Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming means approaching online gambling as a form of entertainment, not a way to make money or solve financial difficulties. On winward-au.com, the Winward project aims to provide information that helps you make conscious choices, understand the risks of gambling, and stay in control of your time and money. If you feel your gambling is becoming problematic, or you simply want guidance to stay within healthy limits, support is available and you are encouraged to seek assistance early.

Risk Awareness

Online gambling carries a real risk of financial loss and, for some people, loss of control. Being aware of early warning signs can help you act before gambling harms your finances, relationships, or health. In Australia, problem gambling is recognised as a serious public health issue, and professional, confidential help is available nationwide.

Common signs of risky or problem gambling

• Increasing time and money spent: You gamble more often, for longer sessions, or with higher stakes than you originally planned.
• Chasing losses: You place more bets to try to win back money you have already lost, instead of accepting those losses.
• Preoccupation: You frequently think about gambling outside of play (planning sessions, reliving wins, or worrying about losses).
• Neglecting responsibilities: Gambling interferes with work, study, family duties, or social commitments.
• Borrowing or using essential funds: You use money intended for rent, bills, food, or borrow from friends, family, or lenders to gamble.
• Concealing behaviour: You hide gambling activity, bank statements, or account histories, or lie about how much you have spent.
• Emotional changes: You feel anxiety, guilt, irritability or low mood linked to gambling or when you try to cut back.
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop: You try to control or quit gambling but repeatedly return, despite negative consequences.

Self-assessment: quick check of your gambling behaviour

Consider the following statements and answer honestly "yes" or "no" to each. If you answer "yes" to several, you may be at risk and should seek support:

• In the last 12 months, has gambling caused you financial problems or made existing problems worse?
• Have you ever gambled with money that should have been used for essential expenses (rent, mortgage, utilities, food)?
• Do you feel restless, irritable, or upset when you try to cut down or stop gambling?
• Have you lied to family members, friends, or others to hide how much you gamble or how much you have lost?
• Do you gamble to escape stress, loneliness, anxiety, or other personal problems?
• Have you tried to win back money you lost by returning to gamble as soon as possible ("chasing losses")?
• Has gambling damaged or put at risk any relationship, your job, or study?
• Have you needed to borrow money, sell possessions, or use credit to fund your gambling?

Important: This self-check is not a diagnosis. Only a qualified professional or recognised support service can assess problem gambling. However, if you recognise yourself in these statements, consider using the limits and self-exclusion tools described below and contact an Australian support service.

Limits & Tools

Setting clear financial and time boundaries is one of the most effective ways to keep gambling under control. While Winward is an informational project and winward-au.com is not an Australian-licensed operator, the following describes typical tools provided by many online casinos. Any offshore site you use should, at a minimum, offer similar features and clear access to support.

Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)

If available in your player account on an offshore gambling site, you should be able to set limits as follows:

1. Access your account: Log in and go to the account menu (often labelled "My Account", "Profile", or "Cashier").
2. Open the responsible gaming section: Look for links such as "Responsible Gaming", "Play Safe", or "Limits & Controls".
3. Select deposit limits: Choose "Deposit Limits" or similar. You will usually see options to set:
   • Daily limit (e.g. maximum AUD 50 per 24 hours)
   • Weekly limit (e.g. maximum AUD 150 per 7 days)
   • Monthly limit (e.g. maximum AUD 400 per calendar month)
4. Enter your own numbers: Choose realistic amounts you can afford to lose without affecting essential expenses. Enter the values (for example, 20, 50, 100) and confirm.
5. Confirm and wait: Reductions in limits are usually applied immediately. Increases should only become effective after a cooling-off period (e.g. 24 hours or longer), giving you time to reconsider.

Protective note (AU context): Always base limits on money you can fully afford to lose. Do not use credit, loans, or funds for rent, bills, or debts. If an offshore site does not provide such limit tools or allows instant increases without delay, this indicates a lower standard of consumer protection than Australian regulation expects.

Time limits and session controls

Many gambling platforms provide time-based tools to prevent excessively long sessions:

• Session timers: You may be able to choose a maximum session length (for example, 30, 60, or 90 minutes). After this period, a pop-up will ask you to log out or actively confirm that you wish to continue.
• Reality checks: Periodic reminders (for example, every 15 or 30 minutes) show how long you have been playing and your net result (wins/losses) for that session.

To enable these tools, go to your account's responsible gaming section, select "Time Limits", "Session Control" or similar, and choose the time values that align with your personal boundaries.

Short breaks ("Time-Out")

If you feel the need for a brief pause, but are not ready for long-term self-exclusion, you should use a "Time-Out" feature if it is offered:

1. Navigate to Time-Out: Log in, open "Responsible Gaming" or "Account Settings" and find "Time-Out", "Cooling-Off", or "Short Break".
2. Choose a period: Typical options are 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours. Some sites may offer up to 30 days.
3. Confirm your selection: Read the information about consequences (e.g. you will not be able to deposit or play). Confirm the request. The lock usually starts immediately.
4. Use the break effectively: During a Time-Out, avoid visiting gambling websites and consider talking to a trusted person or a professional service listed below.

Note: A Time-Out is intended as a short-term measure. If you repeatedly use Time-Outs or feel unable to control gambling after they end, a longer self-exclusion and professional help are strongly recommended.

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a stronger protective measure that blocks your access to a gambling account for a defined period or permanently. This can be a crucial step if you are experiencing harm or feel at serious risk. Because winward-au.com relates to an offshore brand that is considered illegal for Australian residents under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, you should also use Australian national and state tools, not rely solely on any single offshore site.

How to request self-exclusion on a gambling site

1. Log in to your account (if safe to do so): Access the site where you hold the account.
2. Find the self-exclusion section: Go to:
   • "My Account" > "Responsible Gaming", or
   • the footer links such as "Responsible Gambling" or "Player Protection".
   Look for "Self-Exclusion", "Exclude Me", or "Close Account - Problem Gambling".
3. Choose the exclusion period: Common options are:
   • 6 months
   • 1 year
   • 2 years
   • 5 years
   • Lifetime (permanent)
   For significant harm, select at least 6 months or longer.
4. Confirm your decision: You may be asked to:
   • Tick a box stating you have a gambling problem or wish to stop gambling.
   • Read and accept terms of self-exclusion.
   • Confirm via email or live chat with support.
5. Contact support if needed: If you cannot find the option or wish to ensure a permanent block, contact the site's customer support (by email or live chat) and clearly state:
   • That you want to self-exclude for a specific period or permanently.
   • That your request is due to gambling problems or harm.

Consequences of self-exclusion

• Access to the account: During the exclusion period, you should not be able to log in, deposit, or place bets. Attempts to log in should be blocked.
• Marketing and offers: The operator should stop sending you promotional emails or bonuses related to gambling. If you continue to receive such communications, unsubscribe and notify the sender.
• Existing balance: Policies differ by operator. Some sites:
  • Allow withdrawal of remaining positive balances after identity and security checks; or
  • Freeze balances until the end of the self-exclusion period.
  You should request clear written information from support about how your remaining funds will be treated.
• Cancellation of exclusion: Responsible operators will not allow immediate cancellation. Permanent exclusions should not be reversed. If an offshore site offers to lift self-exclusion quickly, this indicates weak consumer protection.

Important AU regulatory note: As Winward and winward-au.com relate to an offshore brand regarded as illegal for Australian players by ACMA, self-exclusion from a single offshore site does not protect you across the wider market. Australian residents are strongly encouraged to use national and state-based self-exclusion schemes (see below) and to avoid all unlicensed offshore gambling sites.

Support contacts for self-exclusion issues

If you have requested self-exclusion and the gambling site does not implement it, continues to allow you to gamble, or refuses to provide clear information on your remaining balance, you should:

• Stop using the site immediately.
• Seek advice from an Australian gambling help service listed in the "Support Resources" section.
• Consider installing blocking software (such as Gamban or BetBlocker) on your devices.

