Responsible Gambling at Golden Tiger
Golden Tiger's welcome package gives you up to NZ$1,500 spread across your first five deposits, a genuinely useful boost when you're settling into the pokies, table games and live dealer floor. But before any bonus, before any spin, we want you sitting in the driver's seat of your own play. This page walks you through the tools we've built for exactly that, how to set them up, what the warning signs of trouble look like, and where to turn if things start to feel heavier than a night of entertainment should.
Why these tools exist and who they're for
Gambling at Golden Tiger is meant to sit alongside your life, not take it over. For the vast majority of players, a session on the pokies is a form of downtime: a bit of fun, a flutter, nothing more. The tools on this page exist for the moments when that balance starts to tip.
Maybe you've noticed you're logging in more often than you meant to. Maybe a deposit felt bigger than usual and you shrugged it off. These tools are not a punishment or a sign you've done something wrong. They're a steering wheel, there so you can decide in advance what "enough" looks like, rather than deciding it in the middle of a session when the adrenaline is talking.
Every safer-gambling feature described below is free to use, available to every account holder, and works quietly in the background once switched on. None of them require you to explain yourself or justify why you want a limit in place. You simply set it, and the system holds to it.
We built this around a simple idea: informed players make better decisions. That means clear numbers, honest timeframes, and no pressure either way. Whether you're a casual pokies player who drops in once a month or someone who plays most weeks, it's worth spending five minutes with these settings before your next deposit.
This page is written for anyone aged 18 and over who plays, or is thinking about playing, at Golden Tiger. If you're under 18, none of this applies to you, and you should not be reading this with a view to gambling. Gambling is strictly an adults-only activity here.
Setting a limit takes a few minutes and puts you back in charge
Limits are the single most practical tool available to you. They cap what you can deposit, lose or spend time on, and once they're active, the system enforces them automatically, no willpower required mid-session.
- Log into your Golden Tiger account and head to your account or cashier settings.
- Find the responsible gambling or player protection section, usually listed alongside your deposit options.
- Choose the type of limit you want: a deposit cap, a loss limit, or a time-based session limit.
- Pick a period for it to apply over, such as daily, weekly or monthly.
- Enter the figure you're comfortable with. Round numbers work fine; there's no minimum you need to hit.
- Confirm the change. Some reductions apply immediately, while increases may be held for a short cooling-off period, giving you a buffer against a spur-of-the-moment decision.
- Review your limits every few months, especially after a change in income or circumstances, and adjust them the same way.
There's no wrong number to start with. Some players prefer a strict weekly deposit cap they can't easily raise; others find a loss limit gives them more freedom to choose how they spend within that ceiling. Try one, live with it for a few weeks, and adjust from there.
Self-exclusion gives you a proper break when you need one
Sometimes a limit isn't enough, and what you actually need is time completely away from the tables and reels. Self-exclusion closes your account to new deposits and play for a period you choose, and it's designed to be difficult to reverse on impulse.
To activate it, you contact our support team through your account or the help section of the site and request a self-exclusion period. You'll be asked how long you want it to run. Once it's set, your account is locked down for that entire stretch, no exceptions made for a single "just one more spin" request.
During self-exclusion, marketing emails and bonus offers stop landing in your inbox, and you won't be able to log in to deposit or play. If you share the group's loyalty programme across other Casino Rewards casinos, mention this to support so the exclusion can be considered across those linked accounts too.
When the period ends, your account doesn't automatically reopen. You'll need to actively request reactivation, which gives you a natural pause point to reflect on whether you're ready to return, or whether a longer break would serve you better.
If you find yourself wanting to end a self-exclusion period early, that's usually a sign the break is doing exactly what it's meant to. We'd encourage you to sit with that discomfort rather than reaching for a workaround, and to use the helpline below if you need someone to talk it through with.
Compare the safer-gambling tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | How to switch it on |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps how much you can add to your account over a day, week or month | Set in account settings under player protection |
| Loss limit | Stops play once your net losses reach a figure you've chosen for the period | Set in account settings under player protection |
| Time/session limit | Ends or flags your session after a set number of minutes or hours | Set in account settings under player protection |
| Reality check | Sends an on-screen reminder during play showing how long you've been logged in | Enabled in account settings, interval chosen by you |
| Self-exclusion | Locks your account from deposits and play for a period you nominate | Requested directly through the support team |
Recognising the warning signs early makes all the difference
Problem gambling rarely arrives all at once. It tends to build gradually, through small shifts in behaviour that are easy to explain away individually but add up to something worth noticing.
- Chasing losses: increasing your deposit or bet size specifically to win back money you've already lost.
- Losing track of time or money once you're playing, and feeling surprised afterwards by how much either has slipped by.
- Gambling with money set aside for rent, bills or essentials, or borrowing to fund play.
- Feeling irritable, anxious or low when you try to cut back or stop.
- Hiding your play from a partner, family or friends, or downplaying how often you deposit.
- Using gambling as your main way of coping with stress, boredom or a bad day.
- Neglecting work, study, sleep or relationships because of time spent playing.
None of these signs, taken alone, mean something is seriously wrong. But if you recognise two or three of them in your own play, or in someone close to you, it's worth treating that as a genuine prompt to act, not something to wait out.
Acting early is straightforward: set a tighter limit today, talk to someone you trust, or reach out to the free local support below. None of these steps require you to have hit a crisis point first.
Where to get help locally, at any hour
New Zealand has a free, confidential support service for anyone affected by gambling, whether that's your own play or someone else's.
Gambling Helpline NZ is available around the clock. Call 0800 654 655 or text 8006 to speak with a trained counsellor, at no cost and with complete privacy. You can also find self-help resources and local face-to-face services through safergambling.org.nz.
You don't need to have a serious problem to call. Plenty of people ring simply to talk through a habit that's started to feel uncomfortable, or to ask questions about limits and self-exclusion before things get difficult. There's no judgement on the other end of the line.
If you're supporting a friend or family member, the helpline can also guide you on how to raise the topic and what support looks like for people around a gambler, not just the player themselves.
Golden Tiger is intended strictly for players aged 18 and over. If you or someone in your household is under 18, please make sure devices and accounts are secured accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I lower my deposit limit immediately if I'm worried about my spending?
Yes, lowering a deposit limit takes effect straight away in most cases. It's the increases that carry a short waiting period, precisely so a tighter limit is always the easy, fast option when you need it.
Will self-exclusion also affect other Casino Rewards casinos I play at?
It can, if you ask support to apply it across your linked loyalty accounts. Mention any other Casino Rewards sites you use when you request self-exclusion, so the break covers all of them, not just one.
Does calling Gambling Helpline NZ cost anything or get recorded against me?
No, calling 0800 654 655 or texting 8006 is completely free and confidential. Nothing is reported back to Golden Tiger or any other operator, and you're not required to give identifying details if you'd rather not.
What happens to my account balance if I self-exclude?
Your existing account balance remains yours during self-exclusion; the exclusion stops new deposits and play, not withdrawals. Contact support about accessing any remaining funds while your account is locked for new activity.
How do I know which limit, deposit, loss or time, is right for me?
There's no single right answer, but a deposit limit is the simplest starting point for most players. It caps your spending directly, and you can always add a loss or time limit alongside it later.