newzealand-marathon.co.nz is a running site. We do not offer betting or any other form of gambling, but a small number of our articles refer to sports betting or link to gambling websites. This page explains what responsible gambling means and where to find free, confidential help in New Zealand if gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you.
Do you or someone close to you need help?
Support is free and you do not need a referral.
- Gambling Helpline. Call 0800 654 655 or text 8006, 24 hours a day, every day. There are also dedicated lines for Māori (0800 654 656), Pasifika (0800 654 657), young people (0800 654 659) and gambling debt (0800 654 658).
- PGF Services (the Problem Gambling Foundation). Free counselling for people who gamble and for their families. Call 0800 664 262.
- Asian Family Services. Support in several Asian languages. Call 0800 862 342.
- Mapu Maia. A Pasifika gambling harm service. Call 0800 21 21 22.
- Safer Gambling Aotearoa. Information, self-help and a directory of local services.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111. You can also call or text 1737 at any time to talk with a trained counsellor.
What does responsible gambling mean?
Responsible gambling means treating gambling as a form of paid entertainment, with a cost you have decided on beforehand, and never as a way to make money or solve a money problem. The odds are set so that the operator comes out ahead over time. Knowing a sport well, including running, does not change that.
Simple principles for staying in control
- Set a money limit before you start and stop when you reach it.
- Set a time limit as well, and take breaks.
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Never use money meant for rent, bills, food or debts, and never borrow to gamble.
- Do not chase losses. Trying to win money back usually leads to bigger losses.
- Do not gamble when you are stressed, upset, tired or have been drinking.
- Keep it in balance with the other things you enjoy, such as time with friends, family and your own training.
Warning signs of gambling harm
Gambling harm tends to build gradually and can be hard to see from the inside. Signs to watch for include:
- Spending more money or time on gambling than you meant to.
- Betting larger amounts to get the same excitement.
- Going back to try to win back what you lost.
- Hiding your gambling or lying about how much you spend.
- Borrowing money, selling things or missing bills because of gambling.
- Feeling anxious, guilty or irritable about gambling, or when you try to cut back.
- Gambling getting in the way of work, study, sleep or relationships.
Recognising even one or two of these is a good reason to talk to someone.
Check your gambling habits
A few honest questions can show whether gambling is starting to cause harm. Thinking about the last 12 months:
- Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
- Have you gone back another day to try to win back money you lost?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Has gambling caused you stress, anxiety or money problems at home?
- Have other people criticised your gambling or told you they are worried?
These questions are a prompt for reflection, not a diagnosis. If you answered yes to any of them, a counsellor at the Gambling Helpline can go through your situation with you in confidence.
Tools that can help
- Limits and breaks. Licensed operators let you set deposit or spending limits and take time out from your account.
- Self-exclusion. You can ask to be excluded from gambling venues such as pubs, clubs and casinos, and from online accounts. The Gambling Helpline and other support services can help you arrange an exclusion covering several venues at once.
- Blocking software. Tools such as Gamban and BetBlocker block gambling websites and apps on your phone and computer.
- Bank controls. Some New Zealand banks can block card payments to gambling merchants. Ask your bank what it offers.
If you are worried about someone else
Gambling harm affects partners, children, parents, friends and workmates as well as the person gambling.
- Pick a calm moment and describe what you have noticed and how it affects you, without blaming.
- Protect your own money. Avoid lending money or paying off gambling debts, and think about separating joint accounts.
- Get support for yourself. The services listed above help family and friends too, even when the person gambling is not ready to seek help.
You cannot make someone stop, but you can look after yourself and make it easier for them to take the first step.
Age limits and the law
Gambling is for adults. In New Zealand you must be at least 18 to bet with TAB NZ, to buy Instant Kiwi tickets and to play gaming machines in pubs and clubs, and at least 20 to enter a casino.
TAB NZ is the only operator permitted to offer online sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand. Since 28 June 2025 it has been unlawful for any other operator to take sports or racing bets from people located here. Online casino gambling is regulated separately under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which provides for a limited number of licensed operators.
The Department of Internal Affairs regulates gambling in New Zealand. Operators that are not authorised here are not bound by New Zealand’s consumer and harm-minimisation protections, which is one more reason to check before you bet.
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