UNO and the other card games on this site are played for fun, with nothing at stake but bragging rights. A small number of our articles also mention casino games or link to websites about gambling, and some people play card games for money. This page explains what responsible gambling means, which warning signs to look out for, and where you can get free, confidential help if gambling has become a problem.
unorules.nz is an information site. We do not sell or arrange gambling, and we do not encourage anyone to gamble. We think it matters that anyone who chooses to gamble does so safely and with open eyes.
Do you or someone close to you need help?
Help is free and confidential. You do not have to deal with it alone.
- Gambling Helpline – support by phone, text and online chat, 24 hours a day, for people who gamble and for those close to them. Call 0800 654 655, text 8006, or visit gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
- PGF Services (Problem Gambling Foundation) – free, professional counselling throughout New Zealand. Call 0800 664 262 or visit pgf.nz.
- Safer Gambling Aotearoa – information and self-help tools from Health New Zealand at safergambling.org.nz.
Age limits for gambling in New Zealand: 18 for Instant Kiwi, TAB betting and pokies in pubs and clubs, and 20 for casinos.
What does responsible gambling mean?
Responsible gambling is about staying in control and treating gambling as a form of entertainment, in the same way as a movie ticket or a night out. You pay for the enjoyment, and you do it with money you can afford to lose.
The basic idea is that gambling should never come at the cost of your finances, your relationships or your wellbeing. As long as it is enjoyable and you keep within your own limits, it is under control. When it stops being fun, or when you are playing to win back what you have lost, it is time to stop and take stock.
It also helps to remember that gambling outcomes depend on chance. No system or routine changes the odds in your favour over time, so gambling is never a way to earn or save money.
Simple habits for staying in control
A few habits help keep gambling at a healthy level. They are less about rules and more about awareness.
- Decide in advance how much money and time you are willing to spend, and stick to it.
- Never gamble with money meant for rent, bills, food or other essentials.
- Never borrow money to gamble.
- Do not try to win back losses by gambling more.
- Treat any win as a one-off, not as income you can count on.
- Avoid gambling when you are stressed, low or have been drinking, because clear decisions are harder to make then.
Warning signs of gambling harm
Gambling harm often develops gradually and can be hard to spot, both for the person gambling and for the people around them. Common signs include:
- You gamble with more money, or for longer, than you meant to.
- You try to win back losses by gambling more.
- You borrow money, or use money meant for something else, to gamble.
- You hide how much you gamble, or lie about it.
- Thoughts about gambling take up more and more of your day.
- Gambling affects your work, study, finances, sleep or relationships.
- You feel guilt, shame or worry about your gambling.
You can be experiencing harm even if only one of these fits. If you recognise yourself here, reaching out for support is a sensible step, and it is often the thing that helps most.
Check your gambling habits
If you are not sure whether your gambling is a problem, there is a simple way to get an indication. Safer Gambling Aotearoa offers a free online check that gives you a picture of where you stand. You will find it at safergambling.org.nz.
You can also talk it through with a counsellor at the Gambling Helpline at any time of day.
Where to get help
If you or someone close to you is struggling with gambling, several independent services in New Zealand offer free support.
Gambling Helpline
The Gambling Helpline is a national freephone service staffed by counsellors trained in gambling harm. It offers immediate support by phone, text and online chat, and can refer you to face-to-face services near you. Call 0800 654 655 or text 8006, 24 hours a day.
The Helpline also runs specialist lines:
- Māori Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 656
- Vai Lelei Pasifika Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 657
- Gambling Debt Helpline – 0800 654 658
- Youth Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 659
Read more at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
PGF Services
PGF Services, also known as the Problem Gambling Foundation, offers free and confidential counselling for individuals, couples and families throughout New Zealand. Call 0800 664 262 or visit pgf.nz.
Other services
- Asian Family Services – gambling harm support in several Asian languages. Call 0800 862 342 or visit asianfamilyservices.nz.
- The Salvation Army Oasis – counselling for people affected by gambling. Call 0800 53 00 00.
Your GP can also help and can refer you on to other health services.
Excluding yourself from gambling
If you want a firm barrier between yourself and gambling, you can ask to be excluded. Under New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003, casinos and venues with pokies must exclude a person who asks to be excluded, and it is an offence to enter the gambling area while an exclusion is in force.
A multi-venue exclusion lets you exclude yourself from several venues in your area at once, without having to visit each one. The Gambling Helpline and PGF Services can arrange this with you. TAB NZ and Lotto NZ offer their own tools for setting limits on an account or excluding yourself from it.
Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs, which publishes the current rules, including those for online gambling.
For family and friends
Gambling harm does not only affect the person who gambles. If you are close to someone with a gambling problem, you may feel worry, helplessness and stress. Support is available for you too.
You can contact the Gambling Helpline or PGF Services on your own behalf for advice on how to handle the situation. Common advice is to talk openly without blaming, to set clear boundaries around money, and not to cover gambling debts, because paying them off often makes the problem worse. Keep in mind that the person has to choose to seek help themselves. You can encourage it, but you cannot make that choice for them.
Age limits
Gambling for money is restricted by age in New Zealand. You must be 18 to buy Instant Kiwi tickets, to bet with the TAB and to play pokies in pubs and clubs, and 20 to enter the gambling area of a casino. Age limits can change, and the Department of Internal Affairs publishes the current rules.
If you have a question about this page, you are welcome to get in touch through our contact page.