PayID
Mastercard
Neosurf
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Skrill
Neteller
Paysafecard
CashtoCode
MiFinity
AstroPay
Payz
Maestro
Revolut
Pragmatic Play
NetEnt
Yggdrasil
MicrogamingStaying in control
Is gambling still fun?
Gambling should be something you do for fun, with money you can afford to lose. These are the signs it has stopped being that. One or two are worth taking seriously.
- You spend more money, or more time, than you meant to
- You chase losses: you bet more to win back what you lost
- You borrow money, or use money meant for bills, to gamble
- You hide your gambling, or play down how much you play
- You feel restless, anxious or low when you can’t gamble
- You gamble to escape stress, boredom or problems
- Work, sleep or the people close to you are suffering
Recognise yourself here? Talk to someone today. Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858, is free and confidential, and it helps family and friends too.
The tools a casino gives you
Most casinos let you limit what you spend and take a break from your account. The settings sit in your account menu. Four steps, at a typical casino:
Step 1
Open the safety settings
In the account menu, look for Responsible gambling, Safer gambling or Limits. Many casinos link to them in the footer too.
Step 2
Set your deposit limits
A cap for the day, the week and the month. Lowering a limit works at once; raising it usually takes a day, so it can’t be done on a whim.
Step 3
Turn on a reminder
A reality check pops up while you play, with the time you have spent and what you have won or lost.
Step 4
Take a break when you need one
A time-out locks the account for a day to a few weeks. Self-exclusion closes it for months or years: pick the longest period offered.
| Tool | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps what you can pay in a day, a week or a month | Until you change it; raising it usually takes a day or more |
| Loss or wager limit | Caps what you can lose, or bet, in a set period | The same as a deposit limit |
| Reality check | A pop-up every 15 to 60 minutes with your time and your wins or losses | Every session |
| Time-out | Locks your account for a short break | Usually 24 hours to 6 weeks |
| Self-exclusion | Closes your account; the casino refuses you and stops its offers | Usually 6 months to 5 years |
Not every casino has every tool. Of the 136 casinos we list, 130 let you self-exclude, but only 49 let you set deposit limits. Each review shows which tools a casino has.
Block gambling at your bank and on your devices
Self-exclusion at one casino doesn’t stop you opening an account at another. Two more locks cover the rest.
At your bank
- Your bank’s app. Most major Australian banks, including CommBank, ANZ, NAB and Westpac, let you block gambling transactions on your card. Look under card controls in the app.
- Call the bank. No setting in the app? Ask the bank to block gambling merchants on every card you hold. It is free and you can switch it back after a cooling-off period.
On your phone and computer
Blocking apps stop gambling sites and apps from opening. BetBlocker is free; Gamban is paid. Put one on every device you use, and ask someone you trust to keep the password.
BetStop is Australia’s national self-exclusion register. It covers licensed Australian betting sites, not the offshore casinos on this site, so use it alongside the steps above. betstop.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
Free, confidential help in Australia
You can get help with your own gambling or someone else’s. Each of these services is free.
-
Gambling Help Online
Free, confidential counselling by phone and online chat, 24 hours a day, every day. For you, or for someone close to you.
-
Lifeline
Crisis support and suicide prevention, 24 hours a day. If gambling is making you feel hopeless, call now.
-
National Debt Helpline
Free financial counselling if gambling has left you with debts, Monday to Friday. Counsellors are independent of lenders.
-
Gamblers Anonymous Australia
Free meetings in person and online across Australia. No booking and no fees: you just turn up.
If you’re worried about someone else
If someone close to you gambles too much, you can get support for yourself too, even before they are ready to talk.
- Talk when you are both calm, about what you have noticed, without blame
- Think twice before paying off their gambling debts: it can keep the gambling going
- Protect your own money: separate accounts, no shared cards
- Call Gambling Help Online: they help families and friends too
Keeping children safe
Gambling is for adults only, and casinos check age and ID. If children use your phone or computer, a blocking app and the device’s parental controls keep gambling sites away from them.
Questions about responsible gambling
Is there a gambling helpline in Australia?
Yes: Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858, is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, by phone and online chat. In a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Can I exclude myself from every online casino at once?
Not from offshore casinos. BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, covers licensed Australian betting sites only. Self-exclude at each casino where you have an account, ask your bank to block gambling payments, and install a blocking app such as BetBlocker or Gamban.
Can I cancel a self-exclusion early?
Usually not: most casinos keep the account closed for the whole period you chose, which is what makes it work. A time-out is the shorter option if you only need a break.
Do all casinos let you set deposit limits?
No. Of the 136 casinos we list, 49 let you set deposit limits and 130 let you self-exclude. Each review shows which tools a casino has.
Can my bank block gambling payments?
Yes. Most major Australian banks let you block gambling transactions on your cards, in the app or over the phone.