The Queensland Government has produced a new Self-Help Manual for gamblers called You can control your gambling.

• Gamble for the fun of it, not the money.
• Set yourself a limit and don't exceed it.
• Don't chase your losses. Leave. Walk away.
• Think of the people who need your support.
• Stay in control and gamble responsibly.

Some people run into problems with gambling when they start to lose track of the money they are spending on gambling activities.

Setting up a budget involves understanding how much income you have coming in and how much you have going out to pay for things like:

• rent or mortgage
• electricity and phone
• car repayments and other loans or credit cards
• bus/train fares
• private health insurance/gym fees
• university charges/text books
• insurance - car, home, contents
• petrol
• food
• expenses such as holidays, clothing and if you have children, expenses to do with school, child care.

Keeping on top of these day to day items is vital if you are going to maintain the health of your finances, your lifestyle and your credit rating.

Before you gamble, set an exact amount of how much you want to spend and choose an amount you can lose without experiencing any negative effects. You should do this every time you play.

When you have set the amount stick to it. Don't be fooled into thinking that the machine is about to pay out, that you are on a winning streak or that your luck is about to change if you just gamble for a bit longer. The longer you play the more it will cost.

If you think you won't be able to stick to the limit you set once you begin to gamble. You could:

• Once you have withdrawn your budgeted amount, consider leaving your ATM card at home so you won't be tempted to take extra cash out at the venue.
• Ask a friend, you trust, to look after your card for you and promise not to return it until you have left the venue.

Related websites

There are a number of websites that will provide you with financial information and offer free budget tools.

Here are just a few:

Moneycafe

Ninemsn Money

Australian Security and Investment Commission

Most of the major banks also offer budget planners on their websites.

Consider the following

• Do you think you are spending more time gambling than you should?
• Are your friends or family commenting that you are spending more time gambling than with them?
• Have you missed other social engagements because you would prefer to gamble?
• Have you missed work/study time because of your gambling?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions then the game might be playing you.

Responsible gamblers manage the amount of time they are spending gambling and make sure that gambling doesn't take priority over family and friends or work or study.

Despite what you may think the odds of you winning are always the same and they don't change over time. Playing for longer isn't going to mean that you are more likely to win.

For a week keep a diary of how much time you are spending gambling alone, how much time you are spending gambling with friends or family and how much time you are spending with friends and family doing other things.

If you are spending a lot of time gambling, think about other things you can do such as go out to dinner at a restaurant, go to the movies, play sport, go to the gym. Consider other recreational pursuits that you enjoy that you can participate in away from gambling venues.

Ask your family and friends to help you manage your time so you don't spend too much time gambling.

When you are gambling, set a time limit and program your mobile phone alarm to alert you when your time is up or ask a friend to call you at a designated time to remind you to leave.

Try not to gamble alone, make an agreement with your friends or family that you are all going to gamble for a set time and when that time is up you are going to do something else, like have a meal or a coffee.

If you are finding it difficult to stick to your time limits or you are encountering financial problems then you might want to seek further information from a specialist service.

The Gambling Helpline or the Gambling Help services (PDF 255 K) can provide you with strategies to manage your gambling.

Other alternatives are accessing Self-Help Strategies.