Responsible Gaming

Strict Age Restrictions (18+)

Gambling is strictly prohibited for minors. In New Zealand, you must be at least 18 years old to purchase scratch tickets or place bets on sports and racing via the TAB, and at least 20 years old to enter a land-based casino. All licensed international online sportsbooks and casinos recommended on this site enforce rigorous Identity and Age Verification (KYC) procedures. Providing false information regarding age is illegal.

If you share a household with minors, we strongly recommend using content-filtering software such as Net Nanny or CyberPatrol to prevent underage access to online betting platforms.

Recognising the Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling-related harm can develop gradually. Review the following checklist honestly. If you recognise one or more of these behaviours in yourself, it may indicate that gambling is becoming a problem:

• Chasing losses: Returning to gamble immediately after losing money with the belief you can win it back.
• Spending beyond your means: Gambling with funds allocated for rent, bills, groceries, or essentials.
• Borrowing money: Taking out loans, selling possessions, or borrowing from family and friends to place bets.
• Secrecy and dishonesty: Hiding the extent of your gambling, your wins, or your losses from loved ones.
• Neglecting responsibilities: Missing work, skipping study, or failing family commitments due to time spent betting.
• Emotional impact: Experiencing anxiety, depression, mood swings, or extreme stress connected to your gambling habits.
• Loss of control: Finding it difficult or impossible to stop, even when you make a conscious decision to walk away.

Player Safety & Self-Help Tools

Reputable operators provide built-in safer gambling features directly within your account settings. We strongly urge all players to configure these controls as soon as they register:

• Deposit & Loss Limits: Cap the amount of money you can deposit or lose over a daily, weekly, or monthly period.
• Session Limits & Reality Checks: Set on-screen reminders to track how long you have been actively playing.
• Time-Out / Cool-Off Periods: Temporarily suspend your account access for anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks.
• Self-Exclusion: Block yourself entirely from accessing your account for a defined period (e.g., 6 months to several years) or permanently. Once requested, this cannot be reversed until the period expires.

Support Organisations in New Zealand

If you or someone you care about is being affected by gambling-related harm, professional, confidential, and completely free help is available 24/7 across New Zealand:

• Gambling Helpline NZ
  A national, free, and confidential support service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Freephone: 0800 654 655 | Free Text: 8006
  Website: www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz
• PGF Services (Problem Gambling Foundation NZ)
  Qualified counsellors offering free individual and whānau support services nationwide.
  Freephone: 0800 664 262
  Website: www.pgf.nz
• The Salvation Army Oasis
  Free, professional social support, financial mentoring, and education services to help reduce gambling harm.
  Freephone: 0800 53 00 00
  Website: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/oasis
• Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
  The regulatory body overseeing gambling legislation and harm prevention in New Zealand.
  Website: www.dia.govt.nz/Gambling

Take Action: Help Is Just a Call Away

Recognising that you need support is a sign of strength, not failure. You do not have to handle gambling harm alone. If betting has stopped being fun, step away from the screen and reach out to one of the free support services above immediately. Professional, non-judgemental guidance is available right now.