Responsible Gaming
Gambling should always be a form of entertainment, not a way to earn money or solve financial problems. The odds are designed to favour the house, and losses are a normal part of play. Never gamble more than you can comfortably afford to lose.
Age Verification
You must be at least 18 years old to use online gambling sites, and at least 20 years old for land-based casinos in New Zealand. Always verify the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction before participating. Operators are required to verify your identity and age.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Take a moment to reflect. Do any of the following apply to you or someone you care about?
- Chasing losses — gambling more to win back money you’ve lost.
- Hiding gambling activity from family or friends.
- Spending more time or money on gambling than intended.
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
- Neglecting work, study, or family responsibilities due to gambling.
- Gambling to escape from stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Lying about how much or how often you gamble.
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop.
- Experiencing feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness after gambling.
Self-Help Tools
Most reputable betting sites offer practical tools to help you stay in control. These can usually be activated in your account settings or by contacting customer support:
- Deposit Limits: Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month.
- Loss Limits: Cap the total amount you can lose over a set period.
- Reality Checks: Receive timed reminders of how long you’ve been playing.
- Session Time Limits: Restrict the maximum duration of a single gambling session.
- Self-Exclusion: Block access to your account for a chosen period (e.g., 6 months, 1 year, or permanently).
- Cool-Off Periods: Temporarily pause your account for a few days or weeks.
Use these tools proactively — they are signs of a responsible gambler, not a weakness.
Support Organizations
New Zealand
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand — 0800 654 655 (free, 24/7, confidential)
Website: www.gamblinghelpline.org.nz - Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand (PGF)
Website: www.pgf.nz
International (for players outside NZ)
- UK: GamCare — www.gamcare.org.uk | GamStop — www.gamstop.co.uk
- Australia: Gambling Help Online — www.gamblinghelponline.org.au (1800 858 858)
- Canada: Responsible Gambling Council — www.responsiblegambling.org
- United States: National Council on Problem Gambling — www.ncpgambling.org (1-800-GAMBLER)
- Germany: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) — www.bzga.de
Seek Help Today
If you recognise any warning signs in yourself or a loved one, please reach out. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7. You are not alone — support is just a phone call or click away.
Remember, gambling problems can affect anyone. Taking action early is the bravest and smartest choice.