Verified service-access information. The page does not diagnose a condition, guarantee treatment or reproduce anonymous testimonials.
At a glance
| Record | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Phone | Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 |
| Availability stated | 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across Australia |
| Online route | Live chat with a professional gambling counsellor |
| Who can use it | People affected by their own gambling and family members or friends affected by someone else's gambling |
| Emergency boundary | Call 000 for immediate danger; crisis and personal-safety services are separate from routine gambling counselling |
You do not need to wait for a crisis
The service describes its helpline and live chat as free and confidential, available at any time. A first contact can be about spending more than intended, chasing losses, hiding transactions, supporting a family member or deciding whether to self-exclude. You do not need a diagnosis or a complete account history before asking what support is available.
Choose phone or online chat
Call 1800 858 858 to speak with a gambling counsellor, or use the official website's live chat. Chat may feel easier when speaking aloud is difficult, but use a private device if someone else monitors your browser or messages. Standard device and data risks still apply even when the service itself is confidential.
Prepare one immediate priority
Before contact, name the most urgent practical issue: stopping tonight's deposits, protecting bill money, handling a debt, arranging self-exclusion or finding support for a relative. A short starting point can make the conversation manageable. Do not email passwords, complete card numbers or unnecessary identity documents.
Support for family and friends
Gambling Help Online explicitly includes people affected by someone else's gambling. A family member can seek help with boundaries, shared finances and how to start a conversation even if the person gambling is not ready. Support does not require lending money, paying for a final bet or keeping a debt secret.
Add practical barriers
While arranging longer-term support, remove stored payment methods, protect rent and food money, use relevant self-exclusion tools and tell one trusted person. These steps do not guarantee that gambling stops, but they can slow the next transaction and make the plan more visible.
When immediate safety is involved
The service's support page distinguishes gambling counselling from emergencies involving personal safety, suicidal feelings or family violence. Call 000 in an emergency. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14. Do not wait for an online counselling response when someone is in immediate danger.
Official evidence trail
Gambling Help Online immediate help
How to seek support for gambling harm
How gambling online chat can help
Sources checked 2 August 2026. Later official records or programme terms may change this account.