aucklandgolfclub.co.nz is a golf information site, not a gambling site. A small number of our articles about professional tournaments mention betting odds, so this page sets out where to find free help in New Zealand, how to recognise when betting is becoming a problem and how to keep it under control. We do not accept bets and we do not give betting tips.
Do you or someone close to you need help?
Support for gambling harm in New Zealand is free and confidential, and you do not need a referral to use it.
- Gambling Helpline – call 0800 654 655 or text 8006 at any time, day or night. More information is at gamblinghelpline.co.nz.
- PGF Services (formerly the Problem Gambling Foundation) – free counselling in person, by phone or online. Call 0800 664 262 or visit pgf.nz.
- In an emergency – if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
Gambling is for adults only. In New Zealand you must be 18 or over to bet with TAB NZ and 20 or over to enter a casino.
What does responsible gambling mean?
Responsible gambling means treating a bet as a form of paid entertainment, in the same way as a round of golf or a ticket to a tournament. The money is spent the moment the bet is placed. Anything that comes back is a bonus, never an income.
Golf is a particularly unpredictable sport to bet on. Fields are large, form changes from week to week, and weather and course conditions can shift a result within a single round. A live leaderboard, a statistic or a win-probability model can make an outcome look more certain than it is. None of them changes the odds a bookmaker has set, and over time those odds favour the bookmaker.
Simple principles for keeping betting under control
- Decide how much money and time you are willing to spend before you start, and stop when you reach that limit.
- Only bet with money you can afford to lose. Never use money set aside for rent, bills, food or debt repayments.
- Never borrow money to bet, and never bet on credit.
- Do not chase losses. Trying to win back money that has gone usually leads to bigger losses.
- Avoid betting when you are stressed, upset, tired or have been drinking.
- Take regular breaks, and keep betting as one interest among many.
- Use the deposit limits, spending limits and time-out tools that betting providers offer.
Warning signs of gambling harm
Gambling harm rarely appears overnight. It tends to build gradually, and it is often easier for a partner, friend or family member to notice than for the person who is betting.
Signs to look out for
- spending more money or time on betting than you intended
- betting larger amounts to get the same excitement
- returning to win back money you have lost
- thinking about betting much of the time, including at work or with family
- hiding betting from people close to you, or lying about how much you spend
- borrowing money, selling belongings or falling behind on bills because of betting
- feeling guilty, anxious, irritable or low after betting
- trying to cut down or stop and finding that you cannot
- losing interest in things you used to enjoy, including playing sport yourself
If you recognise several of these signs in yourself or in someone you care about, it is worth talking to one of the services on this page. You do not need to be sure there is a problem before you call.
Check your gambling habits
A short, honest look at your own habits is a useful first step. Ask yourself how often you bet more than you planned, whether betting has caused arguments or money worries, and whether you have ever felt you needed to hide it.
The Gambling Helpline can talk these questions through with you and help you work out whether your gambling is a cause for concern. The conversation is confidential and does not commit you to anything.
Where you can get help
Gambling Helpline. A free national service that is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0800 654 655, text 8006 or visit gamblinghelpline.co.nz. The Helpline also runs specialist lines:
- Māori Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 656
- Pasifika Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 657
- Debt Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 658
- Youth Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 659
PGF Services. Formerly the Problem Gambling Foundation, PGF Services provides free counselling for people affected by gambling, including family members, from clinics around the country as well as by phone and online. Call 0800 664 262 or visit pgf.nz.
Your GP. A doctor can help with the stress, anxiety, low mood and sleep problems that often go with gambling harm, and can refer you to further support.
Budgeting and debt support. If betting has left you with debts, the Debt Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 658 can help you work out a plan.
Self-exclusion
If you want a firm barrier between yourself and gambling, you can exclude yourself.
- Betting accounts. TAB NZ and other providers let you set limits, take a break or close and block your account.
- Venues. Under the Gambling Act 2003 you can ask to be excluded from casinos and from pubs and clubs with pokie machines. A multi-venue exclusion lets you exclude yourself from several venues at once without visiting each of them.
The Gambling Helpline and PGF Services can help you arrange an exclusion.
For family and friends
Gambling harm affects the people around the person who is betting. Money worries, broken trust and constant uncertainty can take a heavy toll on partners, children, parents and friends.
- Look after yourself first. Your own health and wellbeing matter, whether or not the other person is ready to change.
- Protect your finances. Consider separate bank accounts, keep control of shared bills and do not lend money or pay off gambling debts, as this often allows the gambling to carry on.
- Talk without blame. Choose a calm moment, describe what you have noticed and how it affects you, and avoid arguing about individual bets.
- Get your own support. The Gambling Helpline and PGF Services both offer free help to family members and friends, even if the person who is gambling does not want help.
Age limits and the law
Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs under the Gambling Act 2003. Information about the rules is available at dia.govt.nz.
- You must be 18 or over to bet on sport and racing with TAB NZ, which is the only provider permitted to offer sports betting based in New Zealand.
- You must be 20 or over to enter a casino.
- Online casino gambling is moving to a licensing system overseen by the Department of Internal Affairs.
Overseas betting websites are not licensed or regulated in New Zealand, so the consumer protections that apply to New Zealand providers may not apply if something goes wrong.
Nothing on aucklandgolfclub.co.nz is an invitation to gamble. If you have a question about this page, you can reach us through our contact page.