Gambling is entertainment. It can be exciting, social, and genuinely fun — when approached the right way. This guide exists to help Aussie players understand the risks, recognise warning signs early, and know exactly where to turn if gambling stops being fun and starts becoming a problem.
Gambling should never be used to make money, solve financial problems, or escape from life.
If you find yourself gambling because you need the money, that is one of the clearest signs that gambling has moved from entertainment into something more serious. The best time to acknowledge this is right now — before the losses compound.
Australia has one of the highest rates of gambling participation in the world. These figures aren't meant to alarm — they're meant to put the risk in perspective.
of Australian adults meet the criteria for problem gambling
are at moderate risk — gambling more than is healthy but not yet at crisis point
people who gamble regularly will develop a problem at some point in their life
Australians experience serious gambling harm each year
average annual losses per adult Australian who gambles — one of the highest in the world
other people are significantly affected by every one person with a gambling problem
Problem gambling rarely appears overnight. It builds gradually, and the early warning signs are easy to rationalise away. Read through the following and answer honestly — not how you wish things were, but how they actually are.
Spending more than you planned
You set a budget but consistently go over it, and find yourself making "one more deposit" more often than not.
Chasing losses
After a losing session, the urge to keep playing to "win it back" feels overwhelming — even when you know the odds haven't changed.
Hiding your gambling
You're vague with friends or family about how much you gamble or how much money is involved. Secrecy is often the first real warning sign.
Anxiety when not gambling
Feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when you can't play — or using gambling as a way to escape stress, boredom or difficult emotions.
Gambling with money you need
Dipping into rent money, bills, groceries or savings. Borrowing money from friends or family to fund sessions.
Losing track of time
Hours pass without noticing. You sit down for "a few spins" and look up to find several hours have gone.
Neglecting responsibilities
Work performance slips. Relationships suffer. Things you used to care about — fitness, hobbies, social life — fade into the background.
Preoccupied with gambling
Thinking about gambling constantly — when you can play next, how to get more money, replaying past sessions in your head.
If you recognised yourself in two or more of the above — please reach out.
Two or more warning signs doesn't mean you have a severe problem, but it does mean you should talk to someone before things escalate. The earlier you address it, the easier it is to resolve. Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 — it's free, confidential, and the call can be a game changer.
Certain beliefs about gambling feel completely logical — but are statistically false. Understanding them can protect you from making decisions based on faulty reasoning.
Rocketplay Casino provides a full set of tools to help you stay in control. These are available directly in your account settings — no need to contact support unless you want to. Use them before you feel you need them; they're most effective as preventive measures.
Deposit Limits
Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month. Once your limit is reached, no further deposits are accepted until the period resets. Limits take effect immediately and can only be increased after a 24-hour cooling period.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Deposit Limits
Session Time Limits
Choose how long each session can last. When your time is up, you'll receive a notification and be prompted to take a break. The site will log you out automatically if you don't respond. Great for players who lose track of time.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Session Limits
Loss Limits
Cap how much you can lose in a given period. Once you hit your loss limit, you won't be able to place any more bets until the period resets. This is one of the most direct ways to protect your bankroll.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Loss Limits
Wager Limits
Set a maximum bet size per round. This prevents impulsive high-stakes bets during a session and keeps your play at a level that matches your budget. Particularly useful for players who chase losses by increasing bet sizes.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Wager Limits
Reality Check
Set a reminder to pop up at regular intervals showing how long you've been playing and how much you've won or lost in that session. A simple reality check that helps you make informed decisions about whether to keep going.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Reality Check
Cooling-Off Period
Take a short break from gambling — 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days or 30 days. During a cooling-off period your account is locked for play. You can still log in to review transaction history, but you cannot deposit or bet.
Account Settings → Responsible Gaming → Cooling-Off
Temporary exclusion
Choose a period of 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. Your account is locked for play during this time. It reactivates automatically when the period ends.
Permanent exclusion
A permanent self-exclusion closes your account indefinitely. You can request it at any time by contacting our support team. We will process it immediately and retain the exclusion on file.
National self-exclusion
BetStop is Australia's national self-exclusion register. Registering with BetStop excludes you from all Australian-licensed online gambling services simultaneously.
Important: Self-exclusion is a serious commitment and we treat it as such. If you are self-excluded and attempt to open a new account using different details, this is a violation of our terms and any winnings from such an account will be void. If you are self-excluded and find a way around it, please contact support — we want to help, not catch you out.
Problem gambling doesn't only affect the person gambling. Partners, children, parents and friends often carry the weight of it too — through financial stress, broken trust, and watching someone they care about change. If this describes your situation, you deserve support as much as the person who is gambling.
You are not responsible for fixing them
Helping someone with a gambling problem is not the same as solving it for them. You can offer support, set boundaries, and encourage professional help — but recovery requires the person to want it themselves.
Protecting your finances matters
Consider separating financial accounts, setting up independent access to essential funds, and speaking to a financial counsellor. The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) offers free advice.
Gamaanon and family counselling
Gamblers Anonymous has a companion organisation called Gam-Anon specifically for family members and friends. Local meetings and online resources are available at gam-anon.org.au.
Every service listed below is free to call, run by trained professionals, and completely confidential. They do not share your details with anyone — including Rocketplay Casino — without your consent.
Gambling Help Online
Australia — National
Free, confidential counselling available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Chat online or call. Run by the Australian Government.
1800 858 858Lifeline Australia
Australia — National
Crisis support and suicide prevention. Available around the clock for anyone in distress, including those affected by problem gambling.
13 11 14Relationships Australia
Australia — National
Support for individuals, couples and families. Gambling affects relationships — their counsellors are trained to help everyone involved.
1300 364 277Beyond Blue
Australia — National
Mental health support for anxiety, depression and other conditions often co-occurring with problem gambling. Online chat and phone.
1300 22 4636MensLine Australia
Australia — National
Telephone and online support specifically for men dealing with gambling, relationship or emotional issues.
1300 789 978Kids Helpline
Australia — Under 25s
Free, private and confidential support for young people aged 5–25. If gambling is affecting someone in your family, young people can call too.
1800 55 1800These aren't restrictions — they're the habits that separate players who have fun from those who don't.
Decide your budget before you start — not during the session
When you're in the middle of a session, your judgment is influenced by the game. Set your limit when your head is clear, not when you're chasing a win.
Only gamble money you can afford to lose entirely
Treat your gambling budget like an entertainment expense — like a night out or a sports ticket. If losing it would affect your finances, it's too much.
Never gamble under the influence of alcohol or when emotionally stressed
Alcohol impairs decision-making. Gambling to escape stress or negative emotions is one of the fastest routes to problem gambling.
Balance gambling with other activities
If gambling is becoming your main form of entertainment, that's a warning sign. A healthy relationship with gambling means it's one activity among many.
Take regular breaks — even during a winning session
Wins create momentum and overconfidence. Stepping away — even briefly — breaks the psychological trap of 'just one more'.
Never borrow money to gamble
Gambling with borrowed money means you're playing not just your own money but your future as well. This is one of the clearest red lines.
Keep track of your spending honestly
It's easy to underestimate how much you've spent over time. Check your deposit history regularly — the numbers don't lie.
Know that winning streaks end
If you're on a good run, enjoy it — but don't let it change your limits or your expectations. Variance cuts both ways.
If you need help, ask for it today.
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness — it's the most rational decision you can make when something isn't working. The earlier you reach out, the more options you have.
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