Support Resources

Professional and confidential help is available in Australia and internationally if you are worried about your gambling or affected by someone else's gambling. The Winward project strongly encourages Australian residents to prioritise local, free support services and to be aware that winward-au.com relates to an offshore operator that is considered illegal by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Local support for Australia

• Gambling Help Online (national service)
  • Website: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
  • Services: 24/7 online chat counselling, email support, self-help tools, and information for individuals and families.
  • Languages: English, with access to interpreting services on request.
  • Confidentiality: Anonymous support is available; no cost to the user.
• National Gambling Helpline (through state/territory services)
  • Phone (Australia-wide connection): 1800 858 858
  • Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Languages: English, with access to interpreter services for many other languages.
  • Scope: Telephone counselling, crisis support, information, and referral to local face-to-face services.
• State and territory-specific services (examples):
  • NSW Gambling Help, Victoria Gambler's Help, Queensland Gambling Help, and equivalent services in other states/territories, accessible via 1800 858 858 or through Gambling Help Online.

Note: These services are independent from winward-au.com and any offshore operators. They focus on your wellbeing, not on promoting gambling.

International support organisations

National and cross-site self-exclusion schemes

In addition to self-excluding from individual gambling sites, many countries provide nationwide schemes that block gambling across multiple licensed operators. Examples include:

• United Kingdom - GamStop:
  • Website: www.gamstop.co.uk
  • Allows UK residents to self-exclude from all online operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission for periods of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.
• Spain - RGIAJ (Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego):
  • Administered by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).
  • Spanish residents can register to prohibit access to licensed gambling websites and premises in Spain.
• Other EU countries: Many Member States operate similar registers (for example, Belgium's EPIS, Italy's self-exclusion register). Users should check their local regulator's website.

Important AU note: Australia currently regulates gambling at federal and state levels. You should check your state or territory gambling help service and regulator for venue self-exclusion schemes (primarily for land-based venues) and any emerging online self-exclusion tools. None of these schemes cover unlicensed offshore sites such as those associated with winward-au.com, so you should also use blocking software.

Blocking apps and software tools

Blocking solutions can help reduce access to gambling sites and apps across multiple devices:

• Gamban: Subscription-based software that blocks access to a wide range of gambling websites and apps on computers and mobile devices. Website: www.gamban.com
• BetBlocker: Free blocking tool that can restrict access to tens of thousands of gambling websites. Website: www.betblocker.org
• Device and router controls: Many modem/routers and operating systems offer parental controls or content filters that can be configured to restrict gambling content.

These tools are not perfect and may not block every site, but they can be a valuable additional barrier alongside self-exclusion and professional support.

Family and friends support resources

• Australian services: Gambling Help Online and the 1800 858 858 helpline also support family members and friends, offering counselling, information, and referrals to local groups.
• International family support:
  • Gam-Anon: a fellowship for relatives and friends of problem gamblers - www.gam-anon.org.
  • Online support forums and moderated chats linked from Gambling Therapy and GamCare.

Confidentiality and professionalism: The services listed above are independent, professional, and generally free of charge. You can contact them anonymously, and information you share is protected by privacy and confidentiality obligations, subject to local laws (for example, where there is a serious and immediate risk of harm).

Help for Family

Gambling-related harm often affects partners, children, parents, and close friends. If you are worried about someone's gambling, it is important to protect your own wellbeing and seek support, as well as encouraging them to access help.

Communicating with a person who may have a gambling problem

• Choose the right time and place: Talk when the person is sober, not actively gambling, and when both of you have time and privacy.
• Use non-judgmental language: Focus on how you feel and what you observe ("I'm worried because our bills are unpaid") rather than accusations ("You are ruining everything").
• Listen and avoid blame: Allow them to explain their perspective. Recognise that shame and denial are common and may make them defensive.
• Set clear boundaries: Be specific about what you can and cannot do (for example, you may decide not to lend more money or cover gambling debts).
• Encourage professional help: Suggest contacting Gambling Help Online or calling 1800 858 858 together. Offer to sit with them while they make the call or start an online chat.

Support groups and resources for families

• Gambling Help Online - For Families & Friends: Information and tailored advice for those affected by someone else's gambling. Website: www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.
• State-based services: Many Australian states run dedicated programs for families (for example, Gambler's Help Family & Friends in Victoria, specialist counselling in NSW, QLD, and other jurisdictions).
• International family forums:
  • Gam-Anon meetings (where available) - www.gam-anon.org
  • Family sections within online forums at Gambling Therapy and similar sites.

