At KiwiKasino, we believe gambling should always be fun. It’s entertainment — not a way to make money, and not something that should ever feel out of control. This page covers everything you need to gamble responsibly, spot the warning signs of a problem, and find help if you need it.
All the casinos we recommend offer responsible gambling tools. We will never recommend a casino that doesn’t.
| Need help right now? Call the free Gambling Helpline: 0800 654 655 (24 hours, 7 days) or visit gamblinghelponline.org.nz. It’s free, confidential, and available to anyone in New Zealand. |
The golden rules of responsible gambling
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
- Set a budget before you start — and stick to it
- Never chase losses. Walk away when you hit your limit
- Treat it as entertainment, not income
- Balance gambling with other hobbies and activities
- Never gamble when you’re stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol
- Take regular breaks — set a time limit as well as a money limit
- Keep gambling separate from your financial responsibilities
Self-assessment: is gambling still fun for you?
Answer these questions honestly. If you answer yes to two or more, it may be worth speaking to someone.
| Question | Yes / No |
| Do you spend more than you planned to when gambling? | ☐ |
| Do you gamble to escape stress, anxiety, or problems at home? | ☐ |
| Have you ever lied to family or friends about how much you gamble? | ☐ |
| Do you feel irritable or restless when you try to cut back? | ☐ |
| Have you borrowed money or sold things to fund gambling? | ☐ |
| Do you think about gambling when you should be focused on other things? | ☐ |
| Have you tried to win back money you lost (chasing losses)? | ☐ |
| Has gambling affected your work, relationships, or finances? | ☐ |
This quiz is for self-reflection only and is not a clinical assessment. If you’re concerned, please contact the Gambling Helpline.
Responsible gambling tools
Every casino we recommend must offer the following tools. Use them — they’re there for you.
| Deposit limits Set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on how much you can deposit. Once set, increases take 24–72 hours to come into effect — so you can’t impulsively raise them. | Time limits Set how long your session can last. A good casino will send you alerts when you’re approaching your limit and log you out automatically when you hit it. |
| Reality checks A pop-up that appears at regular intervals showing you how long you’ve been playing and how much you’ve spent. A gentle but effective reminder to stay in control. | Cool-off periods Take a short break from gambling — typically 24 hours to 6 weeks — without fully closing your account. Useful if you feel you need to step back temporarily. |
| Self-exclusion Block yourself from a casino for a set period (commonly 6 months to 5 years) or permanently. Casinos are required to honour these requests immediately. | Loss limits Cap how much you can lose in a session or over a set period. When you hit the limit, you’re locked out until it resets — removing the temptation to keep going. |
How to self-exclude in New Zealand
Self-exclusion is one of the most effective tools available to people who feel their gambling is getting out of hand. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the casino’s responsible gambling or account settings page
- Find the self-exclusion option — all reputable casinos are required to have one
- Choose your exclusion period (most offer 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or permanent)
- Confirm your request — it should take effect immediately or within 24 hours
- Consider also registering with Gambling Harm — they can help coordinate exclusions across multiple platforms
Once you self-exclude, the casino is legally obligated to close your account for that period. They must also refund any unused funds. If a casino ignores a self-exclusion request, report them immediately — that is a serious red flag.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling can affect anyone. These are some of the signs to watch for in yourself or someone you care about:
- Spending more time or money on gambling than intended
- Feeling the need to gamble with increasing amounts to get the same excitement
- Restlessness or irritability when not gambling
- Using gambling as a way to cope with stress, depression, or anxiety
- Hiding gambling activity from family or friends
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or taking out loans to gamble
- Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities because of gambling
- Failed attempts to cut back or stop
New Zealand support services
All services below are free and confidential.
| Service | Contact | Details |
| Gambling Helpline NZ | 0800 654 655 | Free, 24/7. Calls are confidential. Advice, support and referrals. |
| Gambling Harm Online | gamblinghelponline.org.nz | Online chat, self-help resources, and directory of local services. |
| Problem Gambling Foundation | pgf.org.nz | Counselling and support across NZ. Face-to-face and online sessions. |
| Lifeline NZ | 0800 543 354 | General crisis support. 24/7 availability. |