Responsible Gambling

Last updated: 24 June 2026

Gambling should be entertainment you can afford, not a way to make money or chase losses. Most people play without harm, but for some it becomes a problem, and the offshore casinos we review often lack the in-account safeguards that regulated sites build in. This page covers the warning signs, the tools worth using, and the New Zealand services that can help, free and in confidence.

Set limits before you deposit

The single most useful habit is deciding what you can lose before you fund an account, then stopping there. Many offshore casinos, including several we review, don't offer self-service deposit limits in the dashboard, so you may have to contact support to set one, or impose the limit yourself. Either way, do it before you play, not after a bad session.

Warning signs

  • Chasing losses: depositing again to win back what you've lost is the most common path into harm, and the hardest to stop once it starts.
  • Gambling with money you need: using rent, bills or borrowed money is a clear signal to stop and seek help.
  • Hiding it: lying about how much or how often you play usually means part of you already knows it's a problem.
  • It's not fun anymore: if playing brings stress rather than enjoyment, that's reason enough to take a break.

New Zealand support services

All of these are free, confidential, and available to anyone in New Zealand, including friends and whānau of someone who's struggling:

  • Gambling Helpline NZ: 0800 654 655, or text 8006, 24/7 (gamblinghelpline.co.nz)
  • Problem Gambling Foundation: 0800 664 262, or text 5819 (pgf.nz)
  • Salvation Army Oasis: 0800 530 000
  • Safer Gambling Aotearoa: safergambling.org.nz
  • Mapu Maia (Pasifika services): 0800 21 21 22
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342

Self-exclusion

If you need to stop completely, self-exclusion blocks your access to a casino for a set period. On offshore sites you'll usually have to request this from support directly rather than toggling it yourself, which is slower than it should be, another reason we mark down casinos with no in-account tools in our ratings.

Online casino play in New Zealand is restricted to players aged 18 and over. 18+. Never gamble with money you can't afford to lose. If you're worried about yourself or someone else, contact one of the services above, or reach our team via the contact page. More about our approach is on the about page.