Your wellbeing matters more than any bet
At Better Choice Company, we review and compare betting apps and online casinos. We take that responsibility seriously — not just the accuracy of our reviews, but the reality that gambling can cause genuine harm when it stops being entertainment and starts becoming a compulsion. This page exists because we believe every gambling-related website has an obligation to do more than paste a disclaimer in its footer.
This is not a compliance checkbox. It is a comprehensive resource designed to give you practical, actionable information about responsible gambling in Australia. Whether you are a casual punter who wants to stay in control, someone who suspects their gambling habits are becoming a problem, or a friend or family member who is worried about someone they care about, this page is for you.
If you need help right now, call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858. It is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit gamblinghelponline.org.au for online chat and self-help resources.
Everything on this page has been researched and verified against official sources, including the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and state and territory gambling regulators. For app-specific responsible gambling tools and how they compare across platforms, see our detailed Responsible Gambling Tools on Betting Apps guide. To learn about the people behind our content, visit our Authors page.
Better Choice Company is not a gambling operator. We do not accept bets, process deposits, or hold any wagering licences. We are an independent review and comparison website. But the fact that we influence which platforms our readers choose to use means we have a moral responsibility to promote responsible gambling at every level of what we do.
Our commitment to responsible gambling is embedded in our editorial process:
BetStop is the single most important responsible gambling tool available to Australian punters. It is Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register, established under the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering and operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Since its launch, more than 35,000 Australians have registered with BetStop to take control of their gambling.
BetStop allows you to exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online wagering services in a single step. Unlike self-exclusion through an individual betting app (which only covers that one platform), BetStop covers every Australian-licensed interactive wagering operator simultaneously. When you register, every licensed operator is legally required to close your existing accounts, return your account balance, and prevent you from opening new accounts for the duration of your exclusion.
BetStop is free to use and available to any person in Australia. You do not need to demonstrate that you have a gambling problem — anyone can register for any reason.
Registering with BetStop is a straightforward process:
BetStop applies to all interactive wagering service providers that hold an Australian state or territory wagering licence. This includes all the major domestic online bookmakers. When your BetStop exclusion is active, every covered operator must:
BetStop covers Australian-licensed online wagering services. It does not cover:
If you use platforms that hold international licences (such as Curacao or Malta-licensed operators), you will need to contact those platforms individually to request account closure or self-exclusion.
If you registered for a fixed period and that period has elapsed, you can request revocation. There is a mandatory 7-day cooling-off period — your exclusion remains active for 7 full days after you submit the request, giving you time to reconsider. This is a deliberate safeguard against impulsive decisions.
Lifetime exclusions through BetStop are permanent and cannot be revoked. This is by design — a lifetime exclusion is intended for people who have made a definitive decision to remove online wagering from their lives permanently.
Problem gambling rarely announces itself. It develops gradually, and many people do not recognise the warning signs until significant harm has already occurred. Understanding these signs — in yourself or in someone you care about — is the first step toward getting help before things escalate further.
The following warning signs are based on guidance from Gambling Help Australia, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and peer-reviewed gambling research. Experiencing one or two of these signs does not necessarily mean you have a gambling problem, but if you recognise several of them, it is worth taking an honest look at your gambling habits.
If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call Lifeline immediately on 13 11 14 or call 000 in an emergency.
Recognising these signs takes honesty and courage. If you see yourself in this list, that awareness is valuable — it means you can take action. The resources listed later on this page can help you take that next step.
Every licensed Australian betting app is required to provide responsible gambling tools to its customers. The quality and accessibility of these tools varies between platforms, but the core set of tools available on most apps includes the following. For a detailed comparison of how specific betting apps implement these tools, see our Responsible Gambling Tools on Betting Apps guide.
Deposit limits allow you to cap the amount of money you can deposit into your betting account within a given period — daily, weekly, or monthly. Once you reach your limit, the app will not accept any further deposits until the next period begins. Key points:
Loss limits cap the net amount you can lose within a set period. When your losses reach the limit, you are prevented from placing further bets until the period resets. Loss limits differ from deposit limits because they are based on actual losses rather than deposits. Not all apps offer loss limits, but those that do provide a valuable additional layer of protection.
Time-outs allow you to temporarily suspend your account for a set period, typically ranging from 24 hours to 30 days. During a time-out, you cannot log in, place bets, or make deposits. This is useful if you want a short break from gambling without going through the full self-exclusion process. Some apps also offer session time limits, which alert you or log you out after you have been active for a specified period.
Activity statements provide a detailed summary of your gambling activity over a given period, including total deposits, total withdrawals, net win/loss, number of bets placed, and time spent on the platform. Under the National Consumer Protection Framework, Australian-licensed operators are required to provide activity statements. Reviewing your activity statement regularly is one of the most effective ways to maintain awareness of your gambling habits and ensure they remain within comfortable boundaries.
Reality checks are periodic notifications that appear while you are using a betting app, reminding you how long you have been logged in and, in some cases, how much you have won or lost during your session. These notifications are designed to interrupt the flow of gambling and prompt you to make a conscious decision about whether to continue. Some apps allow you to customise the frequency of reality checks.
In addition to BetStop (which covers all licensed operators), individual betting apps offer their own self-exclusion options. Platform-specific self-exclusion closes your account on that single platform for a chosen period. This can be useful if you want to stop using one particular app without excluding yourself from all services. However, for comprehensive protection, BetStop is the more effective option.
If you or someone you know is experiencing harm from gambling, help is available. Every service listed below is free and confidential. You do not need to be in crisis to reach out — these services support people at every stage, from those who are just starting to worry about their gambling to those in serious financial or emotional distress.
In addition to the national services listed above, each state and territory operates its own gambling support services:
All of these services are free and confidential. They support not just the person gambling, but also their family members, friends, and colleagues who are affected.
If someone you care about — a partner, family member, friend, or colleague — is struggling with gambling, you are not alone. In Australia, it is estimated that for every person with a gambling problem, an additional five to ten people are negatively affected. The impact on relationships, finances, and mental health can be profound.
Here is practical guidance for supporting someone who may have a gambling problem:
Setting limits is the most effective way to keep gambling enjoyable and prevent it from causing financial or emotional harm. This section provides a step-by-step approach to establishing and maintaining healthy gambling boundaries.
Before you set any limits, you need to understand your current financial situation. Write down your monthly income, essential expenses (rent, mortgage, bills, food, transport, debt repayments), and discretionary spending. The money available for gambling should come from your discretionary budget — never from money earmarked for essentials, savings, or debt repayment.
A common guideline is that gambling expenditure should not exceed what you would comfortably spend on other entertainment activities. If you would think twice about spending a certain amount on a night out, a concert ticket, or a hobby, you should think twice about spending that amount on betting.
Decide on a fixed amount you are comfortable losing each week or month. This is your gambling budget, and it should be treated as an entertainment expense — money you are spending for the experience, not investing for a return. Once you have decided on your budget, set deposit limits on your betting apps to enforce it. Do not rely on willpower alone.
Time limits are just as important as financial limits. Decide in advance how much time you will spend gambling each day or week, and stick to it. Use the reality check and session timer features available on most betting apps. When your time is up, log out — even if you are winning.
Chasing losses is one of the most reliable indicators that gambling is becoming a problem. The impulse to "win back" what you have lost is natural, but acting on it almost always leads to larger losses. If you have reached your budget for the day, week, or month, stop. Walk away. The money you have lost is the cost of entertainment, just as you would not go back to a restaurant to "win back" the money you spent on dinner.
Check your betting app activity statement at least once a month. Compare your actual spending against your budget. If you are consistently spending more than you planned, it is time to either tighten your limits or take a break. Honest self-assessment is the foundation of responsible gambling.
Even if your gambling is within healthy limits, regular breaks are beneficial. Use the time-out feature on your betting apps to take a week or a month off periodically. If you find it difficult to take a break — if the idea of a week without gambling makes you anxious or restless — that is itself a signal worth paying attention to.
Do not gamble when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, when you are emotionally distressed, when you are bored, or when you are under financial pressure. Gambling should be a deliberate, planned activity — not a response to emotion or circumstance.
Australia has one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for online gambling in the world. Understanding the regulations that protect you as a consumer can help you make more informed decisions about which platforms to use and what protections you are entitled to.
The National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering is a set of 10 measures agreed upon by Australian federal, state, and territory governments to reduce gambling-related harm. The measures have been progressively implemented since 2019 and include:
Since 2020, it has been illegal for Australian-licensed interactive wagering operators to accept credit card deposits. This measure was introduced to prevent people from gambling with borrowed money, which significantly increases the risk of financial harm. All deposits to licensed betting accounts must be made using debit cards, bank transfers, PayID, BPAY, or other approved payment methods that draw on funds you already possess.
Gambling advertising in Australia is subject to increasingly strict regulations:
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) and regulating online gambling services in Australia. ACMA has the power to block access to illegal offshore gambling websites, issue civil penalties to operators who breach Australian law, and investigate complaints about gambling services. If you believe an online gambling operator is acting illegally in Australia, you can report it to ACMA at acma.gov.au.
Responsible gambling is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time decision. Here are additional resources to help you stay informed and in control:
If you need help right now, please call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858. It is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 for emergency services.