FOR YOURSELF
Make sense of what is changing.
Learn about gambling patterns, mental wellbeing and practical ways to reduce immediate harm.
Explore gambling addictionGAMBLING HARM IN AOTEAROA
Understand gambling harm. Find a way forward.
FOR WHĀNAU
Find support for someone close to you.
Understand how gambling affects relationships and where family members can get advice.
Explore signs and effectsFOR A NEXT STEP
Choose a useful place to begin.
Compare helplines, counselling, self-check tools and recovery resources in New Zealand.
Browse support resourcesWHO WE ARE
Gambling harm, explained clearly.
Bipolar Bear provides practical information on gambling harm, mental wellbeing, prevention and recovery in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Explore practical information and trusted support options for yourself or someone close to you.
GAMBLING SUPPORT
Ways to begin recovery
Treatment and Recovery
Seeking Help for Alcohol or Drug Use
Learn where to begin seeking help for alcohol or drug use in New Zealand, what assessment involves and how to choose care.
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Resources and Support
Treatment and Support Centres in New Zealand
Compare New Zealand treatment and support centres, referrals, costs, eligibility, and questions to ask before choosing care.
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Treatment and Recovery
Relapse Prevention in Addiction Recovery
Build a practical relapse prevention plan for alcohol or drug recovery, including triggers, cravings, treatment and support.
Read moreNew Zealand focused
Guidance points to services in Aotearoa.
Clear and practical
Plain language makes next steps easier to see.
For people and whānau
Support is available for anyone affected by gambling harm.
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SUPPORT CAN START TODAY
Talk with a specialist service.
You can ask about your own gambling, support someone else, or get help with the effects on your family. You do not need a diagnosis or a perfect plan before reaching out.
If you are unsure where to begin, compare New Zealand helplines and counselling options.
GAMBLING SUPPORT SERVICES
People and services that can help.
Specialist counsellors, peer groups and services for whānau can each offer a useful next step. Learn what to expect before deciding who to contact.
A FIRST STEP
You can ask for help before things reach a crisis.
Information and support can help you decide what feels manageable now. You do not need a diagnosis or a complete plan before speaking with a specialist service.
See crisis and safety supportGAMBLING HARM TOPICS
Find a useful place to begin
Gambling Addiction
Risk Factors for Gambling Addiction in New Zealand
A person who plays pokies to relieve stress and keeps returning after a loss faces a different set of risks from someone who buys an occasional Lotto…
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Responsible iGaming
Responsible Gambling: Safer iGaming in New Zealand
Responsible gambling is about controlling whether you play, how long you stay and how much you spend. Sometimes the safer decision is not to gamble at all.…
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Mental Health
Anxiety and Depression: Signs and Support
Anxiety can leave you bracing for what might go wrong. Depression can make things you once enjoyed feel out of reach. You can experience both at once. If…
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