# Gambling can be harmful: where to get help in Australia > Where to get help with gambling in Australia: Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858, BetStop self-exclusion, deposit limits, time-outs and illegal sites. Source: https://bookiechecklist.com/responsible-gambling/ Updated: 2026-11-13 If gambling is causing you or someone close to you harm, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, free and open 24 hours a day, or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. To exclude yourself from licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers, register with BetStop at betstop.gov.au. You must be 18 or older to gamble in Australia. ## Signs gambling is causing harm This list is for orientation. It is not a diagnosis, and only you can decide what is right for you. - You bet more money, or for longer, than you meant to. - You chase a loss by betting again to win it back. - You hide how much you bet, or borrow money to bet. - Betting gets in the way of work, study, sleep or family. - You feel anxious, guilty or irritable when you are not betting, or when you lose. If one or more of these sounds familiar, talking to someone is a good next step. Gambling Help Online runs a free and anonymous service, and you can also use its online chat on gamblinghelponline.org.au. **Where this stands:** if these signs sound familiar, you can speak to a free service today. ## Get help now **Help and support lines · numbers from the official pages as read on 2026-11-06 · last reviewed 2026-11-13** | Service | Contact | What it is for | |---|---|---| | [Gambling Help Online](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/) (National Gambling Helpline) | 1800 858 858, free and anonymous, 24 hours a day; online chat on the website | Support for anyone affected by gambling | | [BetStop](https://www.betstop.gov.au/), the National Self-Exclusion Register | 1800 238 786 | Help with registering for self-exclusion | | [ACMA complaint form](https://www.acma.gov.au/interactive-gambling-complaint-form) | Online form | Reporting an illegal gambling service | Numbers can change. If a call does not connect, use the website of the service. In an emergency, call 000. **Where this stands:** two numbers, 1800 858 858 and 1800 238 786, were read from their official pages on 2026-11-06. ## Set limits and take a break Licensed operators offer tools that you set up yourself. The names and settings differ, so check each operator's own responsible-gambling page. - **Deposit limit.** A cap on how much you can add to your account in a period. Under the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering (NCPF), an operator must offer you a deposit limit when you register, and a request to raise a limit is delayed by at least 7 days. This is taken from the 2018 policy statement; the later edition did not open when we checked on 2026-11-06. - **Time-out.** A short break from your account. Whether and how an operator offers one is shown for each bookmaker in our [twelve checks](https://bookiechecklist.com/the-12-checks-explained/). - **Closing your account.** The NCPF also covers account closure. Ask the operator in writing and keep a copy. For how to set a limit step by step, see [set a deposit limit](https://bookiechecklist.com/set-a-deposit-limit/). For a comparison of what each tool does, see [safer-gambling tools compared](https://bookiechecklist.com/safer-gambling-tools-compared/). For habits that help, see [staying in control](https://bookiechecklist.com/staying-in-control/). **Where this stands:** limits and time-outs are set by you, and each operator's page is the source for how they work. ## Exclude yourself with BetStop BetStop is the National Self-Exclusion Register, at betstop.gov.au. It started on 21 August 2023. - You choose how long to be excluded, from 3 months up to a lifetime. - It covers licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. - It does not cover online casino sites or illegal services. - Help with registering is on 1800 238 786. BetStop is not a substitute for support. If you want to talk to someone, use Gambling Help Online. Read the full explanation in [BetStop explained](https://bookiechecklist.com/betstop-explained/), and the steps in [register with BetStop](https://bookiechecklist.com/register-with-betstop/). **Where this stands:** BetStop excludes you from licensed Australian providers for 3 months to a lifetime. ## Illegal sites and the age limit Gambling is illegal in Australia for people under 18. How operators check age and identity is explained in [ID checks when you open an account](https://bookiechecklist.com/id-checks-when-you-open-a-betting-account/). This site lists only operators that appear on the ACMA register of licensed interactive gambling providers. Illegal sites are outside BetStop and outside the protections above. We do not name them and do not link to them. Our guide to [spotting an illegal betting site](https://bookiechecklist.com/spot-an-illegal-betting-site/) explains what to look for. You can report one to ACMA through its complaint form, listed in the table above. **Where this stands:** illegal sites give you none of the protections in this page, and you can report them to ACMA. ## How this site fits This site is a reference. We are not a bookmaker and do not take bets, and we do not give betting advice. Pages say when a fact was checked, and the NCPF page, [the framework explained](https://bookiechecklist.com/consumer-protection-framework-ncpf/), sets out the rules that apply to operators. 18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. Need help? Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 (free, 24/7) or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. To exclude yourself from licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers, register with BetStop at betstop.gov.au. Last reviewed 13 November 2026.