BetStop is Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register, and a lot of people assume it blocks every form of online gambling. It doesn’t. A reader wrote to me last month: he’d signed up to BetStop in good faith, felt relieved, and two weeks later found an offshore pokies site took his deposit without a blink. He felt tricked. He wasn’t, exactly, but nobody had told him where the edges are.
During my years doing responsible gambling compliance at Queensland venues, I saw how much a proper exclusion can help. So here’s what covers what.
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18+ only. Offshore sites are not licensed in Australia. Gamble responsibly: Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858. We may earn a commission; the order reflects our own testing.
What does BetStop actually cover?
BetStop (betstop.gov.au) is run for the federal government and covers every licensed interactive wagering provider in Australia: sports and racing betting apps and websites. Register once, choose a period from three months to lifetime, and those providers must close your account and stop marketing to you. It’s free and takes about five minutes with ID.
What it doesn’t cover:
- Offshore online casinos and pokies sites, because they aren’t licensed here at all.
- Pub and club pokies, which fall under state venue-exclusion schemes.
- Land-based casinos, which have their own exclusion programs.
- Lotteries and keno through newsagents.
Why offshore casinos fall through the gap
Online casino games can’t legally be offered to Australians under the Interactive Gambling Act, so there’s no Australian licence to attach a BetStop obligation to. The operators sit outside the system entirely. Some have their own self-exclusion tools, and some honour them properly. Others let you open a new account with a slightly different email. There is no shared register between them.
Heads up: Excluding yourself at one offshore casino doesn’t exclude you at its sister sites. If you want out, you need a wider net than any single site can give you.
Tools that fill the gap
- Blocking software Apps such as Gamban or BetBlocker block thousands of gambling sites across your devices, offshore ones included.
- Bank gambling blocks Most big Australian banks let you block gambling merchant transactions on your cards in the app.
- Casino-level exclusion Use the self-exclusion option at any site you’ve played, and ask support to confirm in writing.
- Venue exclusion State schemes cover pubs and clubs; ask at the venue or your state gambling help service.
- Support services Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 is free and 24/7, and happy to help set this all up.
Bank blocks aren’t perfect, since crypto and vouchers route around them, but stacked together these tools make impulsive play much harder. Our deposit limits guide and reality check tools post are for people who want to keep playing but with brakes on.
What I’d do if I wanted a clean break
Register with BetStop for the betting apps. Install a blocker on phone and laptop. Switch on your bank’s gambling block. Close any offshore casino accounts with a self-exclusion request, not just by deleting the app. And tell one person you trust. That last one sounds soft; in my experience it’s the one that sticks.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom to use these tools. If the thought “maybe I should” has crossed your mind, that’s reason enough.
Our responsible gambling page has a quick self-test and a list of state services, and the gambling help services guide explains what happens when you call. If a site was blocked and you’re wondering about your balance, see ACMA blocks and mirror sites.
Does BetStop block online casinos?
No. BetStop covers licensed Australian wagering providers such as sports and racing betting sites, not offshore online casinos or pokies sites.
How do I self-exclude from offshore casinos?
Use each casino’s own self-exclusion tool, then add blocking software and your bank’s gambling block, since there’s no shared register for offshore sites.
Can I cancel BetStop early?
No. Once registered, the exclusion stays in place for the period you chose, although you can extend it.
