If you are looking for help with gambling, the most important thing to know is this: free, professional, and completely confidential support is available to you right now, no matter where you live in Australia. You do not need a referral, you do not need to give your real name, and you will not be judged.
Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. It costs nothing, and trained counsellors are ready to listen.
This article is a comprehensive guide to the free gambling counselling services available across Australia. Whether you are personally affected by gambling, worried about someone you love, or simply want to understand what support exists, you will find the information you need here.
Overview of Free Gambling Support in Australia
Australia has one of the most extensive networks of free gambling support services in the world. These services are funded by state and territory governments, primarily through revenue collected from the gambling industry itself. This means that the help available to you has already been paid for — there is no cost, no waiting list for most services, and no obligation to continue if you decide it is not for you.
Free gambling support in Australia includes telephone counselling available around the clock, online counselling through live chat and email, face-to-face counselling in every state and territory, group support programs, specialised financial counselling, support services for family members and friends of people who gamble, and culturally specific services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The range of services means that whatever your circumstances — whether you prefer to talk on the phone, meet someone in person, or communicate online — there is an option that can work for you.
Gambling Help Online: The National Helpline
Gambling Help Online is the national gateway to gambling support in Australia. It is the single most important number to know: 1800 858 858.
What Gambling Help Online Offers
- 24/7 telephone counselling: Speak to a trained counsellor any time of day or night, including weekends and public holidays. Calls are free from landlines and most mobile phones.
- Live chat counselling: Available through the Gambling Help Online website (gamblinghelponline.org.au). Live chat is a good option if you prefer not to speak on the phone, if you are in a shared space and need privacy, or if you find it easier to express yourself in writing.
- Email support: You can send an email through the Gambling Help Online website and receive a response from a counsellor, typically within one to two business days.
- Referrals: Gambling Help Online counsellors can refer you to face-to-face services, financial counsellors, legal assistance, and other support in your local area.
Who Can Call
Gambling Help Online is available to anyone affected by gambling. This includes people who gamble and want to reduce or stop, family members and friends who are concerned about someone else’s gambling, professionals seeking guidance on supporting a client or colleague, and anyone who simply wants information about gambling and its effects.
You do not need to be in crisis to call. Many people contact Gambling Help Online at the early stages of concern, and counsellors are happy to talk things through at any point.
State-by-State Counselling Services
In addition to the national helpline, every state and territory funds dedicated gambling counselling services. These services provide face-to-face counselling, group programs, and community support that are tailored to local needs. Below is a guide to what is available in each jurisdiction.
New South Wales: Gambling Help NSW
New South Wales has the highest number of poker machines in Australia and, correspondingly, a substantial network of gambling support services.
Gambling Help NSW provides free counselling through local health districts and community organisations across the state. Services include individual face-to-face counselling for people who gamble and their family members, group programs, telephone and online counselling, and financial counselling. Counsellors are available in metropolitan Sydney, regional centres, and many rural areas. Interpreting services are available for people who speak languages other than English.
To access Gambling Help NSW services, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for a referral to your nearest service, or search online for Gambling Help services in your local health district.
Victoria: Gambler’s Help
Victoria operates one of the most comprehensive gambling support systems in the country through the Gambler’s Help program, funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
Gambler’s Help services are delivered by community health and welfare organisations across Victoria and include free face-to-face counselling for individuals and families, specialised financial counselling to help with gambling-related debt and money management, therapeutic group programs, peer support and community education, and support for culturally diverse communities, including dedicated services for Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and other language communities.
Gambler’s Help also operates a dedicated financial counselling stream that works alongside therapeutic counselling to address the practical realities of gambling-related financial harm.
To access Gambler’s Help, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or visit the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation website.
Queensland: Gambling Help QLD
Gambling Help Queensland provides free counselling across the state through a network of funded service providers. Services include face-to-face counselling in major centres and regional areas, telephone and online support, group programs, and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Queensland also operates specific early intervention programs designed to reach people before gambling causes severe harm.
Contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for a referral to Queensland services.
South Australia: Gambling Helpline SA
South Australia offers free gambling support through the Gambling Helpline SA and a network of face-to-face counselling services funded by the state government. Services include telephone counselling, individual and family counselling, group therapy programs, and financial counselling.
The Gambling Helpline SA can be reached through the national number 1800 858 858, and counsellors can connect you with local face-to-face services across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
Western Australia: Gambling Help WA
Western Australia is unique in that poker machines are restricted to the Crown Perth casino and are not permitted in pubs and clubs. Nevertheless, gambling harm from casino play, online betting, racing, and other forms of gambling remains a real concern.
Gambling Help WA provides free counselling services including individual and family counselling, telephone and online support, group programs, and financial counselling. Services are available in the Perth metropolitan area and in some regional locations.
Contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for a referral to Western Australian services.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government funds free gambling support services delivered by community organisations. Services include face-to-face counselling, telephone support, and assistance for family members. Given Tasmania’s smaller population, services are concentrated in Hobart and Launceston, but telephone and online options are available statewide.
Call 1800 858 858 to access Tasmanian gambling support.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory provides free gambling counselling through funded service providers, with services available in Darwin, Alice Springs, and other centres. The NT also offers culturally specific services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, recognising the particular patterns of gambling harm in remote and regional communities.
Access NT services through Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT Government funds free gambling counselling services in the Canberra region. Services include face-to-face and telephone counselling, financial counselling, and support for family members.
Contact 1800 858 858 to be connected with ACT gambling support.
Types of Counselling Available
Free gambling counselling in Australia is delivered in several formats, and you can choose the one that best suits your situation and preferences.
Telephone Counselling
Telephone counselling is the most accessible option. By calling 1800 858 858, you can speak with a trained counsellor from anywhere in Australia, at any time. Phone counselling is well suited to people who want immediate support, who are not ready to attend a face-to-face appointment, or who live in an area without local services. Many people find that the anonymity of a phone call makes it easier to speak openly.
