A bank gambling block cannot be switched off the moment you want it off: at ANZ and CommBank the wait is 48 hours, according to each bank on 5 October 2026. That delay is deliberate. The four major banks in Australia all let you block gambling transactions on an eligible card, and each says the block does not stop every gambling payment.

This guide sets out what each bank says its block covers, what it does not cover and how long removal takes. It gives general information and is not financial or legal advice.

What a bank gambling block is

A gambling block is a setting on a credit or debit card that you switch on yourself. Gambler's Help (Victoria) describes it this way: a gambling block on a credit or debit account means the account cannot be used to pay for gambling products or activities. The same page adds that support varies across banks, so it is worth asking your own bank what it offers.

Each bank gives its tool a different name. ANZ and Westpac call theirs a gambling block, CommBank has a gambling lock and a separate gambling and cash block, and NAB calls its tool a gambling restriction. This guide uses ‘gambling block’ for the general idea and the bank's own name when it describes one bank.

A block is a choice you make about your own money. That sets it apart from the rule on credit cards for online betting, which is an obligation on licensed providers. Since 11 June 2024, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), licensed online and phone betting providers cannot accept a credit card, funds linked to a credit card or digital currency. The ACMA adds that the rule does not apply to other products such as lotteries. Details are in the ban on credit cards for online betting.

The delay before removal has a stated purpose: CommBank says its cooling-off period supports you in making an informed decision.

What the bank actually checks

A bank does not see what you bought. It sees the merchant category code, a short code under which each merchant is registered with the card network. Westpac says its block applies to merchants registered under the merchant category ‘Betting/Casino Gambling’. Macquarie Bank makes the same point from the other side and says it cannot block transactions from merchants that are not registered under the gambling code.

The consequence is simple. A block follows the code, not the activity. A merchant whose main business is registered under another category, or a payment that never reaches the bank for approval, falls outside what the block can see. The banks say so themselves, as the next sections show.

Gambling blocks at the four major banks

The table sets out each bank's own description, in alphabetical order. All details are as published by the banks and read on 5 October 2026. None of the banks gives a date for its page.

BankToolWhere to switch onTime to switch off
ANZGambling blockANZ App only48 hours, then confirm
CommBankGambling lockCommBank app or NetBank48 hours
CommBank6-month gambling and cash blockPhone, credit cards only48 hours after request
NABGambling restrictionNAB app or phone72 hours
WestpacGambling blockOnline Banking or phoneUp to two business days

ANZ

ANZ says a gambling block is available only in the ANZ App, on an eligible card. Once it is on, you cannot make gambling transactions with your digital wallet or physical card, whether online, over the phone or in person. The page does not say which cards are eligible, so check with ANZ.

Removal takes two steps. You request it in the app first, and once 48 hours have passed you return to the app to remove the block entirely. ANZ adds that not all gambling transactions will be blocked and some non-gambling transactions might be blocked.

CommBank

CommBank has two different tools, and the name matters. The gambling lock is self-service on an eligible credit or debit card and is switched on in the CommBank app or NetBank. CommBank says that once a lock is on, a 48-hour cooling-off period applies before it can be turned off.

The 6-month gambling and cash block is available to credit card customers only and is set up by phone with a specialist team. CommBank says it covers most gambling transactions, such as TAB, registered online gambling sites and lottery tickets, plus cash equivalents. A 48-hour cooling-off period applies to its removal as well. CommBank states that some transactions may still go through and that it cannot guarantee every gambling-related purchase will be stopped.

NAB

NAB says its gambling restriction blocks most, but not all, gambling transactions for sports betting, casino games and online gambling. It applies to debit and credit cards, and on a credit card it also covers cash advances and transfers. In the NAB app the path is Cards, then the card, then Usage controls and Gambling restrictions. When a card number is shared, only the primary cardholder can apply the restriction.

Westpac

Westpac offers its gambling block on eligible personal credit cards and debit cards, through Online Banking or by phone. Westpac says a request to remove it may take up to two business days. On a credit card only the primary cardholder can change the block, and on a debit card the cardholder controls their own card, though a cardholder under 18 cannot remove it.

What a gambling block does not stop

The banks are direct about the limits. Westpac gives the longest list. According to Westpac, a block cannot stop a merchant whose main business sits under another category, a recurring transaction you have already authorised, BPAY or cash drawn from an ATM, or any payment while its systems are offline or impaired. ANZ says direct debits linked to your BSB and account number are not affected. CommBank says it cannot block transactions that do not come to it for authorisation.

