Quitting Gambling in Australia: Practical Steps and Support

How to stop gambling: Steps to take now

You do not have to solve everything today. Pick one or two actions that address the way you usually gamble, then build on them when you are ready. For example, removing an app can make an impulsive bet less convenient, while a conversation with a counsellor can help you decide what to do next.

Consider the options below alongside self-exclusion and other barriers explained later in this guide. None is a complete safeguard on its own, and finding an approach that helps may take some adjustment.

• Delete gambling apps and remove saved payment details from accounts and devices.
• Unsubscribe from direct promotions and reduce exposure to gambling advertising where you can.
• Ask your bank whether it offers a gambling transaction block and what the block covers.
• Call the National Gambling Helpline or use Gambling Help Online’s chat.
• Tell a trusted person what you want to change and ask for a specific kind of support.

Make a plan for gambling urges

A trigger is a situation, feeling or routine you associate with wanting to gamble. It might be payday, watching sport, boredom, distress or receiving a promotion. Triggers differ from person to person, and an urge can appear without an obvious cause.

Think about what tends to happen before you gamble and write down a response you could try. An illustrative plan might be: “After payday, if I feel like opening a betting app, I’ll leave my phone in another room, go for a walk and call a friend.” Choose alternatives that are realistic and safe for you.

When an urge appears, you might delay a decision, leave the situation, do an unrelated activity or contact someone. You could also notice the urge without acting on it. These are options rather than guaranteed cures; if one does not help, a counsellor can work with you on other approaches.

Gambling self-exclusion and other barriers

Gambling self-exclusion means choosing to be excluded from specified gambling services, venues or activities under an applicable scheme. It can add a barrier between an urge and an opportunity to gamble.

Australia’s national register for online and phone wagering has a different scope from state and territory venue arrangements. Depending on how you gamble, you may need to consider more than one scheme, along with payment and device controls. No single measure should be assumed to prevent every bet.

BetStop: Online and phone wagering

BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, is free. One registration covers all Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers; you cannot choose to exclude yourself from only some of them. Published exclusion periods range from three months to a lifetime.

Covered providers must prevent you from opening accounts or placing new bets and must stop sending you direct marketing. They must close existing accounts and refund balances. If you have pending bets, account closure may wait until those bets are resolved, but the provider must prevent new betting in the meantime.

You must register yourself, although you may choose to nominate support people. BetStop’s registration information lists a mobile number, email address and an accepted identity document. For help registering or to discuss identification, call BetStop on 1800 238 786.

BetStop does not cover gambling in physical venues, and its core scope should not be confused with a block on all online gambling or all advertising. It should not be relied on to block offshore services. Ask the helpline or the relevant provider about products whose coverage is unclear. If you suspect a covered provider has breached the rules, you can report it to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA.

• Covered: Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers.
• Check separately: physical venues, offshore services and gambling products whose coverage is unclear.
• Use the BetStop website for current registration requirements and terms.

Physical venues: Check your state or territory

BetStop does not exclude you from a club, hotel, casino or physical TAB venue. Venue self-exclusion arrangements differ across Australia and may apply only to selected premises or activities. A state or territory exclusion does not automatically register you with BetStop.

For any venue scheme, ask which locations and activities are covered, how to enrol and what terms apply. Check the arrangements directly rather than assuming the same conditions apply across venues or jurisdictions. The National Gambling Helpline can help you find a local starting point.

• NSW: An online multi-venue option covers some clubs and hotels. Check that the venues you want to avoid are included, and ask separately about casino terms.
• Victoria: The regulator lists separate routes for hotels, clubs, Crown Casino and TAB.
• Queensland: A venue or Gambling Help service can assist; a Gambling Help service can help process an exclusion remotely.

Bank blocks and device controls

A bank gambling block or device-based blocking software can add another layer of friction. Ask your bank whether a block is available on your accounts or cards, which transaction types it covers, whether cash withdrawals are affected and how long removal takes.

Features differ between banks. For example, CommBank describes a gambling lock for eligible cards with a 48-hour cooling-off period before that lock can be switched off. It also warns that some transactions may still go through. Do not assume another bank offers the same features.

Blocking software may help limit access on a device, but check its compatibility, coverage, cost and removal settings before deciding whether to use it. These tools complement exclusions and support; they are not a comprehensive block.

Find gambling support in Australia

If you are looking for gambling support in Australia, you can start with a phone call or online chat. You do not need to know exactly what kind of help you want before getting in touch. These services can also support people affected by a partner’s, relative’s or friend’s gambling.

A first conversation can be as simple as: “I want to stop and I’m not sure which step to take first.” You might discuss urges, access to gambling, money worries or support available near you. If you are searching for gambling addiction help, you do not need to have been diagnosed to ask for a conversation.

