Responsible Gambling – Play Safe & Stay in Control

Gambling online should always be fun and something you can enjoy on your terms. Our mission at GLMShows.com is to keep you safe while you enjoy your favorite casino games in New Zealand.

We believe that playing online should never come at the expense of your well-being. We encourage you to understand the risks involved, set boundaries, and know when to quit. To help you gamble responsibly, we’ve put together helpful tips and resources below.

How to Gamble Responsibly

Gambling responsibly means making sure that your time spent playing remains enjoyable and safe. Responsible gambling also helps you stay in control and provides measures to keep you from developing a gambling addiction. Let’s walk you through some practical tips to help you stay on track every time you play.

Set Limits on Spending and Time

Setting clear limits on how much money and time you spend gambling is one of the most effective ways to gamble responsibly.

Before you start playing, decide how much money you can afford to lose. Once you’ve hit that limit, stop playing – whether you win or lose.

Gambling can become absorbing. Set a timer before you start playing to remind you to take regular breaks. This way, you help protect your work, relationships, and other activities.

You also want to keep a record of your gambling activity. This includes everything from how much you deposit to how much you wager and how often you play. Many online casinos in New Zealand provide tools to help you monitor your spending and time.

Recognize the Signs of Problem Gambling

Anyone, even the best of us, can fall victim to a gambling addiction. It’s important to be honest with yourself and know how gambling is affecting your life. Here are some common red flags that might indicate your gambling is becoming a problem:

• Chasing losses or trying to win back money you've lost.
• Spending more than you can afford.
• Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities.
• Feeling anxious, guilty, or stressed about your gambling.
• Hiding your gambling habits from others.

If you can’t control your gambling habits, there’s no shame in asking for help. If gambling is starting to impact your mental health, finances, or aspects of your personal life, support is available. There are several local and international organizations and support services available to anyone who has or is at risk of developing a gambling addiction.

Keep Gambling Fun and Recreational

Seeing gambling as a way to make money or solve problems is a surefire way to get addicted. Keeping a healthy mindset when gambling will ensure that your experience remains positive. We always recommend you approach gambling the same way you would a night out or a movie ticket. When you play to have fun, it’s easier to stay relaxed and in control.

Another important tip is to try not to gamble when you’re feeling stressed, anxious, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These moments can cloud your judgment and lead to decisions you may later regret.

It’s also important that you have other hobbies besides gambling. Make time for other interests, like sports, creative outlets, or spending time with family and friends. Having a balanced lifestyle can help you stay grounded and keep gambling as just one part of your entertainment mix.

Tools for Responsible Gambling

Once you develop a gambling addiction, you can only manage it as there’s no real ‘cure.’ Most online casinos in New Zealand provide built-in tools to help you manage your activity and protect your health.

Self-Exclusion and Account Restrictions

While a gambling addiction can be challenging to overcome, the right support and tools, like self-exclusion, can help you manage your behavior and work toward recovery.

Self-exclusion allows you to temporarily restrict access to your online casino account for six months to two years—or even permanently. During this time, you won’t be able to log in, make deposits, or place bets. This is a good tool to use if you find that you’re inching closer to problem gambling.

Most reputable online casinos in New Zealand offer self-exclusion options as part of their commitment to responsible gambling. Some sites might not have this tool built in, but you can send them an email to request self-exclusion. Once activated, it cannot be turned off. So, if you’re unsure, we recommend you use other account restriction tools.

For example, you can set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on how much you deposit or wager. These caps help ensure you don’t spend more than you can afford.

Some NZ platforms also provide features that let you track your gambling activity, including how much time and money you’ve spent. Reviewing your activity regularly is a great way to stay mindful and in control.

Reality Checks and Time-Out Features

It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re caught up in the excitement of a slot or table game. That’s why many online casinos offer built-in reminders and time-out tools to help you stay aware and in control.

Reality Check Reminders: Reality checks are gentle pop-up messages that appear at regular intervals while you’re playing. They let you know how long you’ve been gambling and may include a summary of your activity. You can choose how often you want the reminders to pop up.

Time-Out Options: If you feel like you need a break, most platforms allow you to set a temporary time-out. This will lock you out of your account for a few hours, a day, a week, or even several months, depending on your preference. It’s important to avoid chasing losses and to agree with yourself that taking a time-out is a smart decision. This helps keep your gambling experience healthy and enjoyable.

Recognizing Problem Gambling and Seeking Help

The first step to managing problem gambling is recognizing you have a gambling problem in the first place. Being addicted to gambling can affect your finances, relationships, and mental health, often without your realizing it.

Do You Have a Gambling Problem?

Identifying the early signs of problem gambling can help you maintain a healthy relationship with gambling. It all starts with assessing your behavior. If you’re unsure, take a moment to answer the following questions. This simple self-assessment quiz can help you reflect on whether gambling is affecting your life in ways you may not have noticed before.

