Short answer: for gambling help in Australia, call 1800 858 858 (Gambling Help Online — free, confidential, 24/7) or chat online at gamblinghelponline.org.au. To stop betting with licensed Australian providers, register with BetStop. BetStop does not block offshore online casinos — for those, combine a bank gambling block with blocking software, and talk to a counsellor about the rest.
Talk to someone
| Service | Contact | When |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Help Online (national) | 1800 858 858 · chat and email at gamblinghelponline.org.au | 24/7 |
| GambleAware NSW | 1800 858 858 · free counselling statewide, including face-to-face | 24/7 phone |
| Gambling Help Queensland | 1800 858 858 · counselling in person, by phone or online | 24/7 phone |
| Gambler's Help (Victoria) | 1800 858 858 | 24/7 |
| National Debt Helpline (financial counselling) | 1800 007 007 | Calls weekdays 9:30am–4:30pm; chat weekdays 9am–8pm |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | — |
| Interpreter service (listed by Gambling Help Queensland) | 131 450 | — |
The gambling and debt services above are free and confidential. Gambling Help Online also runs a peer support forum, a self-help program and a self-assessment based on the PGSI questionnaire, and its "Find local gambling services" tool points you to the service for your state or territory.
BetStop: what it covers, and what it doesn't
BetStop is the national self-exclusion register, a free Australian Government service.
- Covers: all licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. Once you're registered, they can't let you bet, open new accounts or send you marketing.
- Length: from 3 months to a lifetime; you can extend it at any time. Gambling Help Queensland notes it can only be cancelled after 3 months.
- Sign-up: about 5 minutes at betstop.gov.au. You can nominate someone to support you while you're excluded.
- Doesn't cover: in-venue gambling, or illegal services such as online casinos and online pokies sites.
That last point matters. Gambling Help Online warns it may not be possible to self-exclude from gambling sites registered outside Australia — and every online casino offered to Australians is offshore (GambleAware NSW).
Blocking offshore casinos: what you can use
Because Australian self-exclusion doesn't reach offshore casinos, the tools that work are the ones on your side of the transaction:
- A bank gambling block. The Australian Banking Association says most banks let customers block gambling, switched on in the banking app or through the contact centre, and that removing a block can be delayed. Ask your bank which payments it catches — card payments, bank transfers, PayID — and whether it covers payments to crypto exchanges.
- Blocking software. GambleAware NSW lists gambling-specific blockers such as Gamban, GamBlock and BetBlocker, which block gambling sites and ads; Gambling Help Queensland also mentions Net Nanny and Bark. Install it on every device you use.
- No credit. Since 11 June 2024, licensed betting services can't take credit cards or crypto (ACMA). Offshore casinos aren't bound by that. Ask your bank about a card that doesn't allow gambling transactions — the ABA says some credit cards don't.
- Remove saved details. Delete saved cards and casino apps or accounts, and unsubscribe from casino emails and texts.
- Tell someone. A person you trust, or a counsellor on 1800 858 858.
Venue self-exclusion
For pokies and gaming in pubs, clubs and casinos, self-exclusion is arranged by state:
- NSW: contact the venue directly, or use the online multi-venue system at mvse.com.au. Minimum 6 months for clubs and pubs; 12 months for casinos and participating venues. Free; can be temporary or permanent.
- Queensland: ask the venue's customer liaison officer, or have Gambling Help Queensland arrange it remotely. Exclusions last up to 5 years and start after a 24-hour cooling-off period. By law, venues must help anyone who asks.
- Other states and territories: use Gambling Help Online's "Find local gambling services" tool, or call 1800 858 858 and ask how self-exclusion works where you live.
More detail for two states: online pokies NSW and online pokies QLD.
When money is the problem
Gambling debts don't have to be faced alone. The National Debt Helpline offers free, confidential financial counselling on 1800 007 007; Gambling Help Queensland lists the same number for financial counselling. If an offshore casino has taken money from your account without permission, contact your bank first — see our safe online casinos guide for the other steps.
Supporting someone else
Gambling Help Online has a section for friends and family of people who gamble, and state services counsel family members too — GambleAware NSW's free counselling is for "people affected by gambling and their loved ones". You don't need the other person's agreement to get help for yourself.
If you need to talk to someone right now, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 at any hour, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Gambling help: Australian FAQ
Who can I call about gambling in Australia?
Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 — free, confidential and available 24/7 — or chat with a counsellor online at gamblinghelponline.org.au. The same number is used by state services such as GambleAware NSW, Gambling Help Queensland and Gambler's Help in Victoria. For money problems, the National Debt Helpline is on 1800 007 007.
Does BetStop block online casinos?
No. BetStop blocks you from licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. It doesn't cover in-venue gambling or illegal services such as online casinos. For offshore casinos, use blocking software and a bank gambling block.
How long does a BetStop exclusion last?
From a minimum of 3 months up to a lifetime, and you can extend it at any time. Registering takes about 5 minutes and is free. Gambling Help Queensland notes that cancelling is only possible after 3 months.
Can my bank block gambling transactions?
Many can. The Australian Banking Association says most banks have built tools to let customers block gambling, which can be switched on in banking apps or through contact centres, and that removing a block can be delayed. Ask your bank exactly which payments its block covers.
Can I help someone else who gambles?
Yes. Gambling Help Online has resources for friends and family, and services such as GambleAware NSW and Gambling Help Queensland offer free counselling for people affected by someone else's gambling. You can call 1800 858 858 to talk it through.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these pages. Dates show when we last opened each source. How we source
- Gambling Help OnlineGambling Help Onlinechecked 14 Oct 2026
- Gambling Help OnlineOnline self-exclusionchecked 14 Oct 2026
- BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (Commonwealth of Australia)BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Registerchecked 14 Oct 2026
- Victorian Gambling and Casino Control CommissionBetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register has launchedchecked 14 Oct 2026
- Gambling Help Queensland (funded by the Queensland Government)Gambling Help Queenslandchecked 14 Oct 2026
- Gambling Help QueenslandBan yourselfchecked 14 Oct 2026
- Queensland GovernmentSelf-exclusion from gambling venues or activitieschecked 14 Oct 2026
- GambleAware (NSW Government)Free face-to-face gambling counselling all over NSWchecked 14 Oct 2026
- GambleAware (NSW Government)Take a break and ban yourselfchecked 14 Oct 2026
- Victorian Government (formerly Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation)Gambling transaction blocks on credit and debit cards (archived news page)checked 14 Oct 2026
- National Debt Helpline (Financial Counselling Australia)National Debt Helplinechecked 14 Oct 2026
- Australian Banking AssociationCredit cards and online gamblingchecked 14 Oct 2026
- ACMACredit banchecked 14 Oct 2026
- GambleAware (NSW Government)Overseas gambling websiteschecked 14 Oct 2026