Gambling help in New Zealand: free, confidential, 24/7
Whether it's your own gambling or someone close to you, you can talk to someone today. You don't need to be sure there is a "problem" first.
Free call or free text 8006, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Run by Whakarongorau Aotearoa.
Call 0800 654 655 Visit gamblinghelpline.co.nzSpecialist lines from the Gambling Helpline
| Māori line | 0800 654 656 |
|---|---|
| Pasifika line | 0800 654 657 |
| Debt line | 0800 654 658 |
| Youth line | 0800 654 659 |
Source: Gambling Helpline specialist services.
Other free services
- PGF Services (Problem Gambling Foundation): 0800 664 262, text 5819, Monday–Friday 8.30am–5pm — pgf.nz
- Mapu Maia (Pasifika): 0800 21 21 22 — mapumaia.nz
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342, Monday–Friday 9am–8pm — asianfamilyservices.nz
- Safer Gambling Aotearoa: information and tools — safergambling.org.nz
Tools that put you back in control
Licensed New Zealand online casinos will have to offer deposit, spend and time limits, breaks in play, time-outs and self-exclusion that you set and cannot shorten. A national self-exclusion register has not been set up yet, so self-excluding from one site does not block others. On offshore sites these tools vary, and some offer none. See our guide to the new law.
Signs it may be time to talk to someone
- Spending more time or money than you planned, or hiding how much
- Betting more to win back what you have lost
- Borrowing money or missing bills because of gambling
- Feeling anxious, low or irritable when you try to cut back
These are prompts to reflect, not a diagnosis. If any feel familiar, a free call is a good first step.
Rootan NZ is an information site and does not provide counselling. In an emergency, call 111.