Self-Assessment Quiz

• Do you often gamble with money you cannot afford to lose?
• Have you tried to stop or cut back on gambling but found you couldn’t?
• Do you feel the need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same level of excitement?
• Do you gamble to escape from stress, anxiety, or other problems?
• Do you hide or lie about the extent of your gambling from friends or family?
• Has gambling caused problems in your relationships, work, or finances?
• Do you feel restless or irritable when you try to reduce your gambling?

Where to Get Support

If you answered "Yes" to one or more of those questions above, it might be time to seek help, but where? There are several organizations and groups available in and out of New Zealand that offer support. Here are some popular options you can consider:

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is an international support group offering peer-led meetings to help people deal with gambling addiction.

• Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 855-222-5542

Gambling Therapy

Gambling Therapy, provided by Gordon Moody, is a global service that offers online support for individuals and their families affected by problem gambling.

• Website: www.gamblingtherapy.org/
• Email: [email protected]

GambleAware

GambleAware is an independent charity that provides free confidential advice, support, and tools to keep people safe from gambling harms.

• Website: www.gambleaware.org/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0808-8020-133

Problem Gambling Foundation

The Problem Gambling Foundation is a New Zealand-based organization that provides free counseling, advice, and support services to those affected by problem gambling.

• Website: www.pgf.nz/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0800-664-262

Responsible Gambling Council

The Responsible Gambling Council is a non-profit organization that prevents problem gambling and offers a variety of resources for gamblers.

• Website: www.responsiblegambling.org/
• Phone: tel: +1 416-499-9800

Gambling Helpline

Gambling Helpline is a 24-hour New Zealand-based service offering free, confidential support and advice for people dealing with gambling problems.

• Website: gamblinghelpline.co.nz/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0800-654-655

Lifeline NZ

Lifeline NZ offers 24/7 confidential support through free helpline and text services for those struggling with emotional distress.

• Website: www.lifeline.org.nz/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 09-909-8750

Support for Vulnerable Players

Some individuals may be more at risk of developing unhealthy gambling habits due to personal, financial, or emotional circumstances. Recognizing these vulnerabilities is the first step to ensuring safe and responsible play.

Vulnerable players may include:

• Individuals experiencing financial hardship or unemployment.
• People living with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
• Those with a history of addictive or compulsive behaviors.
• Players feeling isolated or using gambling to cope with emotional distress.

These groups may be more likely to gamble impulsively or struggle to stay within safe limits. That’s why extra care and support are essential. There are tailored resources and programs designed to support these high-risk players, including the organizations listed above.

If you or someone you know may be at higher risk, these proactive steps can help:

• Set strict deposit and session time limits to avoid overindulgence.
• Use self-exclusion tools to take breaks from gambling when needed.
• Avoid gambling when feeling emotional, stressed, or under the influence.
• Stay connected with friends, family, or professional counsellors for support.
• Regularly check in with your gambling habits using self-assessment tools.

Protecting Minors from Gambling

Gambling is a form of adult entertainment. Keeping it that way is a responsibility shared by operators, parents, and the wider community. Minors should never have access to gambling platforms, and taking steps to prevent underage gambling is essential for a safer environment.

Age Restrictions

In New Zealand, casino entry is limited to those aged 20. However, other forms of gambling – such as online sports betting, lotteries, and scratch cards – are open to players 18 or older. These restrictions exist to protect young people from the risks associated with gambling.

Online casinos and betting platforms are required to verify the age of all players. If you’re a parent or guardian, we recommend monitoring digital activity to ensure no one underage is gaining access.

Parental Controls

There are several tools and software options available to help parents block access to gambling sites on shared devices:

• Net Nanny: This is a filtering software that protects children from gambling-related and adult content online.
• Qustodio: Allows parents to block gambling websites and monitor online behavior.
• SafeSurf and CyberPatrol: They filter age-inappropriate content, including gambling platforms.

These tools can help reduce the risk of exposure to gambling content. However, we recommend that parents and guardians have open conversations with their children about the risks involved in gambling.

GLMShows.com’s Commitment to Responsible Gambling

At GLMShows.com, ensuring that players enjoy gambling in a safe environment is our top priority. Here’s how we do it:

• We actively encourage responsible gambling in all our casino reviews and guides.
• Our content includes detailed and transparent terms for all promotional offers.
• We provide players with information about each casino’s responsible gambling service and the tools they offer.
• com adheres to New Zealand’s regulations and implements responsible gambling best practices, working only with licensed and regulated casino operators.
• We also develop guides like this one to help players understand why and how to gamble responsibly.

If you ever feel concerned about your gambling habits or need assistance using responsible gambling tools, reach out to us.

FAQs - Responsible gambling