Free, confidential counselling, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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05/03/2026
Step 3: Bounce the transaction - protect your wallet with a pause.
Many banks allow you to block certain transactions on your card or account, automatically stopping payments before money leaves your account.
Instant payments make impulsive decisions easier.
Adding friction reduces the pressure.
It only takes a few minutes to set up - and we can help.
When gambling is always one tap away, resisting can feel exhausting. Reducing access reduces temptation before it even starts.
Tools like Gamban can stop thousands of gambling sites and apps across your phone, tablet, and laptop - giving you a break from constant decision-making.
It’s quick to set up.
It’s practical.
And it works.
Small step. Real relief.
Our team can help you get it set up in just a few minutes.
Reach out if you'd like a hand:
👉 pgf.nz | beingplayed.info
📲 0800 664 262
💬 pgf.nz/free-counselling
Links in bio.
24/02/2026
The industry has tactics, but you have 4 handy counter-moves: Ban. Block. Bounce. Boost.
The gambling industry spends millions designing experiences that make betting exciting, urgent, and hard to stop.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, distracted, or pulled back in - that’s not a personal failure. It’s psychology at work.
That’s why PGF Services shares the 4 B’s - four practical ways to protect yourself and your money from gambling industry tactics.
Over the next two weeks, we’ll break each one down.
Need help setting these up? Lets chat..
Big tournaments often come with “free bet” offers. They sound like a win, but the data shows most people lose more than they ever receive.
That’s not luck. That’s strategy.
See how these offers really work, and how to protect yourself 👉 beingplayed.info
Need support? Take the self-test, or reach out for a chat. Free support across Aotearoa! 👉 pgf.nz
Links in bio.
17/02/2026
Spotted this before?
More games. More markets. More chances to bet.
During sporting and gaming season, small, frequent bets can feel harmless and even fun. But they’re designed to reward speed and repetition, not outcomes.
This isn’t about willpower.
It’s about behavioural design.
Understanding how it works makes it easier to pause and reset.
Explore the psychology behind betting design 👉 beingplayed.info
Need support? Reach out for a chat 👉 pgf.nz
16/02/2026
Big games. Long seasons. More “VIP” attention.
During betting season, some people start getting extra check-ins, offers, and perks. That’s not care - it’s a retention strategy.
High-value bettors are kept close because, over time, they lose more.
If it’s ever felt hard to step away during the season, that’s not a personal failing. It’s how the system is designed.
Learn how these tactics work - and how to protect yourself
👉 beingplayed.info
Think you’re being played? Take the self-test or reach out for a chat
👉 pgf.nz
Links in bio.
13/02/2026
Familiar faces. Prime-time sport. Trusted voices. Famous figures.
During sporting and gaming season, gambling shows up everywhere.
Ads borrow credibility from the things we already love - to make betting feel normal, harmless, and part of the game.
That influence matters. If it’s ever made stepping back harder, that’s not on you.
Learn how to spot the tactic this season 👉 beingplayed.info
Think you're being played? Take the self-test or reach out for a chat 👉 pgf.nz
Links in bio.
11/02/2026
Did you know some university students are being heavily exposed to sports betting and online casino ads - some are even risking rent money and allowances?
This doesn’t mean every student will experience gambling harm. But when exposure is constant, it’s worth adding gambling to the “uni life” conversation, alongside budgeting, flatting, and managing study stress.
Simple guardrails can help. PGF’s 4 B’s are a practical place to start:
Ban the bet
Block the buzz
Bounce the transaction
Boost your support network
If gambling is starting to feel harder to manage - for you or someone you know - help is available. Our team is here to listen, without judgement.
We’re creating a podcast series focused on real, lived experiences of online gambling and sports betting harm.
That includes people affected by their own gambling, or the gambling of someone close to them.
The aim of the series is to increase knowledge and understanding - so others don’t feel alone in their experience. If you’d be keen to take part, participation can be anonymous, and you’ll be given all the details upfront before deciding whether it’s right for you.
There’s no judgement and no pressure - just real stories, shared honestly, making a positive impact in our communities here in Aotearoa.
Learn more and apply here:
👉 comms@pgf.nz
👉 pgf.nz/contact
16/12/2025
"I'm actually in counselling for my betting. I've just felt real comfortable talking to them. Yeah, I feel way better and with myself now, because I have more money for myself to go to the pub or whatever. He's helped me a lot. Not scared at all - Friendly as."
Talking to someone who gets it can change everything. No judgement, only support.
Get in touch before Xmas if you're worried about your gambling.
Free. Confidential. Safe. Your call.
💬 Free, confidential support across Aotearoa: pgf.nz/free-counselling
📲 Let's have a chat: 0800 664 262
📋 Take the self-test: screener.pgf.nz/gambling-survey
👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
👉 Learn more: pgf.nz/knowledge-hub/category/sports-betting
Links in bio.
09/12/2025
"I've seen people addicted to other substances. The difference I'd say is with gambling, it's a lot more secretive. Like I would spend nights when my partner was sleeping, gambling because she wouldn't like seeing me on the apps."
This lived experience shows how easily chasing bets can become a cycle of harm. It's not you, it's the clever tactics used by betting companies that are designed to keep you playing.
Wonder where your gambling is at? Take a quick self-test:
📋 screener.pgf.nz/gambling-survey
Feeling like you need to keep your gambling under wraps?
💬 Reach out for free, confidential support across Aotearoa: pgf.nz/free-counselling
📲 Have a chat with someone who gets it: 0800 664 262
👉 Learn more: beingplayed.info
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At PGF Services we are trained to help. Our qualified counsellors provide free, professional and confidential counselling for both gamblers and others affected by gambling.
A gambling problem (sometimes called a gambling addiction) can significantly impact your life and the lives of those closest to you. For many people, phoning a gambling helpline or seeking help from anyone at all can be a difficult step to take.
We also have support groups. While they are not run in the same way as Gamblers Anonymous, they are designed for people who would like to work towards and maintain being ‘gamblefree’ or in control of their gambling.
Talking about your gambling, or someone else’s gambling, can bring huge relief and help you get your life back on track. We are here so that you do not need to make changes by yourself without support.
The Problem Gambling Foundation is now trading as PGF Group, effective 16 October 2018. The PGF Group is the umbrella brand for PGF Services (counselling and health promotion), Mapu Maia (Pacific counselling and public health service), and Asian Family Services (counselling, public health and the Asian Helpline).
