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Balloon Game How to Play the

Balloon Game: How to Play the Demo, Strategy and Crash Game Mechanics

Last reviewed: January 2026 · Editorial review: Claire Bennett, Senior iGaming Content Editor · 18+ only

Balloon by SmartSoft Gaming is an instant-win crash game. You inflate a virtual balloon by hand, a payout multiplier climbs, and an unpredictable pop ends the round. Simple to learn, harder to play calmly.

Before you touch either the free demo or a real-money version, three things deserve attention: the core mechanic, the house edge and the software's limits. That last point matters especially in Australia, where real-money online casino play sits outside the licensed domestic market.

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«When reviewing instant-win crash titles like Balloon, our editorial stance puts terms, RTP structures and harm mitigation before headline multipliers. A large theoretical payout cap means nothing if a player does not understand how rapidly the underlying risk escalates.» - Claire Bennett, Senior iGaming Content Editor (source: editorial brief)

Balloon game snapshot

ParameterDetail
Developer / providerSmartSoft Gaming (B2B licence MGA/B2B/925/2021, Malta Gaming Authority)
Game typeInstant-win crash game (single round, manual cash-out)
Control mechanicHold to inflate, release to cash out
RTPConfigurable 95.5%-98.0%; commonly set to 96.0%
House edge4.0% at default RTP (retains about $4 per $100 wagered over volume)
Bet rangeTypically $0.10 to $100 per round (local-currency equivalents vary by operator)
Max winOften capped at $10,000 per round; theoretical maximum multiplier up to 10,000x (individual operators may cap payouts far lower, for example 100x)
Autoplay / auto-cashoutNot available in the standard build; every round is manual
Demo modeYes, play-money credits (DMO), no withdrawals
MobileHTML5 in-browser; no legitimate standalone real-money app
VerdictTransparent, fast and simple, but volatile. Skill affects timing, never the mathematics. Best treated as paid entertainment with strict limits.

One line worth keeping in mind while you read the rest: the multiplier is theatre, the RTP is the arithmetic.

What is Balloon Game and how

What is Balloon Game and how the crash mechanic works

Balloon is an instant-win crash game developed by SmartSoft Gaming. It drops multi-reel slot mechanics entirely and replaces them with one press-and-hold inflation process tied to an escalating payout multiplier. Each round relies on a certified Random Number Generator (RNG) that predetermines a hidden burst threshold somewhere between 1.00x and a theoretical maximum of 10,000x. If you have not cashed out by then, the round ends instantly.

Traditional pokies calculate returns through paylines and scatter symbols. Balloon centres entirely on a continuous risk and reward curve instead. The game runs with a configurable Return to Player (RTP) range between 95.5% and 98.0%, commonly defaulted to 96% across offshore operators.

That establishes an average house edge of 4.0%, meaning that over extended volume the system mathematically retains $4 for every $100 wagered.

Public health research on fast-cycle electronic gaming machines (EGMs) is directly relevant here, because Balloon compresses staking, resolution and re-staking into a handful of seconds.

«High-frequency games with immediate settlement concentrate both emotional load and financial risk into very short timeframes.» - NSW Gambling Survey 2024, GambleAware NSW (2024). https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au

«EGMs remain the leading source of gambling harm in New South Wales, followed by online casino games and poker.» - NSW Gambling Survey 2024, GambleAware NSW, based on 10,000 interviews with NSW adults (2024). https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au

That structural similarity is why our editorial team treats crash titles as high-intensity products rather than casual arcade games. It is a position we apply consistently across our iGaming coverage.

MULTIMEDIA

Buffalobet heading-banner
  • Type:Flowchart
  • Description:The sequence of a single Balloon Game round: round start, balloon inflation, the player's decision point, and round resolution (cash-out or burst).
  • Purpose:Helps readers grasp gameplay and the risk principle of a crash game at a glance.
  • Semantic mark-up rules:Use an accessible SVG diagram or a structure with text captions present in the DOM; add alt text containing the key phrase, for example alt="Balloon game round flowchart".
Balloon gameplay multiplier growth and the

Balloon gameplay: multiplier growth and the winning moment

Balloon gameplay demands active manual interaction. Pressing and holding the main button inflates the balloon and ticks the multiplier upward from 1.00x. Winning means releasing the button before the RNG-determined burst, which locks in the multiplier visible at the exact moment your finger lifts.

