BetNinja Casino Get Help
You're not alone. Here you'll find information about help with gambling problems.
When to seek help
A clear-eyed first step
Gambling is meant as entertainment, but sometimes it takes over. If it's affecting daily life, relationships or finances, take action. Seeking help isn't weakness — it's a sensible move toward a better situation.
Recognise any of these?
- You play longer or with more money than planned.
- You struggle to stop, even when you want to.
- Gambling causes problems at home or work.
- You've built up debt because of gambling.
- You feel anxious, depressed or stressed because of gambling.
- You hide your gambling from others.
Self-test: do I have a gambling problem?
Eight honest questions
- 1Have you ever gambled more money than you could afford?
- 2Have you ever lied about how much you gamble?
- 3Do you often think about gambling while doing other things?
- 4Have you ever tried to stop gambling but failed?
- 5Do you gamble to forget problems or negative feelings?
- 6Have you ever borrowed money to gamble?
- 7Do you feel restless or irritable when you can't gamble?
- 8Have you neglected relationships or work because of gambling?
Two or more "yes" answers? It can be wise to seek professional support. This isn't a clinical diagnosis — but it's a clear first step toward awareness.
Support organisations in New Zealand
Gambling Helpline NZ
Free, confidential 24/7 support. Phone counsellors, text and online chat. Phone 0800 654 655 — Text 8006.
Problem Gambling Foundation NZ
Free counselling and support across the country for those harmed by gambling and the people around them. Phone 0800 664 262 — pgf.nz
Salvation Army Oasis
Free counselling and support, with locations across NZ. Face-to-face and online. salvationarmy.org.nz/oasis
Lifeline Aotearoa
If things feel overwhelming or you're in crisis, 24/7 confidential help by phone and text. Phone 0800 543 354 — Text HELP (4357).
Treatment options
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- The most effective treatment. Helps you identify and reset unrealistic thoughts about gambling and develop healthier coping strategies.
- Outpatient treatment
- Regular sessions with a therapist while you carry on living at home. Best for mild to moderate problems with a stable home situation.
- Residential treatment
- Intensive, in a clinical setting; usually 6 to 12 weeks. Includes individual therapy, group therapy and psycho-education.
- Online therapy
- Lower-barrier option for people not ready for face-to-face. More providers now offer online sessions.
Financial help with gambling debt
Don't ignore the bills
Gambling debts can build quickly. Several services can help you get back on track:
- MoneyTalks
- Free, confidential financial helpline. Call 0800 345 123 or visit moneytalks.co.nz for budgeting and debt support.
- Sorted.org.nz
- Free tools and information from the Retirement Commission for budgeting, managing debt and planning ahead.
- Christians Against Poverty (CAP) NZ
- Free debt help and budgeting support, available across the country.
Address gambling debt at the same time as treatment for the gambling itself — financial stress otherwise tends to trigger relapse.
What you can do yourself
Set limits
Use deposit, time and loss limits via your account. More on the safer gambling page.
Take a break
Self-exclude temporarily to step back briefly and get perspective.
Talk about it
Sharing your situation with someone you trust brings relief and opens up solutions.
Find alternatives
Sport, hobbies, social activities and volunteering replace the time you spent gambling.
Close your account
If you want to stop entirely, close your account temporarily or permanently.
See a professional
Speak to a counsellor — it accelerates recovery in almost every case.
The earlier you reach out, the easier the path back. There's no shame in asking for a hand.
International support resources
- Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
- International self-help groups in 50+ countries. gamblersanonymous.org
- GamCare (UK)
- Free information, advice and support for gambling problems by phone and live chat.
- Gambling Help Online (Australia)
- 24/7 free and confidential help for problem gambling in Australia.
Help for people close to you
Gambling problems affect family, partners and friends too. Both the Problem Gambling Foundation and Salvation Army Oasis offer support for those around the player. Set your own boundaries; don't take on the other person's debts. Professional support workers can guide you.
Our customer service team can help you set limits, close your account or refer you to support organisations. Get in touch via live chat — every request is handled with respect and confidentiality.
There is no wrong door for asking for help
One of the hardest things about a gambling problem is that it tends to wait until it's serious before you notice it. The first call to a support line is almost always the hardest. The good news is that every NZ support service listed above is free, confidential and trained to talk to people who have never reached out before — there's no checklist to pass before they'll help, and nobody is going to judge you for picking up the phone.
If you're not sure your situation "counts" as a problem yet, that's a perfectly normal question to ask a counsellor. Often a single conversation is enough to set a few simple boundaries that get things back under control before they escalate. Sometimes the conversation reveals something deeper that benefits from ongoing support. Either way, the call is genuinely free and you don't have to give your name.
On the BetNinja Casino side, the safer gambling tools let you set hard limits or self-exclude in seconds, without going through support. If you want a permanent break, self-exclusion is the right tool — once it's in place, we cannot reopen the account, even at your request, until the exclusion period has fully run its course.
For people supporting a partner, family member or friend who's struggling: the same NZ helplines have dedicated support for whānau, and they can give you concrete advice on what to say and what not to say. Reaching out for guidance is one of the most helpful things you can do.
If a financial situation has already become urgent, contact your bank early — most NZ banks have hardship teams who can pause payments and restructure obligations. And keep this page bookmarked so the support numbers are always one click away.