Gambling support — Gambling Help counselling and BetStop self-exclusion
You don't have to face this alone. We calmly guide you through the free 24-hour Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858), how to register with the national self-exclusion register BetStop, bank blocking features, and family support.
You are not alone — Australia's problem gambling support system
Problem gambling is not something caused by weak willpower — it is a health issue that can happen to anyone, and you can recover with professional support. Australia has a free, confidential support system. The key point of contact is Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) — free 24-hour phone and online chat counselling, every day of the year, with interpreter connection available if English is difficult. On top of this, there is step-by-step support, from BetStop, the national self-exclusion register that legally blocks online betting, to free financial counselling (National Debt Helpline). Asking for help is itself the first step to recovery.
Self-check of the signs — a check, not a judgment
The following are not judgments but signs you can check for yourself — spending more than you planned and finding it hard to control your spending, chasing losses by continuing to bet to win back money you've lost, hiding your gambling or the amounts from family and friends or lying about it, and taking out loans or borrowing money to fund gambling. If you feel even one applies, use counselling as a conversation rather than a diagnosis. The earlier you act, the more options you have.
BetStop — how to register with the national self-exclusion register
BetStop is the Australian Government's National Self-Exclusion Register (operated by ACMA). Once you register, it is applied by law to every licensed online and phone betting operator in Australia, so your existing betting accounts are closed, and opening new accounts and receiving advertising and marketing are blocked. Registration is completely free, and you choose the period yourself, from a minimum of 3 months up to lifetime.
Register online, with a simple process
You register online on the official BetStop site (betstop.gov.au). The order is: enter basic details → verify your identity → choose the period → done, and you can finish it without complicated paperwork. Once registration is complete, operators apply the block automatically, so you don't need to contact each operator separately.
- Go to betstop.gov.au and enter basic details such as your name, date of birth, mobile number, and email
- Complete identity verification using your ID details
What you need before registering, and who it's for
BetStop registration can only be done in your own name, and there is no cost. Preparing the items below lets you finish registration in one go. Check the latest standards, such as the specific ID requirements, on the official BetStop site.
- A mobile phone number and email address in your own name
- ID details for identity verification — driver licence, passport, etc. (check the specific requirements on the official BetStop site)
- Check how the balance in your betting accounts will be handled — operators close accounts after registration, so check the guidance about your balance
Four types of support by situation
Depending on your situation and needs, you can choose from or combine the support below. If you're not sure where to start, Gambling Help Online counselling will help you map out the whole path together, so it's the most straightforward first point of contact.
Phone 1800 858 858 (free, 24 hours) and online chat. Confidential, anonymous option available, interpreter connection supported. Not only you but also family and friends can get counselling.
National self-exclusion register. Applied by law to all licensed online and phone betting operators — account closure, blocking of new accounts, stopping of marketing. 3 months to lifetime, free.
Offline gambling such as casinos, pubs, and club pokies is self-excluded through separate programs by state and by venue. For example, in NSW it's guided through GambleAware NSW — check your state's official site.
National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 — a free financial counsellor guides you through debt repayment plans, negotiating with creditors, and hardship applications.
Real-life safeguards checklist
These are real-life safeguards that work even better when used alongside counselling and self-exclusion. You don't have to do them all at once — start with what you can, one at a time.
- Turn on the gambling block feature in your banking app — most major banks offer it in their app, and it blocks gambling transactions at the card payment stage
- Restructure your finances — managing your salary account, limiting cash access, and so on can be designed together in free counselling with the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007)
- Tell someone you trust — support from someone close is an important factor in recovery, and you can even practise how to talk about it in counselling
Common difficulties and things to watch out for
These are difficulties commonly experienced during recovery and things it's good to know in advance. None of these items are a failure or your fault — they are a common part of the process, and there are ways to prepare for them.
- Blaming yourself for a 'willpower problem' — problem gambling is a health issue you can recover from with professional support. Rather than staying stuck in self-blame, connecting with counselling comes first
- The misconception that BetStop alone is enough — offline pokies and casinos are not blocked, so you need to check state self-exclusion programs separately
Useful official links
- Gambling Help Online(opens in a new window)
Free 24-hour gambling counselling — phone 1800 858 858 and online chat, confidential, interpreter connection available
- BetStop — 국가 자기배제 등록부(opens in a new window)
National self-exclusion register — blocks all licensed online and phone betting, free registration from 3 months to lifetime
- National Debt Helpline(opens in a new window)
Free financial counselling 1800 007 007 — support with gambling-related debt repayment plans and hardship applications