During inflation, the balloon swells and its colour shifts towards deep red. The tension is deliberate; the visual design does not tell you anything about the hidden crash point. Bet sizes typically range from $0.10 to $100 per round, with maximum wins frequently capped at $10,000 depending on operator limits. Currency conversion matters too.

Some operators publish limits in local units (for example, a minimum of ₦50 and a maximum of ₦100,000 in one African market), so read the in-game paytable rather than assuming dollar figures.

If the balloon bursts while the button is still held down, the full stake is forfeited. No partial refund, no consolation credit. Certain builds trigger an automatic payout if a network disconnection occurs mid-round, provided the multiplier had cleared 1.01x before the connection dropped, subject to the settings of the individual licensed operator. Verify that behaviour in each casino's game rules rather than assuming it applies to you.

In-game features and SmartSoft promo tools

In-game features and SmartSoft promo tools

Beyond the core hold-to-inflate loop, Balloon ships with SmartSoft Gaming's standard engagement suite. These tools do not change the RNG or the RTP. They change how often you are prompted to keep playing, which is exactly why they deserve scrutiny.

  1. Leaderboard. A live, network-wide ranking of players, usually sorted by the highest multiplier captured or total wins within a promotional window.
  2. Missions Promotion. Daily and weekly objectives (for example, complete 50 successful cash-outs above 1.50x) that reward session length rather than better outcomes.
  3. Prize Drop Promotion. Randomised cash prizes that can land during an active round, sometimes independent of stake size, depending on the operator's configuration.
  4. Coin Flip. An optional side feature used across SmartSoft crash titles to gamble part of a win on a binary outcome. A pure volatility amplifier with no positive expected value.
  5. Responsive delivery. SmartSoft distributes Balloon as a mobile-responsive web build, so the same session logic runs on phone, tablet and desktop.

Editorial note: mission-based and leaderboard mechanics are retention tools. If you use them, set your session limit before you read the objective list, not after.

Balloon casino how it differs from

Balloon casino: how it differs from other casino games

Balloon differs from classic casino games such as roulette, blackjack or video slots by stripping out automated spins, layered paytables and passive outcomes. What remains is a direct press-and-hold manual exit.

Slot machines lean on visual near-misses across multiple paylines. Balloon offers a binary result: a successful cash-out multiplier, or a total loss on the burst. Compared with aircraft-themed crash titles such as Aviator, which use a single-tap cash-out button, Balloon's hold-to-inflate control creates a stronger sensation of continuous involvement. Editorial assessments across the iGaming sector show that this feeling of control does not alter the underlying RNG mathematics or shave anything off the 4% house edge.

A second practical difference is the absence of automation. Many crash competitors offer an auto-cashout field where you pre-set an exit multiplier and the server executes it for you. The standard Balloon build does not. Every exit is a human reaction, so input latency, distraction and hand fatigue become genuine variables in your results. Not because the odds change, but because your execution does.

Balloon (SmartSoft) vs Balloon Mania vs the Pymetrics Balloon Game

Search results for "balloon game" mix three unrelated products. Confirming which one you have opened prevents wasted deposits and wrong expectations.

ProductDeveloper / ownerFormatKey parametersPurpose
BalloonSmartSoft GamingCrash / instant win, hold to inflateRTP 95.5-98% (default 96%), theoretical max 10,000x, no autoplayReal-money and demo casino play
Balloon ManiaBGamingCasual instant win, click balloons to popRTP 97%, low volatility, max win x64, hit rate 1.13, autoplay availableReal-money and demo casino play
Balloon Game (BART)Pymetrics / HarverPsychometric assessment, 39 balloons, $0.05 per pumpNo wagering, no cash-out to money; measures risk-taking and learningPre-employment testing

The takeaway is easy to apply. If a guide talks about "39 balloons", "banking $18" or "colour-coded explosion patterns", it describes the recruitment assessment, not a casino product. If it mentions an x64 max win and autoplay across floating balloons, that is BGaming's casual title. SmartSoft's Balloon is the single-balloon crash game covered in this guide.

