Last updated 6 July 2026
Keep it fun, keep it in control
For the majority of people gambling does not cause any harm. To ensure that this continues into the future there are a few simple steps that can be taken:
- Only play with money you can afford to lose. Treat it as the cost of entertainment, like a movie ticket.
- Set a budget before you start, and stop when you reach it.
- Set a time limit too. It is easy to lose track of time online.
- Never chase losses. Trying to win back money you have lost is how small losses become big ones.
- Do not gamble when you are stressed, upset, bored or under the influence of alcohol.
- Take regular breaks, and keep gambling as one activity among many, not the main one.
You must be 18 or older to gamble at the casinos we list. Gambling is never a solution to financial problems, and the odds always favour the house over time.
Warning signs to watch for
Consider the following signs of a gambling problem:
- Spending more money or time gambling than you planned.
- Chasing losses, or gambling to win back what you have lost.
- Borrowing money, selling things or falling behind on bills to keep gambling.
- Hiding how much you gamble from family or friends.
- Feeling anxious, guilty or irritable about gambling, or when trying to cut down.
- Gambling to escape stress, loneliness or low moods.
- Letting work, study, relationships or health slip because of gambling.
Should any of these signs be applicable to you or someone that you know, it is worth noting that the organisations mentioned on this page are free to approach, confidential and can assist anyone, even friends or family members who are concerned for an individual.
Tools to stay in control
All licensed casinos are required to offer tools that allow individuals to set limits to the gambling that they undertake. These can typically be found within the account settings for your casino account, often within the "Responsible Gaming" or "Account Limits" section of the website:
Deposit limits
Limit the amount of money that you deposit into your account each day, week or month. Ensure that you set these limits prior to beginning to gamble. Prepaid methods add a hard cap on top - our paysafecard guide explains how a voucher works as a built-in budget.
Time and reality checks
Set time limits for the amount of hours that you play at the licensed casino. After you have reached the amount of hours that you have selected the system will automatically stop your play.
Cooling-off and self-exclusion
Take regular breaks from gambling or even lock out of your account for a period of time, often for months or even permanently. These settings can be created within your account and cannot be undone once established.
Blocking software
There are a variety of free applications available online, such as Gamban and GamBlock that will block gambling websites from accessing your devices, independent of the casino from which you gamble.
Self-exclusion at international casinos - how it actually works
Every casino in the list offers self-exclusion. However, the process is manual and quite narrow in the protection it offers - narrower than most players expect. Here is the honest picture.
To exclude yourself from a casino, you will have to contact its customer service in writing and request that your account is closed or suspended for a set period (or permanently). Make sure to name it clearly as self-exclusion due to gambling reasons, not a casual account closure - the published terms treat the two differently, and a proper exclusion cannot be reversed with a friendly follow-up email. Many casinos also offer timeout periods directly in the account settings. Keep a copy of the request.
However, there is a gap to understand: exclusion stops at each casino's front door. There is no shared register for online casinos in New Zealand at this time, so if you exclude yourself from one casino, it will have no impact on any others - or even on sister casinos run by the same operator under different brands. If you are excluding yourself because gambling has become a problem, there are three steps you can take to close the gap properly:
- Exclude at every casino where you hold an account, including ones you have not used recently - a dormant account is a relapse path.
- Install blocking software (Gamban, GamBlock) - the only tool that covers casinos you have not joined yet. This matters most in the current market, where new sites launch constantly.
- Tell one of the free services below. Exclusion works best with support behind it, and the helpline can help you plan the whole process in one call.
This is one of the biggest gaps in the current market and something that the incoming licensing regime will address. Starting in December 2026, all licensed operators will be subject to the same regime-wide protection framework instead of thirteen separate front doors. Until then, the combination above - every account, plus blocking software, plus support - is the working equivalent.
Protecting people under 18
Finally, it is important to reiterate that gambling is for adults only. If any of your children or teenagers are attempting to access your devices, it is important to ensure that your login information is private and to use parental controls on the devices themselves, or software that blocks gambling websites. The legal gambling ages in New Zealand are 18 for most forms of gambling and 20 for casino floors - and at online casinos, underage play discovered at verification means winnings are voided and accounts closed.
Where to get help in New Zealand
All of these services are completely free, confidential and available to anyone in New Zealand who may be affected by gambling - including the friends and family of someone who gambles. These services help thousands of New Zealanders each year, though the official statistics suggest that many more could benefit from them than call.
Gambling Helpline
Free 24/7 support available by calling 0800 654 655 or texting 8006.
gamblinghelpline.co.nz ›
PGF Services
Free counselling services available that will assist those who are affected by gambling-related harm.
pgf.nz ›
Choice Not Chance
Health New Zealand provides information regarding the effects of gambling, self-tests to determine if you may be addicted to gambling and support services in your area.
choicenotchance.org.nz ›Safer Gambling
A variety of tools and information is available to help ensure that gambling remains a safe pastime and that individuals are aware of their limits.
safergambling.org.nz ›
Salvation Army Oasis
Free specialist gambling harm counselling and support services for gamblers and their families, available in centres across the country.
salvationarmy.org.nz/oasis ›
Asian Family Services
Free, professional and confidential support services for Asian communities in New Zealand, delivered in their native languages.
asianfamilyservices.nz ›
TopCasinoList is an independent comparison website, not a casino and not a counselling service. We cannot access your gambling accounts or provide treatment. If you need help, please contact one of the free services above, or talk to your doctor.
Written by
Kai Halvorsen
Casino Terms Analyst · Wellington, NZ
Kai reads the fine print for a living. Every guide on this site is built from primary sources - the legislation, the regulators' own publications and each casino's published terms - and updated when the rules change.