Recommended next steps for families

• Seek your own professional support: Contact 1800 858 858 or Gambling Help Online to talk about your situation and options.
• Consider counselling or psychotherapy: A registered psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor experienced in addiction can help you understand gambling behaviour, set boundaries, and manage stress.
• Protect your finances: Seek financial counselling (often available free through community services) to assess debts, separate finances where appropriate, and prevent further harm.
• Emergency help: If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm (for example, threats of self-harm or violence), call emergency services on 000 in Australia, or the relevant emergency number in your country.

Operator's Commitment

Winward is an informational project associated with winward-au.com and does not itself provide gambling services to Australian residents. Offshore gambling brands historically associated with the Winward name have claimed to implement responsible gaming measures. However, current evidence indicates that they operate without a verifiable Australian licence and have been the subject of ACMA blocking requests as illegal offshore gambling services.

Internal risk-check procedures (as generally expected)

Responsible operators are expected, at a minimum, to apply the following types of internal checks:

• Behaviour analysis: Monitoring patterns such as:
  • Very frequent deposits within short timeframes.
  • Large increases in stakes or deposits compared with typical behaviour.
  • Extremely long sessions without breaks.
  • Repeated cancelled withdrawals followed by continued gambling.
• Automatic alerts and warnings: Triggering on-screen messages when risky patterns appear, reminding players about limits, suggesting breaks, and providing links to responsible gambling tools and support services.
• Verification and affordability checks (where required by law): In regulated jurisdictions, operators may need to request information about a player's identity, source of funds, or financial situation to ensure gambling remains affordable and legal.

When support may initiate contact

In well-regulated markets, customer support or a responsible gambling team may proactively contact a player when:

• Unusually high or rapidly escalating deposits or losses are detected.
• The player uses responsible gambling tools (such as limits or self-exclusion) or states they have a gambling problem.
• Multiple failed payments or signs of financial distress appear.
• The player demonstrates distress in communications with support (for example, expressing hopelessness or serious anxiety about losses).

Such contact should be supportive and informative, not promotional. It may include discussion of limit options, self-exclusion, and external help resources.

Australian regulatory warning: According to information from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, online casinos associated with the "Winward" brand are considered illegal offshore gambling services for Australian players under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and have been subject to blocking actions. As a result:

• They are not licensed in Australia and are not required to meet Australian consumer protection standards.
• They are not subject to Australian dispute resolution or compensation schemes.
• Any claims about responsible gambling policies are not overseen by Australian regulators.

Australian residents are strongly advised not to use illegal offshore gambling services and instead to seek entertainment only through operators licensed in their state/territory (where permitted) and to use the Australian support resources listed on this page.

Updates

Responsible gambling standards, Australian regulations, and the status of offshore operators can change over time. Winward and winward-au.com aim to keep this responsible gaming information accurate and up to date, especially in relation to Australian law and guidance from regulators such as the ACMA and state/territory gambling authorities.

• Notification of changes:
  • Significant updates to this responsible gaming page may be highlighted via banners or notices on relevant sections of winward-au.com.
  • Where appropriate, registered newsletter subscribers may receive email notifications summarising major changes to responsible gambling information or contact details.
• Player responsibility: It is your responsibility to review this page periodically to stay informed about current information, contacts, and warnings, especially if you engage with any online gambling services.

Last updated: 4 March 2026

Contact & Feedback

If you have questions about the information on this page, wish to provide feedback, or seek guidance about responsible gambling measures, you can contact the support team associated with the Winward project on winward-au.com.

• Responsible gaming / support email: [email protected]
• Telephone: not specified (support currently available via email and on-site forms only).

Feedback and support requests form: A general contact or feedback form is available on the "Contact Us" section of winward-au.com (exact URL may vary). When using the form:

• Select "Responsible Gaming" or a similar topic if available.
• Provide a brief description of your question or concern (do not include passwords or full payment card numbers).
• Indicate if you would like information about limits, self-exclusion, or support services in Australia.

Important disclaimers:

• The support contact provided above is for information and guidance only; it is not a crisis service and cannot override or change decisions made by any gambling operator.
• If you are in immediate distress, at risk of self-harm, or feel unsafe, contact emergency services (000 in Australia) or a crisis helpline such as Lifeline (13 11 14 in Australia) before using email or web forms.
• For advice or counselling regarding gambling problems, you should contact the Australian services listed in the "Support Resources" section, which are independent, confidential, and free of charge.