Under Australia's Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), real-money online casino services are prohibited from targeting Australian residents. That places every real-money crash platform, Balloon included, in the restricted offshore category.

How to play Balloon online: bets and the order of actions

To play Balloon online, choose a wager inside the $0.10 to $100 limit during the pre-round phase, then press and hold the central button to inflate the balloon and start the multiplier climbing. Release before the pop and the current multiplier is yours. A burst wipes the active bet.

Because Balloon has no autoplay or auto-cashout in its standard build, every round demands your full attention. Miss the bet confirmation window and you wait for the next cycle. A brief, accidental click can also trigger a premature cash-out at a near-useless 1.01x.

MULTIMEDIA

  • Type: Numbered checklist
  • Description: The short action sequence for starting Balloon: choose the game, set the stake, start the round, watch the balloon, release before the crash.
  • Purpose: Closes the practical intent of a user who wants to begin playing immediately.
  • Semantic mark-up rules: Render as a semantic <ol>; all steps must exist as text in the DOM and must not be replaced by an image.
1
Set the stake. Select a bet size between $0.10 and $100 using the preset controls before the round starts.
2
Initiate inflation. Press and hold the primary interactive button to begin inflating the balloon.
3
Monitor the multiplier. Watch the numerical multiplier climbing from 1.00x alongside the visual growth of the balloon.
4
Evaluate risk. Weigh the appeal of a higher multiplier against the rising probability of an RNG crash.
5
Release to cash out. Lift your finger before the burst to lock in the payout (stake multiplied by multiplier).
6
Conclude the round. If the burst lands first, accept the lost stake and re-check your limits before the next cycle.

E-E-A-T BLOCK

  • Type: Alert Box (Warning)
  • Description: A warning that the outcome of every Balloon round depends on RNG and risk, and that real-money play guarantees nothing.
  • Purpose: Reinforces trustworthiness and responsible disclosure around real-money gaming.

⚠️ WARNING AND RISK NOTICE: Balloon runs on an independent Random Number Generator (RNG). Payout outcomes are entirely random, and past rounds do not influence future crash thresholds. Real-money play involves genuine financial risk, offers no guaranteed returns, and can lead to gambling harm. Set strict deposit limits before participating. If gambling is causing harm, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.

Balloon Demo and free play trying

Balloon Demo and free play: trying the game without risk

Balloon Demo is a risk-free, play-money version that uses simulated credits so you can test the press-and-hold mechanic without financial exposure. On most provider-hosted pages the demo launches straight in the browser, no account, no deposit. At operator sites, some jurisdictions force a logged-in session before the demo loads. Demo balances usually arrive pre-loaded with a fixed pool of credits and reset when you reload the page, so there is no practical cap on how long you can practise Balloon free of charge.

Those virtual balances (often labelled DMO credits) carry no monetary value and cannot be withdrawn. Useful for learning the timing. Less useful as a rehearsal for how you will behave with your own money.

«Engagement with simulated gambling is associated with problem gambling and psychological harm across twelve cross-sectional studies.» - AGRC Literature Review on Loot Boxes and Simulated Gambling, Australian Gambling Research Centre (2022). https://www.agrc.org.au

Demo play does let you learn interface responsiveness and inflation speed across roughly 15 to 30 test rounds. Research also indicates that simulated gambling can foster overconfidence, precisely because it removes the psychological pressure of watching a real bankroll shrink.

«Simulated gambling can act as a pathway to real-money wagering, forming behavioural patterns without financial pressure.» - Suomi, Hahn & Biddle, Gambling Participation in Australia 2024, nationally representative survey. https://www.agrc.org.au

In Australia, updated national classification guidelines assign simulated gambling mechanics an R18+ restriction to limit youth exposure.

«The Australian Government, with unanimous state and territory support, introduced a mandatory minimum R18+ rating for games with simulated gambling.» - Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023, Australian Government, 22 September 2023. https://www.classification.gov.au

How Balloon demo differs from Balloon

How Balloon demo differs from Balloon real money

The main distinction sits in financial consequence. Demo mode uses a non-redeemable virtual balance, so risk is zero. Balloon real money play draws on actual funds, and every lost round reduces capital you could have spent elsewhere.

