Responsible Gambling
Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. If you play online, only use money you can afford to lose, the same way you would budget for a night out. The fun is in the game itself, not in winning back what you have lost. This page covers how to set limits, spot the warning signs, and get free, confidential help in New Zealand if playing stops being fun.
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Setting your own limits
Most gambling sites let you set personal limits, the simplest way to keep your time and money under control. Three are worth knowing:
- Deposit limits cap how much you can pay in per day, week or month. Base it on what your budget can handle, not what you hope to win.
- Loss limits put a ceiling on how much you can lose over a set period. Once you reach it, play stops automatically.
- Time limits control how long a session runs. It is easy to lose track of time on a screen, so a reminder helps you take breaks.
Set your limits while you are calm, not mid-session. If you keep hitting a limit, that is a sign to lower it. Lowering a limit applies straight away, while raising one only takes effect after a cooling-off period. Under New Zealand’s incoming online casino rules, a request to lift a limit has to wait at least 24 hours.
Warning signs of a gambling problem
Problems with gambling often start small and build up gradually. Take it seriously if any of these sound familiar:
- You chase losses, betting more to win back what you have already lost.
- You gamble with money you cannot really spare.
- You borrow money, or sell things, so you can keep playing.
- You hide how much you gamble from family and friends.
- You play to escape stress, worry or difficult feelings.
- You cannot stop, even after deciding that you would.
If several ring true, do not wait. Dealing with it early makes it much easier to turn things around.
Take a break or self-exclude
Sometimes the best move is to put gambling aside for a while. Most sites have tools for exactly that:
- Take a break: a short cool-down, from 24 hours up to a few weeks, where your account is locked for play.
- Self-exclusion: you shut yourself out of a site for longer, commonly six months or more, and cannot log in or play during that time.
New Zealand’s new online casino regime will require licensed sites to offer self-exclusion, add a mandatory break after long sessions, and feed into a national self-exclusion register that is being set up. The online casinos open to New Zealanders currently operate offshore, so their tools vary. Check what limits and self-exclusion options a site offers before you open an account, and the Gambling Helpline can talk you through them.
Where to get help in New Zealand
If you feel like you are losing control, free and confidential help is available:
- The Gambling Helpline answers on 0800 654 655, or you can free text 8006. It is open 24/7, free and anonymous, and trained counsellors can advise you and arrange to see someone locally. Family and whānau are welcome to call too. It is part of the government’s Safer Gambling Aotearoa programme, with dedicated lines for Māori (0800 654 656), Pasifika (0800 654 657) and young people (0800 654 659).
- The Problem Gambling Foundation (PGF) offers free, confidential counselling for gamblers and their families, in person and by phone, on 0800 664 262. Through PGF Group it also runs Mapu Maia for Pacific peoples (0800 21 21 22) and Asian Family Services for Asian communities (0800 862 342).
Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), and the minimum age for online casino gambling is 18. Its first licensing regime for online casinos is being rolled out during 2026, with the first licensed sites expected later in the year. If you have any questions about what you read here, you can get in touch with us or read more on our home page.
The main thing to remember is that help is there, and it is free. If you are worried about your own gambling or someone else’s, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006 at any time. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and it is often the first step back to being in control.
How do I get help for a gambling problem in New Zealand?
Call the free Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006, any time of day or night. It is confidential and open to gamblers and their families. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling on 0800 664 262.
What is the minimum age for online casino gambling in New Zealand?
The minimum age is 18. Sites licensed under New Zealand's new online casino rules must verify your name, date of birth and age before you can play.
Are online casinos licensed in New Zealand?
New Zealand is rolling out its first licensing regime for online casinos during 2026, overseen by the Department of Internal Affairs, with the first licensed sites expected later in the year. Until then, the online casinos open to New Zealanders operate from offshore, so check the limits and self-exclusion tools each site offers before you sign up.
How do I set deposit or loss limits?
Most gambling sites let you set deposit, loss and time limits in your account settings. Set them while you are calm and base the figure on what your budget can handle. Lowering a limit usually applies straight away, while raising one takes effect only after a waiting period.
