Dream Palace logo
Online: 3,095

Responsible Gambling

Dream Palace Casino > Responsible Gambling
Last updated: 01/05/2026
Relevance verified: 12/06/2026

Playing It Smart: Our Commitment to Responsible Gambling

Gambling at Dream Palace Casino is meant to be an enjoyable experience, and for the vast majority of our players, it stays that way. But we also know that for some people, and at certain points in their lives, gambling can stop being fun and start causing real problems. That’s something we take seriously, not because we have to, but because we think it’s the only way to run a casino worth playing at.

This page sets out everything you need to know about the tools we offer, the support organisations available to New Zealanders, and the steps Dream Palace Casino takes to keep gambling safer for everyone on the platform.

How Gambling Works: What Every Player Should Know

Online casino games, including slots, table games, and live dealer titles, are games of chance. Every outcome is determined by a certified Random Number Generator (RNG), which means no strategy, system, or betting pattern can reliably predict or change results. The house edge exists in all casino games, and over time it means the casino will always retain a statistical advantage.

This doesn’t mean you can’t win. Short-term wins happen constantly, and many players enjoy sessions where they come out ahead. But treating gambling as a reliable source of income, or chasing losses in the hope of getting back to even, are patterns that lead to harm. Understanding how games are designed is the first step to playing within your means.

Signs That Gambling May Be Becoming a Problem

Problem gambling doesn’t usually appear overnight. It develops gradually, and it can be hard to notice while it’s happening to you. Some of the most common signs include:

  • Spending more money on gambling than you planned, or more than you can afford to lose
  • Chasing losses by increasing bets or continuing to play to “win it back”
  • Hiding your gambling activity from family, friends, or a partner
  • Feeling anxious, irritable, or low when you’re not gambling
  • Gambling to escape stress, boredom, loneliness, or difficult feelings
  • Borrowing money, or using savings meant for bills or essentials, to fund gambling
  • Missing work, social commitments, or family time due to gambling
  • Feeling like you need to gamble with increasingly larger amounts to feel the same excitement
  • Repeatedly trying to cut back or stop, without success

If several of these apply to you, or to someone you’re concerned about, reaching out for support is the right move. The organisations listed below can help, and all services are free.

Free Support Services for New Zealanders

New Zealand has well-established support services for people affected by problem gambling. These services are funded under the Gambling Act 2003 and are available to anyone, regardless of how serious the situation feels right now.

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

The Problem Gambling Foundation provides free counselling, support groups, and helpline services to people affected by gambling harm, including family members and whānau. Counsellors are available across the country, including in Auckland, and sessions can be held in person, by phone, or online.

  • Website: www.pgf.nz
  • Helpline: 0800 664 262 (free, available 24 hours, 7 days a week)

Gambling Helpline

The national Gambling Helpline provides immediate, confidential support by phone or text. You don’t need to have a diagnosed problem to call; if you’re worried about your gambling or someone else’s, that’s enough reason to reach out.

Lifeline Aotearoa

For broader mental health support, including situations where gambling-related stress has affected your wellbeing, Lifeline offers 24/7 crisis counselling.

Te Ara Whitiora / Mapu Maia

Specialist gambling support services are also available for Māori and Pacific communities, with culturally appropriate counselling and resources. The Problem Gambling Foundation can connect you with these services through their main helpline.

Responsible Gambling Tools at Dream Palace Casino

Dream Palace Casino gives players a set of practical tools designed to help keep gambling in its proper place. You can access these through your account settings at any time, and our support team is available to assist if you need help setting them up.

Deposit Limits

You can set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits that cap the total amount of money you can add to your account within that period. Once a limit is set, it takes effect immediately. Increases to your limit require a cooling-off period before they come into force, giving you time to reconsider.

Loss Limits

Loss limits cap how much you can lose within a defined timeframe. When your loss limit is reached, you won’t be able to place further bets for the remainder of that period. Like deposit limits, reductions take effect immediately while increases are subject to a delay.

Session Time Limits and Reality Checks

You can set a maximum session duration, after which you’ll be automatically logged out. You can also enable periodic reality check reminders, which pop up at intervals you choose to let you know how long you’ve been playing and how your session is going financially. These prompts are easy to dismiss if you’re happy to continue, but they do break the flow of play in a way that helps maintain perspective.

Cooling-Off Periods

If you feel your gambling is getting out of hand but you’re not ready to self-exclude completely, a cooling-off period lets you temporarily suspend your account for a set number of days. During a cooling-off, you cannot log in, deposit, or place bets. This option is available directly through your account settings.

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a more substantial step that closes your Dream Palace Casino account for a minimum period of six months. Once you request self-exclusion, it takes effect as soon as it’s processed, and we will not accept any request to reverse it during the exclusion period, regardless of the reason given. Any remaining balance in your account will be returned to you.

To request self-exclusion, contact our support team directly:

We also encourage anyone self-excluding from Dream Palace Casino to consider registering with the New Zealand Gambling Helpline, which can connect you with additional exclusion schemes across multiple platforms.

Protecting Vulnerable Players

Age Verification

You must be 18 years of age or older to open an account and play at Dream Palace Casino. This is a legal requirement under the Gambling Act 2003. We verify the age of all players as part of the registration process and may request additional identity documents at any point. Anyone found to be under 18 will have their account closed immediately, with any deposits refunded.

If you believe a minor may have accessed your account or is using online gambling platforms, please contact us at support@dream-palace-casino-nz.com and the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.

Keeping Gambling Away from Young People at Home

If you share a device or household with young people, we strongly recommend using parental control software to block access to gambling websites. Tools available in New Zealand include:

Always log out of your Dream Palace Casino account after each session, and avoid saving your login credentials on shared devices.

Support for Family Members

Living with someone whose gambling is causing harm can be just as difficult as experiencing it yourself. The Problem Gambling Foundation offers support specifically for family members and partners, including counselling and guidance on how to approach difficult conversations. You don’t need to be the person gambling to call the helpline.

New Zealand Gambling Law: What It Means for You

Online gambling in New Zealand is governed by the Gambling Act 2003, administered by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Act prohibits New Zealand-based operators from offering online casino games to New Zealand residents, but it does not criminalise individual players who use offshore-licensed platforms.

Dream Palace Casino holds a licence issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), one of the most respected and stringent regulatory bodies in the international online gambling industry. The MGA licence requires us to meet specific standards around player protection, data security, fair gaming, anti-money laundering procedures, and responsible gambling practices.

The Gambling (Harm Prevention and Minimisation) Amendment Act and associated regulations place specific obligations on operators to promote safer gambling practices, which is reflected in the tools and support resources available on this page.

Responsible Gambling Guidelines: Playing Sensibly

The following aren’t rules, but they’re worth keeping in mind if you want gambling to stay a good time rather than a source of stress.

  • Set a budget before you start and treat it as the price of entertainment, not an investment
  • Never gamble money you need for rent, bills, food, or other essentials
  • Don’t chase losses. If you’ve hit your limit for the session, stop
  • Take regular breaks, especially during longer sessions
  • Avoid gambling when you’re upset, drunk, or going through a difficult period
  • Keep track of how much time and money you’re actually spending, not just how it feels
  • Gambling should be one activity among many, not your primary source of entertainment or income

Talking to Us About Responsible Gambling

If you have concerns about your gambling, want to adjust your account limits, or need to request a self-exclusion or cooling-off period, our support team is available around the clock. We treat all responsible gambling requests with care and without judgement.

If you feel you need immediate help, please call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655. It’s free, confidential, and available any time of day or night.

Bonus

for first deposit

$900 + 250 FS