Responsible Gambling at William Hill NZ

Responsible Gambling at William Hill: Support, Tools and Help for New Zealand Players

Gambling is meant to be an enjoyable pastime, not a source of stress, financial hardship or harm. At William Hill, we take our responsibility to players seriously. This page explains the safer-gambling tools available to you, how to recognise when gambling may have stopped being fun, and where to find free, confidential support right now if you need it.

If you are concerned about your gambling, or someone else's, you can call the Gambling Helpline NZ on 0800 654 655, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text 8006. This service is free, confidential and staffed by trained counsellors.

You must be 18 or older to gamble on this site. R18.

Our Commitment to Safer Gambling

Problem gambling affects a small but significant portion of the population, and its effects ripple outward to families, friends and communities. We believe that offering gambling products comes with a genuine duty of care. That means giving you the tools to stay in control, making it straightforward to seek help, and never placing commercial interests above your wellbeing.

Safer gambling is not just a page on a website. It shapes how we design our platform, how we train our support staff, and how we respond when we notice signs that a player may be in difficulty. We encourage every player to engage with the tools below, even if you feel your gambling is well within comfortable limits. Setting boundaries before they become necessary is one of the most effective things you can do.

Recognising the Signs of Problem Gambling

Problem gambling does not always look the way people expect. It rarely starts suddenly. More often, it develops gradually, and the signs can be easy to rationalise or minimise. The following questions are worth asking yourself honestly.

• Are you spending more money on gambling than you intended, or more than you can comfortably afford?
• Do you find yourself chasing losses, gambling more to try to win back money you have already lost?
• Have you tried to cut down or stop gambling and found it difficult?
• Do you feel irritable, anxious or restless when you are not gambling?
• Are you hiding your gambling from family members or close friends?
• Has gambling caused arguments, tension or distance in your relationships?
• Are you borrowing money, selling possessions, or struggling to pay bills because of gambling?
• Do you think about gambling frequently during the day, even when you are doing other things?
• Are you gambling to escape from stress, boredom, loneliness or emotional pain?
• Has gambling affected your work, studies or daily responsibilities?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it may be time to take a step back and seek some support. Recognising a pattern early gives you the best opportunity to address it. There is no shame in asking for help. Gambling harm is a recognised health issue, and effective support is available to every New Zealander, at no cost.

Safer Gambling Tools: Staying in Control

The tools below are designed to help you set clear limits on how you engage with gambling. We encourage all players to use them proactively. You do not need to be experiencing problems to find them useful. Many people use limits simply as a practical way to keep gambling within their entertainment budget and time.

Deposit Limits

A deposit limit caps the total amount you can deposit into your account over a set period, whether that is daily, weekly or monthly. Once your limit is reached, no further deposits are accepted until the period resets. Setting a deposit limit is one of the most direct ways to ensure your gambling spend stays within a budget you are comfortable with. You can set or lower a deposit limit at any time, and reductions take effect immediately. Increases may be subject to a short cooling-off period to protect against impulsive decisions.

Loss Limits

A loss limit restricts the total amount you can lose within a chosen timeframe. This is distinct from a deposit limit because it accounts for what you actually lose during play, rather than simply what you transfer into your account. If you reach your loss limit, you will be unable to continue playing until the period ends. As with deposit limits, reductions apply straight away.

Time Limits and Session Reminders

It is easy to lose track of time when you are playing pokies or live casino games. Time limits let you set a maximum session duration. Once that time is up, you will receive a notification and your session will end. You can also set session reminders at intervals you choose, so you receive a prompt that lets you decide whether to continue or stop. These tools are particularly useful for preventing extended sessions that go beyond what you had originally intended.

Reality Checks

Reality checks are periodic on-screen notifications that appear during a session. They show you how long you have been playing and, in some cases, a summary of your activity during that session. The purpose is simple: to break the immersive quality of gameplay and give you a moment to make a conscious, informed decision about whether to continue. Reality checks are a small but meaningful pause that puts you back in the driver's seat.

Self-Exclusion

If you feel that you need a more significant break from gambling, self-exclusion allows you to close your account for a set period or indefinitely. During a self-exclusion period, you will not be able to log in, deposit or play. We will also take steps to remove you from marketing communications during this time. Self-exclusion can be set for periods ranging from a short break to a permanent closure. We would encourage anyone who feels their gambling is becoming difficult to manage to consider self-exclusion as a genuinely helpful tool, not a last resort.

If you are considering self-exclusion, we would also recommend contacting the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655, as they can help you put a broader support plan in place.

Account Cooling-Off Periods

A cooling-off period is a shorter pause on your account, designed for moments when you want to step away and reflect without committing to a full self-exclusion. During a cooling-off period, your account will be temporarily suspended. This can be a useful tool when you feel you need to slow down but are not sure whether a longer exclusion is right for you.

Getting Help in New Zealand

New Zealand has excellent free support services for anyone affected by gambling harm, whether that is the person gambling or someone who cares about them.

Gambling Helpline NZ

The Gambling Helpline is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Calls are free and confidential. Counsellors are trained in gambling harm and can provide immediate support, information and referrals to local services.

• Phone: 0800 654 655
• Text: 8006

Safer Gambling Aotearoa

Safer Gambling Aotearoa is the national organisation dedicated to reducing gambling harm across New Zealand. Their website at safergambling.org.nz provides resources for individuals, families and communities, including a directory of local face-to-face support services throughout the country. Whether you are in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or a smaller centre, there are trained counsellors accessible near you.

Support for Families and Whanau

Gambling harm does not only affect the person gambling. Partners, parents, children and friends can experience real distress when someone close to them is struggling with gambling. The Gambling Helpline and Safer Gambling Aotearoa both offer support and guidance to family members and whanau, including advice on how to approach a difficult conversation with someone you are worried about.

Tips for Keeping Gambling Enjoyable

For most people, gambling is a form of entertainment, and it can stay that way with a few straightforward habits in place.

• Set a budget before you start and treat it as your entertainment spend for that session, not money you expect to get back.
• Never chase your losses. The odds on any game do not change based on what you have already lost.
• Take regular breaks during a session, especially if you have been playing for a while.
• Avoid gambling when you are feeling stressed, upset, tired or under the influence of alcohol.
• Keep gambling as one of many ways you spend your leisure time, not the central one.
• Talk openly about your gambling habits with someone you trust.
• Use the limit tools available to you, even if you feel you do not need them right now.

A Note on Under-18 Play

Gambling on this site is strictly restricted to people aged 18 and over. If you are a parent or guardian, we encourage you to use parental control software to prevent young people from accessing gambling websites. Organisations such as Net Nanny and similar services can help restrict access at the device level. Please keep your account credentials private and do not allow minors to use your account under any circumstances.

If you are under 18 and have been gambling, please speak to a trusted adult or contact the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.

Contact Us About a Safer Gambling Concern

If you have a concern about your own account, want to set a limit, or need help accessing any of the tools described on this page, please contact our customer support team directly through your account portal. We take all safer-gambling requests seriously and will act on them promptly.

Gambling should always be a choice made freely, with clear limits and in good health. If it has stopped feeling that way, please reach out. Help is closer than you think.

Gambling Helpline NZ: 0800 654 655 (free call, 24/7). Text: 8006. safergambling.org.nz. R18 only.