Both formats share identical certified RNG algorithms and the same 96% RTP setting when supplied by licensed developers. The behaviour they produce is not identical at all. In demo mode, players routinely hold for 10x to 50x because losses cost nothing. With money on the line, decision pressure arrives fast, and it tends to push people towards either loss-chasing or twitchy early exits at 1.05x.

«Young adults move from game simulations to illegal offshore online casinos via social and technological triggers.» - Suomi, Kim, Culbong et al., Young Adults Gambling Online in the ACT (YAGO Study), 38 participants aged 18-24, qualitative interviews (2024). https://www.agrc.org.au

E-E-A-T BLOCK

Buffalobet heading-banner
  • Type:Fact Check / Verification
  • Description:A verifiable clarification that demo mode exists to demonstrate Balloon's rules and is not evidence of future real-money results.
  • Purpose:Strengthens trustworthiness and prevents false expectations from demo play.

FACT CHECK: Demonstration modes exist to showcase basic game rules and control mechanics. Success or high multipliers achieved during free demo sessions do not predict or guarantee financial returns in real-money gambling environments, because no capital is at risk, no withdrawal conditions apply, and short-run demo variance says nothing about long-run RTP.

Balloon strategy: how to manage risk in the game

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and does not replace professional advice. Gambling involves financial risk. If gambling is causing harm, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.

No betting system or predictor tool can move Balloon's mathematical RTP or overcome the 4% house edge. Every round outcome is determined independently by a certified Random Number Generator, and the RNG does not remember what happened before.

Strategy cannot create a positive expected value (EV). It can shape short-term volatility, which is a different and more modest goal:

Buffalobet heading-banner
  • Cautious approach (low multipliers):target cash-outs between 1.10x and 1.50x. Frequent small wins, fewer wipe-outs per hundred rounds, but early pops still grind the balance down over time.
  • Moderate approach (balanced):target 1.51x to 3.00x to blend hit frequency with payouts that actually register.
  • Risk-seeking approach (high multipliers):hold past 5.00x or 10.00x. Expect long strings of burst losses broken by occasional larger returns, and expect the bankroll to swing hard.
  • Bankroll pacing:fix a session budget in units (for example, 100 units of $0.20) and a stop-loss of 30% to 40% of that budget before you open the game. Flat staking keeps drawdowns readable. Progressive staking after losses accelerates ruin without improving EV.

Academic analyses of crash mechanics confirm the unglamorous part: cashing out at 1.20x or holding for 50x produces exactly the same expected long-run loss per dollar wagered, $0.04 at 96% RTP.

«At 97% RTP the expected loss is $0.03 per dollar staked, regardless of the chosen exit multiplier.» - Crash game expected-value analysis (2023-2025), reflected in AGRC research synthesis. https://www.agrc.org.au

So Balloon strategy is a tool for bankroll pacing and personal risk alignment. Never an edge.

MULTIMEDIA

Buffalobet heading-banner
  • Type:Comparison table
  • Description:Cautious, moderate and risk-seeking approaches to Balloon strategy compared by risk level, gameplay goals and attitude to max win.
  • Purpose:Lets users compare playing approaches without any promise of guaranteed wins.
  • Semantic mark-up rules:Use a <table> with <caption>, <thead> and <tbody>; provide a text explanation of every comparison directly beneath the table.
Strategy approachTarget multiplierPer-round risk levelShort-term volatilityLong-run expected loss (96% RTP)
Cautious (low risk)1.10x to 1.50xLower per-round loss chanceLow variance, steady small outcomes4.0% of total wagered volume
Moderate (balanced)1.51x to 3.00xModerate burst probabilityBalanced risk and reward4.0% of total wagered volume
Risk-seeking (high risk)5.00x to 10.00x and aboveHigh frequency of total lossHigh variance, rapid balance swings4.0% of total wagered volume

As the table shows, adjusting cash-out thresholds changes the frequency and scale of individual payouts while the long-term expectation stays pinned at minus 4.0%. The psychological layer matters just as much as the arithmetic, though. Watching the balloon stretch to the edge of bursting produces the arousal pattern documented in fast machine gambling.

