Get help, set limits, take a break
Australia-wide free, confidential support. If betting is harming your life, the resources below work — and they're free.
In crisis right now?
Call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 — 24/7, free, confidential. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in an emergency.
National support services
Counselling, support and referral — connects you to your state service automatically.
Free anonymous online counselling, peer-support forum and self-help tools.
Free, federal-government register. Blocks ALL licensed AU online wagering operators for 3 months to lifetime.
Crisis line if gambling distress reaches suicidal thoughts or acute crisis.
Anxiety, depression and mental-health support — often co-occur with gambling harm.
Five things you can do today
1.Set a deposit limit (today, before your next bet)
Every licensed AU bookmaker is required to offer pre-commitment deposit limits. Set a weekly or monthly deposit ceiling that reflects entertainment spend, not income. Limits can be lowered immediately but require a 7-day cooling-off period to raise.
2.Set a loss limit and a session-time limit
Beyond deposits, set a maximum loss per week and a maximum continuous betting time per session. Stop when you hit the limit — even if you feel a recovery bet is "due".
3.Use BetStop national self-exclusion
BetStop (betstop.gov.au) is one government register that blocks all licensed AU online wagering operators simultaneously. Choose 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or lifetime. Sign-up takes minutes and is free.
4.Block payment methods
Most AU banks (CBA, NAB, Westpac, ANZ, Macquarie, ING) let you block all gambling transactions on a debit/credit card from the bank app. The block typically takes 48 hours to lift.
5.Talk to someone
Call 1800 858 858 or chat at gamblinghelponline.org.au. Counsellors are free, anonymous and trained — you do not need a referral and the call does not appear on any record.
Warning signs
Two or more of these for 12 months meets the clinical screening threshold for gambling disorder (DSM-5). One alone is worth attention.
- •Spending more time or money on betting than planned.
- •Chasing losses — placing larger bets to recover previous losses.
- •Lying to family, partner or friends about how much you bet.
- •Borrowing money, using credit, or selling possessions to fund bets.
- •Betting interfering with work, study, sleep or relationships.
- •Feeling anxious, irritable or depressed when not betting.
- •Failing repeated attempts to cut down or stop.
- •Gambling to escape stress, sadness or boredom.
State and territory services
| State | Service | Phone | Web |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | GambleAware NSW | 1800 858 858 | www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au |
| VIC | Gambler’s Help Victoria | 1800 858 858 | responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au |
| QLD | Gambling Help Queensland | 1800 858 858 | www.qld.gov.au/gamblinghelp |
| WA | Gambling Help WA | 1800 858 858 | www.gamblinghelpwa.org.au |
| SA | Gambling Help SA | 1800 858 858 | www.gamblinghelpsa.org.au |
| TAS | Gambling Help Tasmania | 1800 858 858 | www.gamblinghelptas.org.au |
| ACT | Gambling Support ACT | 1800 858 858 | www.gamblingsupport.act.gov.au |
| NT | Amity Community Services | 1800 858 858 | amity.org.au |
1800 858 858 routes to your state service automatically based on your phone’s location.
FAQ
How do I self-exclude from all Australian online bookmakers at once?
Use BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register at betstop.gov.au. It is run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and a single registration blocks every licensed AU online and phone wagering operator simultaneously. You can choose from 3 months minimum up to lifetime. The service is free.
What is the AU national gambling helpline?
The National Gambling Helpline is 1800 858 858, available 24 hours a day, every day. The call is free, confidential and automatically routes to your state’s gambling counselling service. Online chat is available 24/7 at gamblinghelponline.org.au.
How do I set a deposit limit with my bookmaker?
Every licensed AU bookmaker provides pre-commitment limits in account settings — typically "Deposit Limits", "Loss Limits" and "Activity Statements". Lowering a limit takes effect immediately. Raising a limit requires a 7-day cooling-off period under AU regulation, so it cannot be increased in the heat of the moment.
Can my bank block gambling transactions?
Yes. Major AU banks including CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Macquarie and ING offer a gambling block in the mobile app. The block prevents all gambling-coded transactions from going through and takes 48 hours to lift, providing a built-in cooling-off period.
Is Krok Odds a bookmaker?
No. Krok Odds is an analytics and odds-comparison tool. We do not accept bets, hold funds or operate as a wagering service. We display Australian bookmaker prices for comparison. All betting decisions and bet placement happen with the bookmaker the user chooses, not with Krok Odds.
Does using analytics tools like Krok Odds prevent problem gambling?
No. Mathematical edge tools can reduce bad bets but do not eliminate gambling harm. Problem gambling is a behavioural and psychological condition, not solely a financial one. If betting is harming your life, finances or relationships, no tool replaces help from 1800 858 858, gamblinghelponline.org.au or BetStop.
About Krok Odds
Krok Odds is an analytics platform, not a bookmaker. We display Australian bookmaker odds for comparison; bet placement happens with the licensed AU operator you choose. Read our methodology for how the platform calculates edge, and our terms for the limits of analytics tools.