Last updated: May 2026 — Daniel Reyes, Spikeandearl
At Spikeandearl, we believe that playing online pokies should always be an enjoyable and entertaining experience. Our founder, Daniel Reyes, built this site with one guiding principle: player welfare comes before everything else. While we love helping Australian players find great pokie games, we are equally committed to making sure that gambling never becomes a source of harm. This page exists because we genuinely care about every person who visits spikeandearl.com.
Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money or solve financial problems. If it stops feeling fun, it is time to take a step back. The information, tools, and resources on this page are here to help you do exactly that.
Spikeandearl enforces a strict 18 years and older policy across all content and recommendations. We do not condone underage gambling under any circumstances. All licensed online casinos we review are required to perform robust age verification checks before allowing any player to deposit or play real-money games. If you are under 18, please leave this site immediately. If you are a parent or guardian, we recommend using parental control tools to restrict access to gambling-related websites.
Problem gambling can affect anyone, regardless of age, income, or background. It often develops gradually, which makes it easy to miss in yourself or someone you care about. Common warning signs include:
If any of these signs sound familiar, please reach out for help. You are not alone, and support is available right now.
Ask yourself the following questions honestly. If you answer yes to two or more, we strongly encourage you to seek professional support:
All reputable online casinos recommended by Spikeandearl offer a range of responsible gambling tools. We encourage every player to use them proactively, not just when problems arise.
Set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on how much money you can deposit into your account. This is one of the most effective ways to keep gambling within your budget. Limits can usually be lowered immediately but take a cooling-off period to raise, giving you time to reconsider.
Reality check notifications remind you how long you have been playing and how much you have spent. These pop-up alerts help break the immersive flow of a session and bring your attention back to the real world.
If you feel you need a short break, a cooling-off period lets you pause your account for a set number of days or weeks. You cannot gamble during this time, giving you space to reset without fully closing your account.
Self-exclusion allows you to block yourself from a casino for a defined period, ranging from months to permanently. In Australia, the BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register lets you exclude yourself from all licensed interactive wagering services in one step. Visit betstop.gov.au or call 1800 238 786 to register.
The following organisations provide free, confidential support and resources for anyone affected by gambling harm:
Daniel Reyes and the entire Spikeandearl team want every visitor to have a safe, informed, and positive experience. If something on this page resonates with you, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the organisations listed above. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and the right support can make all the difference. Play smart, play safe, and always put your wellbeing first.