«Rapid game cycles and near-miss effects in EGMs heighten arousal and encourage continued play even during losses.» - Literature review on gaming machine characteristics, NSW Responsible Gambling Fund (2020), applied to crash games by structural analogy. https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au

«One in five NSW residents (21%) has experienced gambling harm, 7.8% from their own gambling and 12.7% from another person's.» - NSW Gambling Survey 2024, GambleAware NSW, sample of 10,000 NSW adults. https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au

Casino terms for Balloon: payments, bonuses and a safety checklist

Balloon is distributed to operators rather than sold directly to players, so the game you load is identical everywhere. The terms around it are not. Where real-money play is lawful for you, these operator-side variables decide whether a win is genuinely payable.

Bonus contribution: the detail most players miss

Crash games are the classic exclusion in welcome-offer terms. Before wagering a bonus on Balloon, read the game-contribution table rather than the headline percentage.

Term to checkTypical treatment for crash gamesWhy it matters
Wagering contributionOften 0% to 10% (pokies usually 100%)Rounds played on Balloon may not reduce your wagering requirement at all
Max bet while wageringCommonly $5 or 10% of the bonusExceeding it can void the entire bonus and the winnings
Max cash-out from bonusFrequently 3x to 10x the bonus amountCaps a large multiplier win far below the game's own $10,000 limit
Excluded game listCrash and instant-win titles often listedBetting on an excluded game can forfeit the balance
Bonus expiry7 to 30 daysShort windows push volume and loss-chasing
Payments Australians typically encounter

Payments Australians typically encounter

  • PayID and bank transfer:fast domestically, though gambling-coded transactions may be declined by your bank.
  • Neosurf and prepaid vouchers:handy for capping exposure, since you can only lose what is loaded. Withdrawals need an alternative method.
  • Cryptocurrency (BTC, USDT, LTC):in practice the quickest offshore withdrawals, but price volatility and irreversible transfers add their own risk.
  • Cards (Visa and Mastercard):widely offered, often blocked or hit with fees for gambling merchants.
  • Always check:minimum withdrawal, monthly withdrawal ceiling, KYC documents required, and whether the deposit method must match the withdrawal method.
Ten-point operator checklist before you deposit

Ten-point operator checklist before you deposit

  1. Licence number verified on the regulator's public register (MGA, Curaçao GCB or equivalent).
  2. Game supplied by SmartSoft Gaming itself, not a cloned copy on an unlicensed skin.
  3. Published RTP for Balloon visible in the game info panel. Confirm 96%, not a reduced setting.
  4. Clear per-round bet limits and a stated maximum payout in your currency.
  5. Bonus terms that specify Balloon's exact wagering contribution.
  6. Withdrawal timeframes and monthly caps documented in the T&Cs.
  7. Working deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders and self-exclusion in account settings.
  8. KYC requirements disclosed before deposit, not after your first withdrawal request.
  9. Live support reachable in your timezone with an audit trail (chat transcript or email).
  10. No promises of "predictors", "hack scripts" or guaranteed multipliers anywhere on the site.

Our broader methodology for assessing operators and game suppliers is documented across our iGaming editorial work.

Who should skip Balloon Game. Fast

Who should skip Balloon Game

Fast crash rounds suit some players and actively harm others. Consider avoiding Balloon entirely if any of these describe you:

  • You act impulsively or chase losses after a bad run. Round cycles of a few seconds leave almost no reflection time.
  • You are playing to recover money, cover bills or repay debt.
  • You cannot comfortably lose the full session budget you have set.
  • You want automation. With no autoplay and no auto-cashout, Balloon demands unbroken attention.
  • You dislike binary outcomes. A burst pays nothing, with no partial return and no consolation credit.
  • You are gambling while tired, intoxicated or emotionally distressed, when reaction timing and judgement both degrade.

