Responsible Gambling NZ: Help, Tools & Self-Exclusion Support

At The Wilde Florist we review online casinos and sportsbooks for Kiwi players, but we believe just as strongly that gambling has to be safe. The vast majority of New Zealanders who gamble do so without harm. For some people, though, gambling stops being entertainment and starts affecting money, mood, relationships and health. This page is here to help you recognise the signs early, use the tools that keep you in control, and find the right support — whether you are worried about your own gambling or someone else's.

There are no affiliate links, sign-up offers or promotions anywhere on this page. It exists purely to point you toward help.

Signs of problem gambling

Problem gambling rarely arrives overnight. It usually builds gradually, which is exactly why the early warning signs are easy to overlook. You do not need to tick every box below for it to be worth reaching out — even one or two that feel familiar is a good reason to talk to someone.

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you planned, or than you can comfortably afford.
• Chasing losses — betting more to try to win back what you have already lost.
• Borrowing money, selling things, or using money meant for rent, bills or food to gamble.
• Feeling restless, anxious or irritable when you try to cut back or stop.
• Hiding how much you gamble from your partner, whanau or friends.
• Gambling to escape stress, boredom, loneliness or low mood.
• Lying about your gambling, or feeling guilt and shame afterwards.
• Letting work, study, relationships or responsibilities slide because of gambling.

If you would like a quick private check, the Gambling Helpline NZ and the Problem Gambling Foundation NZ both offer short self-assessment questionnaires on their websites. They take a couple of minutes and no one else sees the results.

Tools that keep you in control

Every casino and sportsbook that operates legally for New Zealanders is expected to offer player-protection tools, and once the new licensing regime under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 goes live on 1 December 2026, these safer-gambling features become a formal condition of holding a Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) licence. You can use the tools below today on most reputable sites — usually under "Responsible Gambling", "Safer Gambling" or "Account Limits" in your settings.

Deposit, loss and bet limits

Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you can deposit or lose in NZD before you start playing. A limit decided with a clear head is far easier to stick to than a decision made mid-session. Reputable operators apply increases only after a cooling-off period, while reductions usually take effect straight away.

Time limits and session reminders

Time can disappear quickly when you are gambling. Session timers and time limits let you decide in advance how long you will play, and then log you out or warn you when you reach it.

Reality checks

A reality check is a pop-up that appears at intervals you choose — say every 30 or 60 minutes — showing how long you have been playing and how much you are up or down. It is a simple but powerful nudge to pause and ask whether you still want to keep going.

Time-outs and cooling-off

A time-out locks you out of your account for a short, set period — from 24 hours up to several weeks. It is ideal when you need a break without making a permanent decision.

Self-exclusion options in New Zealand

Self-exclusion is a voluntary commitment to block your own access to gambling for a longer period — typically six months, a year, or more. It is one of the most effective steps you can take if limits and time-outs are no longer enough.

• Operator self-exclusion. Most licensed sites let you self-exclude from your account settings or by contacting support. Once it is in place, the operator should close your account, stop sending you marketing, and prevent you from reopening until the period ends.
• Multi-operator and venue exclusion. The Gambling Helpline NZ and PGF NZ can help arrange exclusion across multiple venues and services so you are not relying on doing it site by site. For land-based pokie venues and casinos, multi-venue exclusion programmes are available through the DIA and host responsibility schemes.
• Device and network blocking. Independent blocking software such as Gamban and GamBlock stops access to thousands of gambling sites and apps across your phone, tablet and computer. This adds a strong barrier that does not depend on any single operator honouring your request — useful given that offshore sites without an NZ-issued DIA licence are not bound by New Zealand player-protection rules.
• Bank gambling blocks. Several New Zealand banks let you switch off gambling transactions on your debit and credit cards. Ask your bank, or check your banking app, to add this extra layer of protection.

If you are unsure which option suits you, the Gambling Helpline NZ on 0800 654 655 can walk you through all of them, free of charge.

Where to get support

You do not have to sort this out alone, and you do not have to be in crisis to ask for help. New Zealand has a strong network of free, confidential, government-funded and charitable services. All of the services below are independent of any gambling operator.

Service	How they help	Contact
Gambling Helpline NZ	Free, confidential phone, text, web-chat and email support 24/7 for gamblers and their whanau. Brief intervention and referral to local services.	0800 654 655 Text 8006 gamblinghelpline.co.nz
Problem Gambling Foundation NZ (PGF)	Free face-to-face, phone and online counselling nationwide, plus support for family and friends. Kaupapa Maori, Pasifika and Asian services available.	0800 664 262 pgf.nz
Salvation Army Oasis	Free counselling and practical support for people affected by gambling harm, including budgeting and recovery groups, at centres across the country.	0800 53 00 00 salvationarmy.org.nz/oasis
Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora)	Funds free problem-gambling treatment and public-health services nationwide. Talk to your GP or local provider for a referral.	tewhatuora.govt.nz
Need to Talk? 1737	Free call or text any time to talk with a trained counsellor about how you are feeling — useful when gambling is affecting your mental health.	Call or text 1737

Advice for friends and family

Watching someone you love struggle with gambling is hard, and the harm often spreads to the people closest to them — through money worries, broken trust and stress. You are allowed to get support for yourself, and looking after your own wellbeing is not selfish.

• Talk gently and without blame. Choose a calm moment, focus on how their gambling makes you feel rather than accusations, and listen more than you lecture.
• Do not pay their gambling debts or lend money. Covering losses, however well-meant, usually allows the gambling to continue. Protect shared finances where you can.
• Encourage, do not force. Change has to come from them, but you can offer to sit with them while they call the Helpline, or look at self-exclusion together.
• Look after yourself and any children. Free counselling is available for family members and whanau in their own right, regardless of whether the gambler seeks help.
• Keep yourself safe. If you ever feel unsafe, contact the Police on 111 or a family-violence support service.

The Gambling Helpline NZ on 0800 654 655 and PGF NZ both offer free, confidential support designed specifically for the people around a gambler. You can call to talk through your own situation even if the person gambling is not ready to.

Keeping gambling safe and fun

If you do choose to gamble, a few simple habits go a long way. Treat any money you stake as the cost of entertainment, never as a way to make money or solve financial problems. Set deposit and time limits before you start. Only gamble with money you can genuinely afford to lose — never with funds meant for rent, food, bills or savings. Take regular breaks, and never gamble to escape stress or when you are upset, tired or under the influence of alcohol. And stick to operators that hold or are seeking a New Zealand DIA licence and that offer the player-protection tools described above, rather than offshore sites with no NZ oversight.

Frequently asked questions

Related information

Understanding the rules can also help you gamble more safely. You may find these guides useful:

• New Zealand gambling laws and the DIA licensing regime
• How to choose a safe casino and casinos to avoid
• NZ-licensed casinos versus offshore operators
• How we rate and review — including the safety checks we apply

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Last updated June 2026.