{"id":79767,"date":"2026-02-08T22:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T22:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/?p=79767"},"modified":"2026-02-08T22:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T22:53:15","slug":"dealing-with-a-mates-gambling-a-kiwis-guide-to-helping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/?p=79767","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with a Mate&#8217;s Gambling: A Kiwi&#8217;s Guide to Helping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><h2>Why This Matters: Gambling and Your Wh\u0101nau<\/h2>\n<p>Kia ora, mate! Gambling is a pretty common thing in Aotearoa, from a cheeky flutter on the TAB to a night out at the <a href=\"https:\/\/casiyoucasino.co.nz\/\">casino tables<\/a>. Sometimes, though, it can become a problem. If you\u2019ve noticed a friend, partner, or family member struggling with their gambling, you&#8217;re not alone. This guide is here to help you understand what&#8217;s happening and how you can offer support. It&#8217;s about looking after your mates and your wh\u0101nau, and knowing what to do when things get tough. We&#8217;ll break it down nice and easy, so you can get a handle on the situation and help your loved one get back on track.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Spotting the Signs: Is There a Problem?<\/h2>\n<p>Before you can help, you need to know if there&#8217;s actually a problem. It&#8217;s not always obvious. Here are some things to watch out for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Spending More Than They Can Afford:<\/b> This is a biggie. Are they regularly using money that should be going towards bills, rent, or food?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Chasing Losses:<\/b> Do they keep gambling to try and win back what they&#8217;ve lost? This is a classic sign.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Lying or Hiding:<\/b> Are they secretive about their gambling, or lying about how much they&#8217;re spending or where they&#8217;ve been?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Mood Swings:<\/b> Gambling can cause big ups and downs. Are they irritable, anxious, or depressed, especially when they can&#8217;t gamble?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Neglecting Responsibilities:<\/b> Is gambling interfering with their work, studies, or relationships? Are they missing important events or letting commitments slide?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Borrowing Money:<\/b> Are they constantly asking for loans, or using credit cards to gamble?<\/li>\n    <li><b>Withdrawal Symptoms:<\/b> Do they get restless or irritable when they try to stop gambling?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you see a few of these signs, it&#8217;s time to have a k\u014drero (conversation).<\/p>\n\n<h2>Having the K\u014drero: Talking About It<\/h2>\n<p>Talking about someone&#8217;s gambling can be tricky, but it&#8217;s important. Here&#8217;s how to approach it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Choose the Right Time and Place:<\/b> Pick a time when you can both talk privately and without distractions. Avoid doing it when they&#8217;re upset or have been gambling.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be Calm and Non-Judgmental:<\/b> Start by expressing your concern and care. Avoid blaming or criticising. Say things like, &#8220;I&#8217;ve noticed you seem stressed lately, and I&#8217;m worried about you.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li><b>Focus on the Behaviour, Not the Person:<\/b> Instead of saying, &#8220;You&#8217;re a gambling addict,&#8221; try, &#8220;I&#8217;ve noticed you&#8217;ve been gambling a lot recently, and I&#8217;m worried about the impact it&#8217;s having.&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li><b>Listen More Than You Talk:<\/b> Let them share their feelings and experiences. Don&#8217;t interrupt or argue. Just listen and show empathy.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Ask Open-Ended Questions:<\/b> Instead of &#8220;Are you gambling too much?&#8221; try &#8220;How do you feel about your gambling?&#8221; or &#8220;What&#8217;s been going on lately?&#8221;<\/li>\n    <li><b>Be Prepared for a Reaction:<\/b> They might deny there&#8217;s a problem, get angry, or shut down. Try to stay calm and reiterate your concern.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Set Boundaries:<\/b> Be clear about what you can and can&#8217;t do. For example, you might say, &#8220;I&#8217;m here to support you, but I can&#8217;t lend you money.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>What You Can Do: Offering Support<\/h2>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve had the k\u014drero, here&#8217;s how you can offer support:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Educate Yourself:<\/b> Learn about problem gambling. Understanding the issue will help you provide better support. Websites like the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand and the Ministry of Health are great resources.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Encourage Professional Help:<\/b> This is crucial. Suggest they talk to a counsellor or therapist who specialises in problem gambling. Offer to help them find a professional or make an appointment.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Support Their Treatment:<\/b> If they&#8217;re seeking help, be there for them. Offer to go to appointments with them, or simply be a listening ear.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Avoid Enabling:<\/b> Don&#8217;t cover up their gambling, lend them money, or make excuses for them. This only makes the problem worse.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Focus on Their Strengths:<\/b> Remind them of their positive qualities and help them focus on their goals.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Encourage Healthy Activities:<\/b> Help them find enjoyable and healthy ways to spend their time, like exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends and family.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Look After Yourself:<\/b> Supporting someone with a gambling problem can be emotionally draining. Make sure you take care of your own well-being. Set boundaries, seek support from your own friends, family, or a counsellor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Where to Get Help: Resources in Aotearoa<\/h2>\n<p>New Zealand has some fantastic resources to help with problem gambling:<\/p>\n<ul>\n    <li><b>Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand:<\/b> They offer free counselling, support groups, and information. You can find them online or call their helpline.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Gambling Helpline:<\/b> This is a free, confidential phone service available 24\/7. Call 0800 654 655.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Your GP:<\/b> Your doctor can provide advice, refer you to a specialist, or prescribe medication if needed.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand):<\/b> They can provide information about mental health services and support in your area.<\/li>\n    <li><b>Family and Wh\u0101nau:<\/b> Lean on your support network. Talking to other family members or friends can provide emotional support and practical help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>The Long Game: Patience and Persistence<\/h2>\n<p>Recovery from problem gambling takes time and effort. It&#8217;s not a quick fix. Be patient, understanding, and persistent. There will be good days and bad days. Celebrate the small victories and don&#8217;t give up on your mate. Remember, you can&#8217;t force someone to change, but you can be there to support them every step of the way. It\u2019s a marathon, not a sprint.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Conclusion: Helping Your Mate, Helping Yourself<\/h2>\n<p>Supporting a friend or partner with a gambling problem is a challenging but important role. By understanding the signs, having open conversations, offering support, and accessing the right resources, you can make a real difference. Remember to look after yourself too. With patience, empathy, and the right help, your mate can get back on track, and you can both build a stronger, healthier relationship. Kia kaha (be strong) and look after each other, eh?<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why This Matters: Gambling and Your Wh\u0101nau Kia ora, mate! Gambling is a pretty common thing in Aotearoa, from a cheeky flutter on the TAB to a night out at the casino tables. Sometimes, though, it can become a problem. If you\u2019ve noticed a friend, partner, or family member struggling with their gambling, you&#8217;re not &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79767"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79768,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79767\/revisions\/79768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jalandharkhabarnama.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}