Responsible-play tools worth switching on first: a daily or weekly deposit limit set below your discretionary budget; a loss limit per session; a reality-check reminder every 15 minutes; and a cooling-off or self-exclusion period the moment you notice session creep.

Balloon on mobile play in the

Balloon on mobile: play in the browser or download

Balloon is built on responsive HTML5, so full touch-screen play works directly in mobile browsers (Safari, Chrome) on iOS and Android with no third-party software to install.

Because SmartSoft Gaming delivers Balloon as a web-integrated casino title, there is no legitimate standalone Balloon download for real-money play on official app stores. Any store listing or Telegram channel offering a "Balloon Predictor", a "Balloon Hack" or a "guaranteed signal" app is fraudulent. The crash point is generated server-side milliseconds before inflation begins, so no client-side application can see it, let alone forecast it. Those apps exist to harvest casino credentials, funnel deposits through affiliate scams or install malware.

«Online casino participation among Australians is rising while land-based venue attendance declines.» - Suomi, Hahn & Biddle, Gambling Participation in Australia 2024, nationally representative longitudinal survey 2019-2024. https://www.agrc.org.au

On mobile, the press-and-hold control maps to touch gestures: pressing the screen inflates the balloon, lifting the thumb executes the cash-out. Two mechanical realities of handheld play deserve a mention. Touchscreen sampling and rendering introduce a small delay between your release and the server-side cash-out, and any mid-round loss of signal removes your ability to exit manually. Neither factor changes the RTP, but both can change the multiplier you actually bank.

Where play is lawful for you, check the current terms and switch on built-in session limits first.

«Video games containing simulated gambling mechanics on all devices, including smartphones, carry a mandatory R18+ rating in Australia from 2023.» - Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023, Australian Government; AGRC submission (2023). https://www.classification.gov.au

Troubleshooting technical faults, input lag and

Troubleshooting: technical faults, input lag and connection drops

  • Touchscreen input lag. On budget handsets, combined touch-sampling and render latency can reach roughly 150 ms, enough to shave a tick off your intended exit. Use a Chromium-based browser with hardware acceleration on, close background apps, disable battery-saver modes that throttle the GPU, and peel off screen protectors that dull touch response.
  • Frame-rate stutter. If the balloon animation drops frames, the multiplier readout can appear to jump. Lower the in-game sound or graphics options if they exist, or move to a desktop session for higher-stake rounds.
  • Connection loss while holding. If the network drops while the button is held, SmartSoft's server settles the round on its side. In builds configured for it, a multiplier above 1.01x at the moment of packet loss is credited to your balance automatically. That behaviour depends on the licensed operator's configuration, so confirm it in the casino's game rules before relying on it.
  • Round refuses to start or bet not accepted. Usually you missed the betting window, or your balance is reserved by a pending bonus. Reload the page and re-check the active bonus status.
  • Game freezes mid-round. Do not force-close straight away. Wait for the client to reconnect so the server-side result can display, then screenshot the round history and raise a ticket quoting the round ID.
  • Accidental 1.01x cash-outs. Caused by micro-releases on glossy screens. Hold with the flat of the thumb rather than the tip, and test your response in demo mode before staking cash.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature. Real-money wagering through mobile browsers on offshore platforms may be unlawful in your jurisdiction. Check local legislation before participating.

Balloon FAQ

Structured data JSON-LD for implementation

Structured data (JSON-LD for implementation)

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      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does Balloon have an auto-cashout function?",
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      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Can a predictor app forecast when the Balloon pops?",
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    { "@type": "HowToStep", "name": "Watch the multiplier", "text": "Track the multiplier climbing from 1.00x as the balloon expands." },
    { "@type": "HowToStep", "name": "Assess the risk", "text": "Weigh a higher multiplier against the rising chance of a burst." },
    { "@type": "HowToStep", "name": "Release to cash out", "text": "Lift your finger before the pop to bank stake multiplied by the current multiplier." },
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Responsible gambling: Gambling involves risk, and no strategy produces a guaranteed win. Set deposit and loss limits before you play, never gamble with money you need, and keep sessions short. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 through Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or at gamblinghelponline.org.au. This article is general information for readers aged 18+ and is not financial or legal advice.