Our commitment to responsible gambling
At Chicken Road New Zealand, we believe that gambling should always be a form of entertainment — never a source of financial stress, emotional distress, or personal harm. While we review online casino games and provide guides for New Zealand players, we recognise our responsibility to promote safe gambling practices and connect players with support when needed.
New Zealand has one of the highest per-capita gambling participation rates in the world. The Ministry of Health estimates that approximately 1.8% of New Zealand adults experience gambling-related harm. With the increasing accessibility of online casinos, it's more important than ever for Kiwi players to approach gambling with awareness and discipline.
Recognising problem gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually, and it often affects people who never expected it to become an issue. Here are warning signs that gambling may be becoming problematic:
- Spending more money or time on gambling than you intended
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Neglecting responsibilities, relationships, or work because of gambling
- Feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when not gambling
- Chasing losses — increasing bets to try and recover money you've lost
- Lying to family, friends, or employers about your gambling habits
- Using gambling to escape problems, stress, or negative emotions
- Feeling guilty or ashamed about your gambling behaviour
- Being unable to stop or reduce gambling despite wanting to
If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you know, it's important to seek support. There is no shame in asking for help — problem gambling is a recognised health issue with effective treatments available.
Practical tips for safe gambling
Set a budget and stick to it: Before every gambling session, decide how much money you're prepared to lose. This should be entertainment money — not rent, bills, groceries, or savings. Once your budget is gone, stop playing. No exceptions.
Set time limits: It's easy to lose track of time while gambling. Set an alarm for 30-60 minutes, and when it goes off, take a break or end your session entirely. Time pressure leads to poor decisions.
Never chase losses: Losing streaks are a normal part of gambling. The urge to "win it back" by increasing bets is the single most dangerous behaviour in gambling. Accept losses as the cost of entertainment and move on.
Don't gamble when emotional: Gambling while stressed, angry, sad, lonely, or intoxicated sharply increases the risk of making poor decisions. Only gamble when you're in a calm, clear-headed state.
Balance gambling with other activities: If gambling is your primary source of entertainment or social interaction, that's a warning sign. Maintain a healthy balance of hobbies, social activities, exercise, and relaxation.
Use casino self-limitation tools: Most reputable online casinos offer deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion options. Use these tools proactively — don't wait until you have a problem.
Support services in New Zealand
New Zealand offers excellent free support for anyone affected by gambling harm:
- Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand: Free helpline at 0800 654 655 (available 24/7). Offers phone counselling, face-to-face support, and online resources.
- Gambling Helpline: Call or text 8006 for free, confidential support. Also available online at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
- Ministry of Health: Information on gambling harm and treatment services available at health.govt.nz.
- Asian Gambling Helpline: Culturally specific support available at 0800 862 342.
- Pasifika Gambling Helpline: Support for Pacific communities at 0800 654 655.
These services are free, confidential, and available to anyone in New Zealand — not just people with severe gambling problems. If you're even slightly concerned about your gambling habits, reaching out early is always the right decision.
Self-exclusion options
If you need to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion is an effective tool. Most offshore casinos accessible from New Zealand allow you to self-exclude for periods ranging from 24 hours to permanent closure. During self-exclusion, you cannot access your account, deposit, or play.
For land-based gambling in New Zealand, the Multi-Venue Exclusion (MVE) programme allows you to exclude yourself from multiple gambling venues simultaneously. Contact the Problem Gambling Foundation for assistance with MVE applications.
Protecting young people
Online gambling should never be accessible to minors. If you have children or young people in your household, take steps to prevent their access to gambling sites:
- Never share your casino account credentials
- Use parental control software to block gambling websites
- Discuss the risks of gambling openly and honestly with young people
- Do not gamble in the presence of children
Our editorial policy
Every piece of content we publish includes responsible gambling messaging. We do not glorify big wins, promote unrealistic expectations, or suggest that gambling is a reliable way to make money. Our reviews and guides focus on giving you accurate information, not pushing you to gamble more.
Read also: about us, contact us, disclaimer, privacy policy.
International Resources
- GamCare — Counselling and support for problem gambling
- BeGambleAware — Information and advice to help you gamble responsibly