Face-to-Face Counselling
Face-to-face counselling involves meeting with a counsellor in person, usually at a community health centre, welfare organisation, or dedicated counselling service. Sessions are typically 50 to 60 minutes long and are conducted in a private, confidential setting. Face-to-face counselling allows for a deeper therapeutic relationship and is often recommended for people who want ongoing, structured support.
Online Counselling
Online counselling through live chat and email is available via the Gambling Help Online website. Live chat provides real-time conversation with a counsellor in a text-based format, while email allows you to write at your own pace and receive a considered response. Online counselling is a good option if you are uncomfortable speaking on the phone or if you need discretion in a shared living or working environment.
Group Programs
Some services offer group counselling or support programs. These bring together people with shared experiences in a facilitated setting. Group programs can reduce feelings of isolation, provide practical strategies, and offer the encouragement that comes from hearing others’ stories of recovery. Group programs are available in most capital cities and some regional areas.
Financial Counselling Services
Gambling-related financial harm is one of the most common and distressing consequences of problem gambling. Recognising this, Australia provides free financial counselling services specifically for people affected by gambling.
Financial Counselling Australia operates a national helpline on 1800 007 007, where you can speak with a qualified financial counsellor at no cost. Financial counsellors can help you understand your debts and financial position, create a realistic budget and repayment plan, negotiate with creditors on your behalf, explore options such as hardship provisions and debt agreements, and access government assistance where applicable.
In Victoria, the Gambler’s Help Financial Counselling service provides specialised financial support alongside therapeutic counselling. Other states and territories offer financial counselling through their funded gambling support networks.
It is important to understand that financial counsellors are not debt collectors and they are not there to judge you. They are qualified professionals who work entirely in your interest and whose sole aim is to help you find a way through.
If gambling debt is causing you distress, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or Financial Counselling Australia on 1800 007 007.
Support for Family Members
Gambling does not only affect the person who gambles. Partners, parents, children, siblings, and friends often carry a heavy burden of stress, financial hardship, broken trust, and emotional pain. Free support is available for family members in their own right — you do not need the person who gambles to be seeking help in order to access support yourself.
Services for family members include individual counselling to help you process your own feelings and make informed decisions, couple and family counselling where appropriate, financial counselling to address the impact of gambling on shared finances, group programs that bring together family members with shared experiences, and information and education about gambling and its effects.
If you are concerned about someone else’s gambling, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. Counsellors can help you understand what you are going through, explore your options, and connect you with local support. You do not need to give the other person’s name, and the conversation is entirely confidential.
What to Expect in a First Counselling Session
Many people feel anxious about their first contact with a counselling service. Knowing what to expect can help ease that anxiety.
Before the Session
When you first make contact — whether by phone, chat, or in person — a counsellor or intake worker will ask some basic questions to understand your situation. You will be asked about your gambling (or the gambling of someone you are concerned about), your current circumstances, and what you hope to get from counselling. You can share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. You will not be pressured to disclose anything you are not ready to talk about.
During the Session
A typical first counselling session lasts around 50 to 60 minutes for face-to-face appointments and may be shorter for phone or online sessions. The counsellor will listen to your story, ask questions to understand your experience, and begin to explore what change might look like for you. There is no single “right” approach — counsellors use a range of evidence-based methods, including cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, and person-centred approaches, depending on your needs.
You will not be lectured, told off, or made to feel ashamed. Professional gambling counsellors are trained to be non-judgmental and empathetic. Many people say that their first session was far less confronting than they feared and that they felt a sense of relief simply from talking to someone who understood.
After the Session
At the end of the session, you and the counsellor will discuss next steps. This might include scheduling further appointments, setting some initial goals, or being referred to other services such as financial counselling. There is no obligation to continue if you do not wish to, and you can return to counselling at any time in the future.
Confidentiality
All gambling counselling services in Australia operate under strict confidentiality rules. What you share in counselling stays in counselling, with very limited exceptions required by law (such as a risk of serious harm to yourself or others). You can use a pseudonym if you prefer, particularly for phone and online counselling.
How to Choose the Right Service
With so many services available, it can be helpful to consider a few factors when deciding where to start.
Urgency: If you need to talk to someone right now, call 1800 858 858. The national helpline is the fastest way to access support.
Preferred format: Think about whether you would prefer phone, face-to-face, live chat, or email counselling. All are effective, and the best choice is the one you are most likely to actually use.
Location: If you would like face-to-face counselling, the national helpline can connect you with services near your home or workplace.
Language: If English is not your first language, ask about interpreter services or counsellors who speak your language. Many services, particularly in Victoria and NSW, offer counselling in languages other than English.
Cultural background: Culturally specific services are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and for people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Ask when you make contact, and the service will do its best to match you with an appropriate counsellor.
Family involvement: If you would like your partner or family member to be involved in counselling, discuss this when you make your first appointment. Many services offer couple and family sessions.
Self-exclusion: If you want to exclude yourself from online gambling, consider registering with BetStop (betstop.gov.au), the Australian Government’s National Self-Exclusion Register. For venue-based exclusion from pokies and casino gambling, ask your counsellor about state and territory self-exclusion programs.
You Have Already Taken the First Step
Reading this article means you are already thinking about change, and that matters. Whether you are looking for support for yourself or for someone you care about, the services described here are ready and waiting. There is no wrong time to reach out, no minimum level of harm required, and no judgement.
Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 — free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also chat or email through gamblinghelponline.org.au.
For financial counselling, call Financial Counselling Australia on 1800 007 007.
To self-exclude from online gambling, visit betstop.gov.au.
Help is here. You just need to reach for it.