Are you thinking about having a family member or friend banned from gambling?
In some Australian states and territories, you can apply to have a family member or friend banned from gambling venues. This is called third-party exclusion. This prevents the excluded person from entering gambling venues for the duration of exclusion period. Most states have no legal requirement to offer third-party exclusion, but South Australia and Tasmania provide third-party exclusions in hotels, pubs and clubs. Casinos in most states can also apply involuntary bans on customers.
Third-party exclusion can help the excluded person control their gambling if they’re not able or willing to self-exclude. By not having access to gambling venues, the person is less likely to be tempted to gamble, which can prevent further financial losses and other negative consequences. Third-party exclusion can be a helpful step in their recovery by giving them time and space to focus on getting other kinds of help and taking care of other parts of their life.
Despite these benefits, having someone banned from gambling venues is a serious step. The excluded person may feel like they have lost control over their choices and actions. It may also cause problems in your relationship with them and it's possible that they could react negatively. You should therefore only consider third-party exclusion if you’ve already tried other things and nothing else has worked. If you’re considering seeking a third-party exclusion, it’s strongly recommended that you talk to a professional gambling counsellor. They can discuss all of the options available to you, including what's safest for you. They can also support you in discussing exclusion with your friend or family member and give you confidential advice, support and strategies. See Seeking Support for the different ways you can connect with a professional gambling counsellor.
What are your other options?
If your friend or family member is ready for it, it may be a better option to suggest they exclude themselves from gambling venues. Self-exclusion involves voluntarily registering to be temporarily or permanently banned from specific gambling venues - like clubs, pubs, TABs or casinos – or online services - like TAB, Sportsbet, Neds and Ladbrokes, Unibet, and Bet365. By law, all Australian gambling providers must offer self-exclusion options to their customers - see Gambling Self-Exclusion for more information. There is also software that can block access to gambling sites or online ads - see Online Protection For Gambling . It’s also a great idea to encourage your family member or friend to get some support from a professional gambling counsellor – see Seeking Support for information about the different types of gambling counselling that are available.
Do you want more help?
To learn more about third-party exclusion, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.
Do you want to learn more about third-party exclusion?
In some Australian states and territories, people can apply to have a family member or friend banned from gambling venues. This is called third-party exclusion. This prevents the excluded person from entering gambling venues for the duration of exclusion period. Most states have no legal requirement to offer third-party exclusion, but South Australia and Tasmania provide third-party exclusions in hotels, pubs and clubs. Casinos in most states can also apply involuntary bans on customers.
Third-party exclusion can help the excluded person control their gambling if they’re not able or willing to self-exclude. By not having access to gambling venues, the person is less likely to be tempted to gamble, which can prevent further financial losses and other negative consequences. Third-party exclusion can be a helpful step in their recovery by giving them time and space to focus on getting other kinds of help and taking care of other parts of their life.
As a professional, you may consider recommending third-party exclusion to the family members or friends of people who are struggling with their gambling and have not responded to other treatments. This may include situations in which the person has experienced significant financial, relationship, or legal problems as a result of their gambling, or when the person is unable or unwilling to self-exclude from gambling venues. If you’re considering recommending third-party exclusion from a gambling venue to someone you’re working with, it’s important to make this decision in consultation with the person and their support network.
Having someone banned from gambling venues is a serious step. The excluded person may feel like they have lost control over their choices and actions. It can also damage the relationship between the excluded person and the person who made the request and it's possible that the excluded person could react negatively. You should therefore only consider third-party exclusion if all other options have been exhausted and it’s deemed necessary to help the person you’re working with regain control of their gambling and prevent further harm. If you’re not familiar with this type of exclusion, it’s strongly recommended to speak to a professional gambling counsellor before recommending it. They can help you make an informed decision and provide guidance and advice on how to approach the subject with the person and their support network. For more information on connecting with a professional gambling counsellor, please refer to Seeking Support.
What are some other options?
If they are ready for it, it may be a better option to suggest that family members or friends encourage the person they’re concerned about to exclude themselves from gambling venues. Self-exclusion involves voluntarily registering to be temporarily or permanently banned from specific gambling venues - like clubs, pubs, TABs or casinos – or online services - like TAB, Sportsbet, Neds and Ladbrokes, Unibet, and Bet365. By law, all Australian gambling providers must offer self-exclusion options to their customers - see Gambling Self-Exclusion for more information. There is also software that can block access to gambling sites or online ads - see Online Protection For Gambling. It’s also a great idea to encourage people you’re working with to get some support from a professional gambling counsellor – see Seeking Support for information about the different types of gambling counselling that are available.
Do you want more help?
To learn more about third-party exclusions, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.
Do you want to learn more about third-party exclusion?
In some Australian states and territories, people can apply to have a family member or friend banned from gambling venues. This is called third-party exclusion. This prevents the excluded person from entering gambling venues for the duration of exclusion period. Most states have no legal requirement to offer third-party exclusion, but South Australia and Tasmania provide third-party exclusions in hotels, pubs and clubs. Casinos in most states can also apply involuntary bans on customers.
Third-party exclusion can help the excluded person control their gambling if they’re not able or willing to self-exclude. By not having access to gambling venues, the person is less likely to be tempted to gamble, which can prevent further financial losses and other negative consequences. Third-party exclusion can be a helpful step in their recovery by giving them time and space to focus on getting other kinds of help and taking care of other parts of their life.
Despite these benefits, having someone banned from gambling venues is a serious step. The excluded person may feel like they have lost control over their choices and actions. If you have questions or concerns about third-party exclusions, it's a good idea to reach out to talk to a counsellor about it.
Do you want more help?
To learn more about third-party exclusions, you can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals.