Gambling Addiction

Gambling harm in New Zealand

Many adults take part in activities like Lotto, TAB sports betting, pokies in pubs and casinos. According to public reports, such as the research from the Ministry of Health, one in five people in New Zealand is affected by gambling harm in some way, either through their own gambling or through the gambling of someone close to them. 

Public-health data shows that Māori, Pacific people, some Asian communities, younger people and people living in more disadvantaged areas are more likely to experience gambling harm. 

The New Zealand Government, through Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and the Department of Internal Affairs, has a specific national strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm, with a strong focus on community-based services and priority groups. 

Understanding Gambling Addiction

When people say gambling addiction, they are usually talking about gambling that has become difficult to control and is starting to cause harm in everyday life. 

This might be: 

• Gambling more often than planned, 
• Spending more money than intended, 
• Feeling pressure to keep gambling even when the user wants to stop 
• Worrying about losses and how to pay for basics like rent, power, etc 

Note that these descriptions are for general understanding and should not be used to label yourself or others. 

On this page, we will use expressions like difficulties with gambling, gambling that becomes harder to control, and problematic gambling behaviour. These are not medical definitions, as this page provides general information only.  Only a qualified professional can diagnose gambling addiction or any mental health condition. 

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else,  you might consider speaking with a professional or a gambling support service. 

Common patterns people notice when gambling becomes harder to manage

The points below are everyday descriptions people in New Zealand have reported. They are not criteria, tests, or indicators of any health condition.

• Some people gamble mainly for excitement, the spin of the pokies, the tension before a race or a game, or the feeling of “almost winning”
• Other people use gambling to take their mind off stress, money worries, loneliness, and it can become a way of switching off, even when it later creates more and more pressure. 
• A few games on the pokies after work, or a quick online session can slowly turn into more extended visits, more frequent bets or bigger deposits. 
• For some, especially when money is tight, gambling can start to feel like a possible way out. 

Some types of gambling, especially fast-paced ones like pokies and some online casino games, can feel more intense for some people. 

These descriptions are informal and do not constitute clinical categories, and should not be used for self-diagnosis. 

Below, we will share some patterns people in New Zealand report when gambling becomes challenging to manage: 

• Planning the next bet, 
• Chasing losses or trying to win back money, 
• Hiding gambling
• Feeling stressed or frustrated when not gambling, 
• Arguing with partners or friends about gambling or money. 
• Some people say they find it challenging to focus at work, study, or in their daily responsibilities.  

Not everyone will experience all these, and people might notice different signs at different times. 

Questions to consider about your gambling habits

The following questions offer a straightforward approach to considering how gambling fits into our lives. This is not a checklist, assessment tool, or screening quiz. The questions below are provided for awareness purposes only and should not be used for a medical assessment. 

Ask yourself: 

• Have you ever found yourself not mentioning how often you gamble? 
• Do you spend more time or money on gambling than planned? 
• Have you tried to win back money you have lost by betting more? 
• Do you ever gamble with money you really can’t afford to lose? 
• Has gambling affected your relationships, work, study or responsibilities at home? 
• Do you notice uncomfortable feelings when trying to reduce or pause gambling?
• Have you borrowed money, used credit or sold something so you could continue gambling? 
• Have people close to you said they are worried about your gambling, even if you feel it is under control?  

How you answer these questions does not indicate whether you have an addiction. Only a qualified professional can provide advice on health or mental health concerns.

How gambling can affect daily life

 When gambling becomes challenging to manage, it can affect: 

• Money and financial stability: struggling to pay bills, rent or mortgage, using credit cards or selling possessions. 
• Relationships: conflict, secrecy, broken trust, keeping gambling hidden from a partner and family. 
• How someone feels day to day: feeling stressed, worried, hopeless, angry or ashamed about gambling or money, or both. 
• Every day responsibilities: trouble concentrating, missing deadlines, feeling too overwhelmed to keep up with day-to-day tasks. 

These impacts can build over time and be felt by partners, children, and communities, as well as the person who gambles.  These are general examples and may not apply to everyone. Support organisations in New Zealand can help people make sense of what is happening and explore practical options. 

Getting help with gambling in New Zealand

When you contact a gambling support service in New Zealand, you can usually expect: 

• A confidential, non-judgmental conversation, 
• Someone who understands the local gambling environment, 
• Help to explore what is happening for you or your family. 
• Information about free counselling, financial mentoring and self-exclusion options.

Key free confidential services: 

• Gambling Helpline New Zealand: 24/7 phone, text and online support for anyone affected by gambling. 
• PGF Group (Problem Gambling Foundation, Mapu Maia, Asian Family Services): free counselling and support for individuals, families, Pacific communities and Asian communities in the country.  
• 1737 Need to talk?  Free call or text 1737 any time to speak with a trained counsellor about how you are feeling. 

Support services provide guidance and conversation. They do not require any diagnosis for people to reach out. If you or someone else ever feels that they are in danger, please don’t hesitate to contact emergency services. 

Practical tools that people in New Zealand sometimes use to reduce gambling in their lives

These tools are informational only and can sit alongside professional support. 

Under the Gambling Act 2003, people in New Zealand can ask to exclude themselves from gambling venues such as Class 4 pokie venues and casinos.  Venue staff also have responsibilities under harm minimisation rules. 

Self-exclusion: asking a specific venue or casino to stop you from gambling there for a set period

Multi-Venue Exclusion: a service that lets people exclude themselves from multiple pokie venues at once, without having to visit each one. 

Other practical solutions are: 

• Ask the bank about gambling blocks or limits on card spend
• Use deposit limits and reality checks on online gambling accounts, 
• Install filtering software to reduce access to gambling sites, 
• Remove or limit saved payment methods on gambling accounts, 
• Talk with a trusted friend about what is happening, 
• Plan regular non-gambling activities such as sports, hobbies, etc 

These tools are optional and may not be suitable for everyone. For more details on safer gambling tools, you can visit our Responsible Gambling page on NZCasino.

Supporting someone you’re worried about

If you’re feeling concerned that someone you care about is finding gambling harder to manage, it’s essential to approach it compassionately. In a safe environment, open up a conversation that remains non-judgmental. From this, you could encourage the person struggling to reach out to a professional support organisation. If they agree, you could also do this on their behalf. This page does not provide guidance on how to intervene in someone else’s gambling and is not a substitute for professional advice. 

New Zealand gambling support and information resources

Some key sources of reliable support in New Zealand include: 

• Gambling Helpline New Zealand: free 24/7 support by phone, text or online chat. 
• PGF Services (Problem Gambling Foundation): free counselling and support for people experiencing gambling harm. 
• Mapu Maia: free, culturally tailored gambling support for Pacific peoples
• Asian Family Services: free counselling and support in several Asian languages 
• The Salvation Army- Oasis: free help to reduce harmful gambling 
• Health point: local gambling support and counselling services near you. 
• Ministry of Health, Gambling Harm: information about gambling harm and where to get help. 
• Department of Internal Affairs, Gambling Harm and Exclusion Orders: info about venue rules, harm minimisation and how to set up exclusion to block yourself from certain gambling places. 

These services can explain available options, but cannot diagnose a condition unless they are licensed to do so. This page provides general information only and should not be considered medical or professional advice. If you feel uncomfortable about your gambling or someone else’s, one option could be to talk with a free, confidential gambling support service in New Zealand to better understand what is going on and explore possible next steps.