Playing Within Your Limits With Spin Galaxy
Pokies and live tables should be a night’s entertainment that you can walk away from. We want every New Zealand player to decide how much money and how much time goes into a session before it starts, and to stick to that decision when the reels are running hot or cold.
Below we bring together the tools we offer in every account, the signs that play is starting to cost more than it should, and the free Gambling Helpline that Kiwis can call or text at any hour. Our games are for adults only, and you must be of legal age to open an account with us.
Set Your Budget Before the First Spin
Decide on a spending figure while you are calm, away from the lobby, and treat it as money already spent on entertainment. Pick an amount you could lose without touching rent, groceries or bills, then decide how long the session will last. A budget of NZ$50 for one hour on a Friday night is a plan. Topping up because the hour is not over yet is not. When the money or the time runs out, close the tab.
Warning Signs to Take Seriously
Gambling stops being fun gradually. Watch for chasing losses with a fresh deposit, playing longer than you planned, or hiding how much you spend from your partner or whānau. Borrowing money to play, feeling restless when you cannot play, and using pokies to escape stress or low mood are signs as well. If one of these sounds familiar, take a break and use the tools below.
Tools in Your Spin Galaxy Account
Every account with us includes ways to put a ceiling on play:
- Deposit limits. Cap how much you can add. Limit periods are usually daily, weekly or monthly.
- Session or time limits. These typically let you cap how long you play.
- Cool-off. As a rule, a short break pauses your account without closing it.
- Self-exclusion. A longer break from play when a pause is not enough.
Which Tool Fits Your Situation
| Tool | Best moment to use it | What changes | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Before your first deposit | Spending stays under a NZ$ ceiling | Lowering a limit typically applies at once, while raising one takes a waiting period |
| Session or time limit | When nights run longer than planned | Play time is capped | Pairs well with a deposit limit |
| Cool-off | After a bad session or a stressful week | Your account rests for a while | Choose it calmly, not in the middle of a losing streak |
| Self-exclusion | When limits no longer hold | You stop playing with us altogether | Usually arranged through our support team |
Free Help Available in New Zealand
The Gambling Helpline is independent of us and free to use:
- Call: 0800 654 655, free, day or night.
- Text: send a free text to 8006.
- Who answers: the service is run by Whakarongorau Aotearoa / New Zealand Telehealth Services.
Keep Your Account Secure
Some of the protection is in your hands:
- Private password. Use a password you use nowhere else and never share it.
- Sign out on shared devices. A phone left signed in is an open account.
- Encryption. Data between your device and our servers is protected with SSL encryption.
- Personal details. Your sign-up details and identity documents belong to you; keep them to yourself.
Protecting Minors at Home
Our games are for adults only: you must be of legal age to play. We ask for a date of birth at sign-up, and identity verification with a photo ID is required for every account. At home, keep your phone locked with a passcode, sign out after each session and do not save your password in a browser that children use. Device parental controls can stop a curious teenager from opening gambling pages on a shared tablet.
Talk to Someone
When you call
Calling 0800 654 655 connects you to the free, 24-hour Gambling Helpline. You do not need to wait for a crisis: a worry about how you or someone close to you plays is reason enough to call.
When you would rather text
If speaking feels hard, text 8006. It is free, and you can start the conversation in a few words.
When you want to pause with us
Our live chat team is online 24/7 for any question about these tools, and you can also write to us by e-mail.