - using money meant for bills, rent, or food.

If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you know, reach out to a support service immediately. There is no shame in asking for help.

If someone you care about is struggling with gambling:

• Listen without judgment - avoid blame or criticism.
• Encourage professional help - suggest they contact Gambling Help Online or their state service.
• Set boundaries - you are not responsible for their gambling or debts.
• Look after yourself - services like Lifeline and Gambling Help Online also support family members affected by someone else's gambling.

Wild Panda is a classic pokie with a medium-to-medium-high volatility. Like all pokies, it has a built-in house edge (RTP typically around 94.36%), meaning the longer you play, the more likely you are to lose money on average.

Play safely:

• Treat each session as entertainment with a set cost, not as a way to make money.
• Use deposit limits and session time limits before you start.
• If you find yourself playing more than intended or chasing losses, take a break and contact a support service.
• Remember: the PANDA free-games feature is exciting, but it is not guaranteed and cannot be "earned" through strategy.

For more information on how to play Wild Panda responsibly, see our main pokie guide.

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Need help now? Contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 (24 hours) or visit https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.