Kiwi Treasure Get Help

Independent gambling helplines

Most countries operate a free, confidential gambling helpline staffed by trained counsellors. Calls do not commit you to anything, and the service is open to family members as well as the person gambling.

If you are not sure where to begin, search for the gambling support service in your country, or ask our support team and we will point you to the relevant national helpline.

Controls inside your Kiwi Treasure account

Every account at Kiwi Treasure includes deposit limits, loss limits, session timers, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion. They sit under a single Responsible Gaming menu in your account so you can adjust them without contacting support.

If you would prefer assistance setting them up, our live chat team can walk you through the options. There is no judgement and no upsell. Limits are there to be used.

What a first call to a helpline usually looks like

Most people calling a gambling helpline for the first time worry the conversation will be intense or judgemental. In practice it is the opposite. Counsellors open with a few straightforward questions about your situation, listen without pushing, and then talk through the options that fit. There is no need to give your real name, no obligation to enter a programme, and no notes shared with anyone outside the service.

If the call raises something you want to act on immediately, the counsellor can help you activate deposit limits or self-exclusion across the operators you use. They can also refer you to local face-to-face counselling if that suits you better than a phone conversation.

New Zealand helplines

The Gambling Helpline NZ is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day on 0800 654 655. Trained counsellors take calls from anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends. Web chat and dedicated Maori (0800 654 656) and Pasifika (0800 654 657) lines are also available through gamblinghelpline.co.nz.

PGF Services (pgf.nz) and Salvation Army Oasis (oasis.salvationarmy.org.nz) provide free face-to-face counselling, group programmes and budgeting support across the North and South Islands. Both organisations work with whanau as well as the person gambling and accept self-referrals.

Online tools and self-assessment

If you are not ready for a phone call, online self-assessment quizzes are a useful starting point. The Problem Gambling Severity Index is the most widely used. Nine short questions take about three minutes to answer and return a clear score with a recommended next step. GamCare and BeGambleAware both host the assessment alongside live chat with trained counsellors who can discuss the result.

Apps like Gamban and BetBlocker block gambling sites at the device level. They are free or very low cost and install on multiple devices from one account. Pairing a blocker with self-exclusion at operator level closes off the easy paths back to the cashier during a break.

International resources

GamCare in the UK (gamcare.org.uk) and Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org) both offer global resources, online support and 12-step group meetings in many languages.

BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) is another international resource with self-assessment tools and a directory of treatment services across multiple regions.

Recognising the right moment to reach out

You do not need to be in crisis to call. Many people who contact a helpline are at the early-warning stage, where gambling has started occupying more mental space than they want. Catching it early makes the path back to balanced play considerably shorter.

If you have found yourself chasing losses, concealing the activity, borrowing to gamble, or feeling anxious when not playing, please pick up the phone or open a chat with a helpline today.

Supporting someone you know

If you are worried about a friend, family member or partner, the same services are available to you. Trying to manage the situation alone usually leads to frustration on both sides. A helpline can give you guidance on how to start the conversation, what to do if you are met with denial, and how to protect shared finances.

Avoid lending money to someone you suspect is struggling, even when it feels like the supportive thing to do. Encouraging them to activate deposit limits, take a self-exclusion or contact a helpline supports them more effectively in the long run.

Practical financial steps you can take now

Speak to your bank about gambling block features on debit and credit cards. Most major banks offer a one-tap block that prevents any merchant categorised as gambling from being charged to the card. The block is reversible but usually requires a 48-hour cooling-off period, which is enough to break impulsive decisions.

Move savings into a separate account that has no card linked to it. This sounds basic but it is one of the most effective protective measures. The friction of having to actively transfer funds before they can be used reduces impulsive deposits significantly.

Taking action today

If you want to take a step today, the process is straightforward. Open your account, set a deposit limit you are comfortable with, then visit our Responsible Gaming page to learn about time-outs and self-exclusion. If you would prefer to step away from the account entirely, our Close My Account walkthrough takes you through it in a few minutes. If anything on this page has resonated, please contact a helpline before your next session.