Local and tailored services vary. NSW GambleAware lists Aboriginal and multilingual support options, while Gambler’s Help provides support in Victoria. These are examples rather than a complete directory; ask the national helpline about services suited to your location and needs.

• National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858. Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, for people affected by their own or someone else’s gambling.
• Gambling Help Online: Free, confidential online chat with gambling counsellors across Australia, available 24 hours a day.

Counselling and treatment options

A gambling counsellor or GP can discuss options with you. You might also want to raise other concerns, such as sleep or anxiety, if they are relevant to you. Professional support is an option, not a prerequisite for making a change.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, works with patterns of thinking and behaviour and may help some people experiencing gambling harm. Motivational interviewing is a conversation-based approach that helps a person explore their own reasons for change. An Australian clinical review identified CBT and motivational interviewing as having the strongest psychological-treatment evidence base for adults with gambling disorder.

Evidence for an approach does not guarantee a particular outcome. Ask what support involves, whether it suits your circumstances and what other options are available if it does not feel right.

Deal with money problems safely

Money worries can make it tempting to gamble again to recover a loss. Further gambling is not a reliable way to solve debt and can make the situation harder. A financial counsellor can help you look at the situation without requiring you to work it out alone.

Start with a simple list of your available income, essential expenses, debts and due dates. If you can, gather recent statements and letters. The aim is to see what needs attention, not to produce a perfect budget before asking for help.

The National Debt Helpline provides free, confidential financial counselling on 1800 007 007. Its published phone hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm; check its website for current contact arrangements. Consider free counselling before taking out a new loan or paying for a debt-management solution.

A financial counsellor can help you explore options and discuss what you can afford. You can also contact a creditor’s hardship team, explain your circumstances and keep records of conversations and agreements. A hardship arrangement or debt waiver is not guaranteed. Financial counsellors do not provide legal advice, so seek legal advice promptly if legal action is underway.

• List your essentials, income, debts and due dates.
• Contact a free financial counsellor for help exploring your options.
• Discuss affordable repayments with creditors and keep records.

Talk to someone you trust

Support from another person can be practical as well as emotional. Choose someone you feel safe talking to and be specific about what would help. You could say: “I’m finding it hard to stop gambling. Could you check in with me and help me work out one step to take?”

If you ask for help with money, agree together on its scope and duration, how you will retain access to essentials and when you will review the arrangement. You do not need to share passwords or hand over control of your finances as a default.

Friends and family can listen without blame, ask what help is wanted and set their own boundaries. They can also contact the National Gambling Helpline for support. If involving someone close to you feels unsafe, an independent service or counsellor may be a safer first contact.

What to do after gambling again

A return to gambling after an attempt to stop is sometimes called a gambling relapse. It might be a single lapse or a return to a pattern; neither label is a diagnosis. Gambling again does not mean you have failed or that change is impossible.

Start by stopping and avoiding any attempt to chase the loss. Contact a trusted person or counsellor if you can, then consider what happened beforehand. Was there a particular feeling, promotion, place or way of accessing money that made gambling easier?

Check whether your exclusions, bank controls and other barriers are still in place. Use what you learn to adjust your urge plan or add support. A setback does not happen to everyone, but if it happens to you, it can be a reason to review the plan rather than abandon it.

FAQ

Can I stop gambling on my own?

You can choose self-directed steps such as removing apps, adding barriers and planning for urges. You do not have to manage alone, though. A helpline, counsellor or trusted person can help you work through difficult situations or reconsider your plan if you want support.

Does BetStop cover casinos and other venues?

BetStop covers Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers, not gambling in physical venues. Check the relevant state or territory venue self-exclusion arrangement separately. Do not assume every online gambling product is covered either; ask about any product whose coverage is unclear.

What happens to my betting account balance after I register with BetStop?

Covered providers must close existing accounts and refund balances. If you have pending bets, account closure may wait until those bets are resolved, but the provider must prevent you from placing new bets in the meantime.

What if a provider lets me bet while I am excluded?

Record the relevant details, including the provider and what happened, and report a suspected breach to ACMA. You can contact BetStop or the National Gambling Helpline for assistance. A report does not guarantee a particular outcome.

What should I do if I have gambling debts?

List your essential expenses, income and debts, and avoid gambling to try to win losses back. The National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 offers free, confidential financial counselling. A counsellor can help you explore options, including talking to creditors, without promising debt relief.

Can I register someone else for BetStop?

No. The person must register themselves, though they can choose to nominate support people. You can offer practical help if they want it and contact the National Gambling Helpline for advice about your own situation. Different processes may apply to venue exclusions.

How can I help someone who wants to quit gambling?

Listen without blame and ask what kind of help the person wants. You might offer to accompany them to an appointment or check in at an agreed time. If money is involved, discuss clear boundaries rather than taking control by default. Supporters can seek confidential help for themselves too.