Recognising the Warning Signs
The line between entertainment and harmful behaviour can blur gradually, and it’s worth paying attention to how you approach gambling. Some patterns may indicate that your relationship with gambling has become problematic. If you find yourself thinking about gambling throughout the day, chasing losses by gambling with more money, hiding your gambling from friends or family, or experiencing stress and anxiety related to your betting activity, these can be signals to step back and reassess. Feeling the need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve the same level of excitement, lying to others about time or money spent on gambling, or gambling as an escape from life’s difficulties are also recognised indicators. A change in your mood or behaviour when you cannot gamble — irritability, anxiety, or restlessness — suggests that gambling may have become a dependency rather than entertainment.
Tools for Self-Management
If you’re concerned about your gambling but want to maintain control over your own decisions, several self-limitation tools are available through licensed services. Setting deposit limits restricts the amount you can spend during a specific time period, while time-limit features help you manage how long you spend gambling in a single session. Many licensed operators also offer the option to temporarily or permanently close your account. Beyond individual operator tools, Australia’s BetStop scheme provides a national self-exclusion register that prevents you from accessing licensed online and phone-based wagering services across multiple operators simultaneously. You can choose an exclusion period from a minimum of three months to lifetime self-exclusion through this single registration.
Support Resources in Australia
Professional help and peer support are available across Australia with no cost or judgment. The National Gambling Helpline operates 24 hours, seven days a week, and can be reached on 1800 858 858 for confidential counselling and advice. If you’re in South Australia, a dedicated helpline is available on 1800 934 196. For friends and family members concerned about someone else’s gambling, the SHARC helpline can be reached on 1300 660 068. The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and state-based services like Gambler’s Help offer counselling, support groups, and information tailored to residents. Men’s-specific support is available through MensLine Australia on 1300 78 9 9 78. In addition to these services, your general practitioner can refer you to counselling and treatment programs in your area.
This page is reviewed annually to ensure the information about support services and regulatory structures remains current and accurate.