Responsible Gambling at Casumo NZ
Playing It Safe: Responsible Gambling at Casumo NZ
Gambling is meant to be entertaining. For most people who play pokies, join a live dealer table, or try their luck on jackpot games, it stays exactly that: a leisure activity with a clear budget and clear limits. But gambling can become harmful, and when it does, the signs are not always obvious at first. This page exists because we take that reality seriously. Below you will find a plain-English guide to the tools we offer, how to recognise when play is becoming a problem, and where to turn for support in New Zealand. Please read it, share it with someone you trust, and use it.
You must be 18 or older to create an account or place any wager with us. If you are under 18, please close this page.
Your Safer Gambling Toolkit
We give every registered player direct access to a set of account controls designed to keep gambling within boundaries you choose. These tools are available at any time, no questions asked. You do not need to be in crisis to use them; they are there for anyone who wants more structure around their play.
Deposit Limits
A deposit limit caps how much money you can add to your account over a set period: daily, weekly, or monthly. Once you reach your chosen cap, the cashier will not accept further deposits until the period resets. Setting a deposit limit is one of the most straightforward ways to keep your spending anchored to what you can genuinely afford. You can lower your limit immediately; increases take a cooling-off period to take effect, giving you time to reconsider before more funds become available.
Loss Limits
A loss limit works differently from a deposit limit. Rather than capping what you put in, it caps how much of your own money you can lose within a given timeframe. Once your net losses in a session or a period hit the threshold you have set, play is paused for the remainder of that window. This is a useful tool if you find that you tend to chase losses, because it removes the option before the urge takes hold.
Wager Limits
If you want to control the size of individual bets rather than your overall spending, a wager limit sets a ceiling on what you can stake on any single round or hand. This is particularly helpful on high-volatility pokies, where a single spin at a high bet level can consume a significant portion of a session budget in moments.
Session Time Limits
Time can pass quickly when you are focused on a game. A session time limit closes your play session automatically after a period you define, whether that is 30 minutes, an hour, or longer. When the timer expires, you are logged out. You can log back in, but the interruption gives you a natural moment to assess how you feel and whether you want to continue.
Reality Checks
A reality check is a prompt that appears on screen at regular intervals while you are playing. It shows you how long you have been in your current session and, depending on your settings, how your balance has moved. These gentle reminders are easy to dismiss when things are going well, but they serve an important purpose: they bring you back to the present moment and encourage a conscious decision about whether to carry on. We recommend setting a reality check interval shorter than you think you need.
Cooling-Off Periods
If you feel your gambling has been getting away from you but you are not ready for a longer break, a cooling-off period lets you suspend your account for a defined stretch of time: typically between 24 hours and several weeks. During this period you cannot log in, deposit, or play. When the cooling-off period ends, access is restored. It is a measured pause rather than a permanent step.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion is the strongest tool we offer. When you self-exclude, your account is closed and you are blocked from opening a new one with us for the duration you choose. Exclusion periods range from months to permanent. We take exclusion requests seriously and process them promptly. During the exclusion period we will also remove you from marketing communications. If you are finding it genuinely difficult to stop gambling on your own, self-exclusion is the right step. Please also contact the Gambling Helpline NZ (details below) at the same time, as they can support you through the process.
Recognising the Warning Signs
Problem gambling rarely announces itself all at once. It tends to creep in gradually, and the person experiencing it is often the last to see the full picture. The following signs are worth taking seriously, whether you notice them in yourself or in someone close to you.
- Spending more than you intended, regularly, and feeling unable to stop once you have started
- Gambling with money set aside for rent, bills, groceries, or other essentials
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or using credit to fund gambling
- Feeling irritable, anxious, or restless when you are not gambling
- Lying to family or friends about how much time or money you are spending on gambling
- Chasing losses, that is, continuing to play in order to win back money you have already lost
- Gambling to escape stress, loneliness, boredom, or difficult emotions rather than for entertainment
- Neglecting work, study, relationships, or health because of time spent gambling
- Making repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back or stop
Recognising one or more of these patterns is not a reason for shame. It is a reason to reach out. Help is available, it is free, and it works.
Getting Help in New Zealand
New Zealand has dedicated, confidential support services for people affected by gambling harm, including family members and loved ones of people who gamble.
Gambling Helpline NZ
The Gambling Helpline is the primary support service for New Zealanders affected by gambling harm. Trained counsellors are available around the clock, every day of the year. Calls are free and confidential.
Phone: 0800 654 655 (free, 24/7)
You can also text or access online support through the same service. Counsellors can talk through what you are experiencing, help you develop a plan to reduce or stop gambling, and connect you with face-to-face support in your region if that is what you need.
Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
The Problem Gambling Foundation provides free counselling, community education, and support groups across the country. Their services extend to whanau and people supporting someone with a gambling problem, not only the person who is gambling themselves.
Lifeline
If you are in distress and need to talk to someone immediately, Lifeline New Zealand is available at any hour on 0800 543 354. Gambling harm can have a serious impact on mental health, and there is no threshold you have to meet before reaching out.
Protecting Young People
We do not permit anyone under the age of 18 to register or play. Age verification is part of our account opening process and may be requested again at other points during your time with us. If you share a device with younger family members or flatmates, we strongly encourage you to use the parental control and filtering software available on your devices and browsers. Tools such as Gamban or similar filtering services can block access to gambling sites across an entire household network. Please keep your login details private and never share them with anyone, particularly minors.
Our Commitment
We want every person who plays with us to do so within means they can afford, for entertainment they genuinely enjoy, with full control over how they engage. The tools on this page are not fine print; they are a central part of how we operate. If something on this page has made you stop and think, that is worth paying attention to. Use the tools, call the helpline, or simply take a break. We will still be here when you are ready.
18+ only. Gambling should be entertaining, not harmful. For free, confidential support contact the Gambling Helpline NZ on 0800 654 655, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.