POLi and Responsible Play Policy

1. Responsible play as a mandatory element of the industry

Modern online operators are required to implement responsible gaming tools:

• limits on deposits and time;
• the possibility of self-exclusion;
• notifications of long gaming sessions.

These measures are enshrined in licenses and regulations and apply regardless of the chosen payment method.

2. Role of POLi in this process

POLi was originally created as a payment gateway, and not as a wallet or limit management system. Therefore:

• the service provided only a transaction between the bank and the operator;
• POLi had no built-in cost control tools;
• responsibility for the responsible play policy lay with the online casino and the player himself.

In other words, POLi did not block access to bonuses, did not limit the amount of the deposit, and did not regulate the frequency of payments.

3. POLi strengths for players

Despite the lack of built-in limits, POLi had traits that indirectly helped beginners and responsible users:

• Transparency. Each transfer was confirmed by the bank, an electronic check was issued.
• Transaction disposability. POLi did not keep a balance - each deposit was a separate transaction, which excluded "automatic debits."
• Linking to Internet Banking. Many banks themselves provide limits and transaction reminders that could work as an additional filter.

4. Limitations and risks

There are no constraints of their own. The player could transfer money as many times as the bank allowed.
Speed. Instant deposits increased the risk of impulse replenishments.
Lack of centralized control. All protection measures remained on the side of the casino operator and the bank.

5. Legal context in Australia

Closing POLi. From September 30, 2023, the service ceased to operate in Australia.
Banning online slots. According to Interactive Gambling Act 2001, Australian players cannot legally use online casinos and slots, regardless of payment method.
ACMA regulator. Controls the market and blocks unlicensed resources, thereby reducing the risks of gambling addiction.

As a result, the question "POLi and the responsible game" for AU has lost its relevance: the service is no longer available, and online casinos are prohibited.

6. New Zealand: where POLi is still used

In New Zealand, POLi continues to operate. There, responsibility for control remains with licensed casinos, which are required to offer players:

• replenishment limits;
• possibility of temporary blocking;
• access to playmania reference resources.

POLi within this framework remains a neutral intermediary: it does not interfere with the activation of responsible game tools, but it does not provide them either.

7. Alternatives for Australians

After the closure of POLi, players using legal services (for example, bookmakers) switched to methods with the possibility of additional restrictions:

• PayID / Osko. Support for limits on the bank side.
• Maps. Banks and fintech services may offer limits on the amount of transactions.
• Apple Pay / Google Pay. Fast authorization, plus the ability to control costs through applications.

8. Result

POLi was a convenient payment tool, but did not have built-in mechanisms for responsible play. All restrictions remained in the area of ​ ​ responsibility of the casino and the bank. For beginners, its transparency and simplicity could be a plus, but the speed of replenishment increased the risk of impulsive spending. Today in Australia POLi is irrelevant due to the closure and ban of online casinos, and in New Zealand it continues to work in conjunction with responsible gaming tools implemented by licensed operators.