None of the four says in terms how a block treats account transfers, PayID or cryptocurrency purchases, so the safe reading is that a block covers card transactions. Only your bank can say which payments its own block will catch.

Overseas websites raise the same question. The banks do not name them, but NAB says its restriction blocks most but not all gambling transactions, ANZ says not all will be blocked, and Macquarie ties the block to the merchant code. A service that is offered illegally in Australia can also sit outside what a bank recognises as gambling. For a plain description of which services are permitted, see which gambling services are licensed in Australia.

The ACMA warns of another risk with illegal operators: after you stop using one, it may continue to withdraw funds from your bank account without your permission. If that happens, contact your bank as soon as possible.

If gambling is affecting you or someone close to you, the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 is free and confidential, and Gambling Help Online offers the same support online. A bank block is one tool among several and does not replace support.

How to turn a block off and how long it takes

Removal runs on a clock set by the bank. At ANZ you request removal in the app and confirm after 48 hours. At CommBank the cooling-off period is 48 hours for the gambling lock and for the 6-month gambling and cash block, which is removed by phone. NAB says updating your preferences takes 72 hours, and Westpac says up to two business days.

The block is set by the cardholder. On shared credit cards the primary cardholder decides, as NAB and Westpac both state. No bank page read for this guide says whether a partner or parent can switch a block on for you. Support for someone else is covered in how to help someone experiencing gambling harm.

Other banks and other tools from your bank

The four banks above are not the only ones. Gambler's Help (Victoria) lists a number of others, including Bank of Queensland, Suncorp and Bendigo Bank, as of 1 September 2026. Macquarie says it endeavours to block the majority of gambling and lottery transactions on its credit cards. If your bank is not named here, ask its customer service team.

Some banks offer other tools alongside a block. CommBank lists a Spend Tracker and transaction alerts, and NAB lists hiding accounts and limiting access to a savings account. Phone numbers and hours change, so the bank's own page is the place to check them.

What is changing in gambling reforms

On 2 July 2026 the responsible ministers said new legislation would allow banks and payment systems to block transactions to illegal gambling operators. That is a different thing from the block described above, which you set up yourself. The Department of Infrastructure says the wider gambling reforms start on 1 January 2027, but its page does not describe payment blocking. How that power will work in practice has not been published on the pages read for this guide.

Who to contact when a block is not enough

If a payment has left your account without your permission, contact your bank first. This guide cannot say whether a bank will return a payment, and none of the four bank pages promises it.

For support with gambling harm, the National Gambling Helpline is on 1800 858 858, and Gambling Help Online offers support online. The National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 helps with money worries, and Lifeline is on 13 11 14. More tools are collected in other tools and support for gambling harm.

Frequently asked questions

Can you block gambling transactions on a debit card?

Yes, at CommBank, NAB and Westpac, which each say their block is available on eligible debit cards. ANZ offers a block on an eligible card, but its page does not say whether debit cards qualify. Which cards are eligible differs, so check with your bank before relying on a block.

How long does it take to remove a gambling block?

According to each bank on 5 October 2026, ANZ takes 48 hours, CommBank takes 48 hours for both of its tools, NAB takes 72 hours and Westpac says up to two business days. The wait is intended to give time to consider the decision.

Does a gambling block stop payments to overseas gambling websites?

Not reliably. NAB says its restriction blocks most but not all gambling transactions, and ANZ says not all will be blocked. Macquarie explains that a block depends on the merchant being registered under the gambling category code. Ask your bank what it detects.

What is the difference between the CommBank gambling lock and the gambling and cash block?

The gambling lock is self-service in the CommBank app or NetBank, on an eligible credit or debit card. The 6-month gambling and cash block is for credit cards only and is arranged by phone. It also covers cash equivalents. Both have a 48-hour cooling-off period for removal.

Does a gambling block cover lottery tickets?

It depends on the bank. CommBank lists lottery tickets among the transactions its gambling and cash block covers, and Macquarie says it endeavours to block lottery transactions on its credit cards. The other pages read for this guide do not say, so ask your bank.

Will a gambling block stop BPAY payments or ATM withdrawals?

Westpac says it cannot block BPAY or cash drawn from an ATM. CommBank's gambling and cash block does cover cash equivalents on credit cards. The other banks do not address the question on the pages read for this guide, so ask your bank directly.

Is a bank gambling block the same as the credit card ban for online betting?

No. The ban, in force since 11 June 2024 according to the ACMA, is a rule for licensed online and phone betting providers. A bank block is a setting you choose for your own card, and it can be used on a debit card as well as a credit card.

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