Quick answer
BetStop is the Australian Government’s free National Self-Exclusion Register. Registering takes about five minutes at betstop.gov.au and blocks you from every licensed Australian online and phone betting provider at once, for anywhere from three months to a lifetime. While you’re registered, providers must close your accounts, refuse your bets and stop sending you marketing.
What you'll learn
- What BetStop is and who runs it
- How to register, step by step
- How long an exclusion lasts and whether you can end it early
- What BetStop covers and what it doesn't
- Other tools and support that work alongside it
If betting is taking more time or money than you want it to, self-exclusion is one of the strongest tools available. Before BetStop, you had to contact every betting company separately. Now one registration covers them all. This guide explains how it works in practice, so you know exactly what happens when you sign up.
What is BetStop?
BetStop was launched on 21 August 2023 and is run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the regulator for online gambling. It was set up under changes to the Interactive Gambling Act and applies to every licensed interactive wagering service in Australia: bookmakers and TABs that take bets online or over the phone.
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Run by | ACMA, for the Australian Government |
| Cost | Free |
| Time to register | About 5 minutes |
| Exclusion period | From 3 months up to a lifetime |
| Covers | All licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers |
| Choose individual providers? | No. You’re excluded from all of them |
| Support people | You can nominate up to 5 |
| Help line | 1800 238 786 for help registering |
How to register with BetStop
You can only register yourself; nobody else can sign you up. You’ll need:
- a mobile phone number
- an email address
- an Australian driver’s licence or Medicare card to verify your identity (ACMA also lists a passport). If you want to use another document, call 1800 238 786.
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to betstop.gov.au and start a registration |
| 2 | Enter your personal details, mobile number and email, and verify them |
| 3 | Verify your identity with your ID document |
| 4 | Choose how long to exclude yourself, from 3 months up to a lifetime |
| 5 | Optionally, add up to 5 support people |
| 6 | Submit. You’re added to the register shortly afterwards |
What happens after you register
Once you’re on the register, licensed online and phone wagering providers must:
| Providers must | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Close your betting accounts | Existing accounts with licensed providers are shut |
| Not accept bets from you | You can’t bet online or by phone with a licensed provider |
| Not open new accounts for you | Signing up with a different licensed provider won’t work |
| Stop marketing to you | No more promotional emails, texts or calls from licensed providers |
Before closing your accounts, withdraw any balance you’re owed. If you think a provider hasn’t followed the rules, for example by sending you marketing while you’re registered, you can report it to ACMA through the BetStop contact page.
How long does a BetStop exclusion last?
You choose the period when you register, from a minimum of three months up to a lifetime. You’ll be removed automatically at the end of your chosen period. You can extend it at any time through your BetStop account. Ending it early is deliberately harder:
| You want to | Can you? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Extend your exclusion | Yes, any time | Online, through your BetStop account |
| End it early | Only after at least 3 months on the register | Apply with a statutory declaration that you’ve had counselling or advice about the decision from a qualified counsellor, psychologist or doctor |
| Let it expire | Yes | You’re removed at the end of the period you chose |
Choosing a period
In BetStop’s first year, more than 28,000 Australians registered. Around 40% chose a lifetime exclusion, and fewer than 20% chose the three-month minimum. Almost half were aged 30 or under. Because you can extend at any time but can’t shorten in the first three months, many people start with a longer period than they think they’ll need.
Exclusion date planner
Pick a start date and a period to see when your exclusion would end and the earliest date you could apply to end it early.
Free planner
BetStop exclusion date planner
These dates are a guide only. Your BetStop account shows your actual dates. Choose any period that suits you, from 3 months to a lifetime.
What BetStop covers, and what it doesn't
| Type of gambling | Covered by BetStop? | What to use instead |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed online bookmakers and TABs | Yes | |
| Phone betting with licensed providers | Yes | |
| Pokies in pubs and clubs | No | Your state or territory’s venue self-exclusion program |
| Land-based casinos | No | The casino’s own exclusion program |
| Betting in person at TAB outlets | No | State venue self-exclusion programs |
| Illegal offshore online casinos | No | Avoid them. They’re not licensed in Australia, so none of the protections apply |
Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) can point you to the right venue self-exclusion program for your state or territory. You can check whether an online gambling company is licensed on the ACMA register of licensed operators.
A note on "sites not on BetStop"
Some websites advertise betting or casino sites that “aren’t on BetStop”. These are offshore operators that aren’t licensed to offer their services to Australians. They don’t have to follow Australian consumer protections, there’s no guarantee they’ll pay out, and using them to get around an exclusion undoes the decision you made to protect yourself. If you feel the urge to look for them, that’s a good moment to call 1800 858 858.
Support people: getting someone on your side
When you register, you can add up to five support people: a partner, family member, friend, or a professional such as a counsellor. They receive information about your self-exclusion, including notifications when your registration changes. It’s optional, but having someone who knows can make the exclusion easier to stick with.
Other tools that work alongside BetStop
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bank gambling blocks | Many Australian banks let you block card payments to gambling merchants in their app |
| Venue self-exclusion | Covers pubs, clubs and casinos in your state or territory |
| Blocking software | Apps and browser tools that block gambling websites on your devices |
| Deposit limits and time-outs | Short of full exclusion, licensed providers must offer limits. See our guide to setting gambling limits |
| Free counselling | Gambling Help Online offers 24/7 chat, email and phone support on 1800 858 858 |
Signs it might be time to consider self-exclusion include betting more than you planned, chasing losses, borrowing money to gamble, hiding betting from people close to you, or feeling anxious when you can’t bet. You don’t need to wait for things to get bad to register. Our article on Australia’s credit card gambling ban explains another safeguard that now applies to online betting.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is BetStop?
BetStop is the Australian Government’s free National Self-Exclusion Register, run by ACMA. It lets you exclude yourself from every licensed Australian online and phone wagering provider in one step.
How long does BetStop last?
You choose the period when you register, from a minimum of three months up to a lifetime. You can extend it at any time.
Can I cancel BetStop early?
Only after you’ve been on the register for at least three months, and you need to provide a statutory declaration that you’ve had counselling or advice from a qualified counsellor, psychologist or doctor.
Does BetStop cover pokies and casinos?
No. BetStop covers licensed online and phone wagering. Pokies in pubs and clubs, land-based casinos and in-person TAB betting need separate venue self-exclusion programs.
Is BetStop free?
Yes. Registering and staying on the register are free, and registration takes about five minutes.
Can someone else register me with BetStop?
No. You have to register yourself, but you can nominate up to five support people who are kept informed about your exclusion.
Ready to take a break?
Register with BetStop for free in about five minutes, or talk to someone first. Gambling Help Online is free, confidential and available 24/7.
Gambling Help Online: gamblinghelponline.org.au or call 1800 858 858. If you’re in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
