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Responsible Gambling
Free, confidential gambling support in New Zealand, including the 24/7 Gambling Helpline, specialist services and practical ways to take a break.
Table of contents
Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day. If gambling is worrying you, or you are worried about someone else, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free-text 8006. You can also chat online at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
Free gambling support in New Zealand
All of these services are free. The national services are funded by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
Service | Who it is for | Phone | Text / other | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anyone affected by gambling, including whānau and friends | 0800 654 655 | Text 8006, online chat | 24/7 | |
Māori Gambling Helpline | Support from the Māori team | 0800 654 656 | Call-back available | Via Gambling Helpline |
Vai Lelei Pasifika Gambling Helpline | Support from the Pacific team | 0800 654 657 | Call-back available | Via Gambling Helpline |
Youth Gambling Helpline | Young people | 0800 654 659 | Call-back available | Via Gambling Helpline |
Gambling Debt Helpline | Money worries linked to gambling | 0800 654 658 | Call-back available | Via Gambling Helpline |
Counselling for people who gamble and their whānau | 0800 664 262 | Text 5819, [email protected], live chat | See website | |
Asian communities; English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Hindi, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese | 0800 862 342 | Text 832, [email protected] | Mon–Fri 9am–8pm | |
Pasifika communities; English, Samoan, Tongan | 0800 21 21 22 | Mon–Fri business hours |
For local face-to-face and Kaupapa Māori services, use the directory at Safer Gambling Aotearoa.
If you need urgent help
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111. For mental health support any time, call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor. You can also call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or, for young people, Youthline on 0800 376 633.
Know when to pause
Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. If you choose to gamble, decide in advance how much time and money you can afford, and stop when you reach that limit. Chasing losses, hiding how much you spend or using money meant for bills are signs it is time to pause and talk to someone. Know the signs
What is different at an international casino
A casino run from another country follows the rules of the place it is based, not New Zealand’s. Its self-exclusion, complaint and dispute processes may be different from what you expect. The Department of Internal Affairs notes that if you use a platform that is not licensed in New Zealand, you will not have the same player protections. From 1 December 2026, only operators approved by the DIA may offer online casino gambling to people in New Zealand. DIA information for players
Take a break or self-exclude
Look for deposit limits, time-outs or self-exclusion in the casino’s account or safer gambling settings. If you cannot find them, ask the operator’s support team. If you have accounts with several brands owned by the same group, ask which accounts an exclusion covers, as it may not apply to all of them. A gambling harm counsellor can help you work through your options.
Put barriers in place
Gambling-blocking software can make gambling sites harder to reach on your devices. Many New Zealand banks can also block gambling transactions on your cards, so ask your bank what it offers and which payments it covers. Some international casinos accept payment methods a card block may not catch. Staying in control
Support for friends and whānau
If you are worried about someone, choose a calm moment to talk about what you have noticed and how it affects you. You can get free support for yourself, even if the other person is not ready to talk. The Gambling Helpline and PGF Services both support whānau and friends. Sharing and talking
Sources (checked 12 November 2026)
Healthpoint – Gambling Helpline listing
Healthify – gambling support services
Safer Gambling Aotearoa – services