Contacting Gambling Support in New Zealand: Call or Text

In Aotearoa New Zealand, you can call 0800 654 655 or free text 8006 for gambling support. The Gambling Helpline contact page publishes these routes for use in New Zealand. This guide helps you prepare for a conversation; it is not an account-closure process or a treatment assessment.

Choose a call or text

Call: Gambling Helpline describes its telephone service as free and available 24 hours a day. It supports people concerned about their own gambling, as well as family and friends affected by someone else's gambling. See who the helpline supports.

Text: the official helpline homepage describes free, anonymous text support on 8006, with a counsellor's response. The contact page says texting is available anytime in New Zealand. That is not a guarantee of an instant reply. Do not assume the text service's anonymity description also applies to a phone call, or means that no records are kept.

Use the phone or text routes for support. The website's contact form is introduced as a place for feedback, comments and questions; this guide does not treat it as an emergency channel. We do not send a message or open a conversation on your behalf.

You can start without a prepared story

An original example you could adapt is: “I'm worried about gambling and would like help deciding what to do next.” If you are affected by another person's gambling, you could say: “I need support for how this is affecting me.” These are optional prompts, not a script you must follow or testimonials.

The helpline's description of a call says counsellors listen, discuss the issues with you and explore possible next steps. Options can include information, further support or a referral to local face-to-face services where available. A conversation is not a guarantee of an appointment, recovery outcome or immediate referral.

If you would prefer a particular kind of support, the official contact page lists Māori, Pasifika, youth and gambling-debt services. It also describes requesting a callback if a specialist counsellor is unavailable. Ask about availability rather than assuming every specialist is available immediately.

Ask about recordings and privacy

The helpline is run by Whakarongorau Aotearoa. Its current provider privacy statement says most telephone consultations are recorded and message-based consultations have transcripts. The statement allows some disclosures for serious safety threats or where the law permits or requires them. Confidentiality is not an absolute promise that information will never be shared.

The policy does not give a specific retention period for Gambling Helpline records. It says limited information may limit the service it can provide. Ask what applies to your chosen channel before sharing details: “What will you record, how long is it kept, and when might you share it?” We cannot promise an unrecorded call, an untraceable text or deletion of service records.

This page has no form for personal disclosures. Keep passwords, payment details and account documents out of a first-contact message.

Agree on a manageable next step

Before ending, you could ask:

• “What does the next step involve, and do I need a referral?”
• “What information would be passed to another service?”
• “If there is a callback, can we agree when and how to contact me?”

If a callback would not be safe or private, explain that concern before agreeing to one. Do not assume a service can offer your preferred contact arrangement; ask what is possible.

Support and account controls are separate. Speaking to a counsellor does not itself close an account or activate self-exclusion. For an account-specific action, use the relevant platform guide and check its scope and any unresolved limitations. Do not use another country's account instructions for a New Zealand product.

You can also read how to talk to someone about gambling for a calm conversation with another adult. You do not have to take control of their account to seek support for yourself.

Sources and contact routes checked October 5, 2026. These are New Zealand support options, not a diagnosis or a promise of treatment availability.