Responsible Gambling at 7 Sultans
Why Safer-Gambling Tools Matter
7 Sultans carries more than 700 pokies, table games and live-dealer tables across the Microgaming and Evolution studios, built for players who want variety, big jackpots and quick sessions on a phone or laptop. That same scale is precisely why we ask every player to pause before they dive in.
A library this size means there's always another game to try, another reel to spin, another hand to play. For most people that's simply entertainment. For some, the constant availability makes it harder to notice when a session has run long, or when a top-up deposit has become a habit rather than a choice.
The tools on this page exist to put the brakes back in your hands. They don't stop you playing, they let you decide, in advance and while you're calm, what "enough" looks like for you. Setting a boundary before you're mid-session is far more effective than trying to stop once the reels are spinning.
We built this page as a plain-language guide, not a warning label. It covers the controls available to you, how self-exclusion actually functions, the signs that suggest a break might help, and the free, confidential support services available to anyone in New Zealand, regardless of where you play. Gambling is meant to stay a form of leisure. This page is here to help keep it that way.
Everything described below is available to registered account holders aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, this site and its games are not for you.
Setting A Limit That Works For You
Limits are most useful when they're set before you feel any pressure to change them. Here's a practical way to work out what to put in place.
- Look at a normal fortnight's budget and decide what portion, if any, you can genuinely afford to lose without it affecting rent, bills or savings.
- Pick a deposit limit at or below that figure, choosing a daily, weekly or monthly cycle that matches how you get paid.
- Set a separate loss limit if you want a hard ceiling on losses specifically, rather than just on money deposited.
- Add a session time limit or reality check so you're reminded of the clock even when you're absorbed in a game.
- Log into your account settings and enter each figure, then confirm the change when prompted.
- Review your limits every few months. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately; raising one is deliberately delayed, so build in time if you're planning to adjust upward.
- If a limit feels difficult to stick to once it's in place, that's useful information, treat it as a cue to consider a longer break or self-exclusion instead.
None of these steps require a reason or an explanation to anyone. They're yours to set, and support staff are available if you want help understanding how any of them apply to your account.
Safer-Gambling Tools At A Glance
The table below summarises the core controls available on your account and how to activate each one. Use whichever combination suits how you play.
| Tool | What It Does | How To Switch It On |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps the total amount you can add to your account over a day, week or month. | Set in account settings; lowers instantly, increases after a review delay. |
| Loss limit | Caps how much you can lose over a chosen period, separate from deposit totals. | Set in account settings alongside your deposit limit. |
| Session time limit | Automatically ends your session once a set number of minutes or hours has passed. | Enabled from the responsible-gambling section of your profile. |
| Reality check | Pops up a reminder mid-session showing elapsed time and net spend. | Toggled on in account preferences, interval set by you. |
| Cool-off period | Temporarily locks your account for a short break without closing it permanently. | Requested through support or account settings. |
| Self-exclusion | Closes your account for an extended, defined period, blocking further play. | Requested directly with our support team. |
Every one of these tools sits alongside standard account verification, so changes are tied securely to you and can't be reversed by anyone else.
Self-Exclusion And How It Works
Self-exclusion is the firmest tool available: it closes your account to further deposits and play for a period you nominate, rather than a single cooling-off session.
Requesting self-exclusion
Contact our support team and ask to self-exclude. You'll be asked to confirm the length of exclusion you want. Once confirmed, the restriction applies immediately, your account is locked, and any marketing emails or promotional contact stop.
What happens during exclusion
You won't be able to log in, deposit, or receive bonus offers for the duration you selected. If you try to open a new account during this period, our verification checks are designed to identify and close it.
After exclusion ends
Accounts are not automatically reopened once the period lapses. You need to actively contact support to request reactivation, which gives you a natural pause point to reconsider rather than resuming by default.
Self-exclusion is a serious step and there's no obligation to justify the request or the length chosen. If you're unsure whether a shorter cool-off or a full exclusion suits your situation better, support staff can talk you through the difference without pressure either way.
Recognising The Warning Signs
Problem gambling rarely announces itself. It tends to build gradually, through small changes in behaviour and mood rather than one obvious moment.
- Chasing losses by depositing more than planned to try to "win back" money already spent.
- Losing track of time or money spent, or feeling surprised by a bank balance after a session.
- Gambling to escape stress, boredom or low mood rather than for entertainment.
- Hiding play from family or partners, or feeling defensive when asked about it.
- Borrowing money, dipping into savings, or delaying bills to keep playing.
- Feeling irritable or anxious when trying to cut back or stop.
- Neglecting work, study or relationships in favour of extended sessions.
Noticing one of these on its own isn't necessarily cause for alarm. Several appearing together, or any of them recurring over weeks, is a reasonable prompt to set a limit, take a cool-off, or reach out to one of the services below. Acting early is always easier than trying to unwind a habit that's already taken hold.
Where To Get Help In New Zealand
Confidential, free support is available to anyone affected by gambling in New Zealand, whether the concern is your own play or someone else's.
Gambling Helpline NZ operates a free, confidential phone line on 0800 654 655, along with a text option on 8006, for anyone who wants to talk something through, day or night. You can also find self-help resources and service listings at safergambling.org.nz.
These services are independent of 7 Sultans and any other operator. Speaking with them doesn't require you to disclose which site you play on, and nothing you share affects your account here.
If money worries are part of the picture, a budgeting advisory service or your bank's hardship team can help separately from gambling-specific support. Addressing both the behaviour and the financial pressure tends to work better than tackling either alone.
Whānau and friends are welcome to contact the helpline too. Watching someone you care about struggle is difficult, and the service can advise on how to raise it constructively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly does a deposit limit take effect once I set it?
A lowered deposit limit applies immediately to your account. Raising a limit is deliberately delayed by a review period, giving you time to reconsider before the higher amount becomes active.
Can I self-exclude without giving a reason?
Yes. You can request self-exclusion directly with our support team without explaining why. You only need to confirm the length of the exclusion period you'd like applied to your account.
What happens if I try to sign up again during self-exclusion?
Verification checks are designed to identify accounts opened under exclusion and close them. Self-exclusion is intended to be a firm break, so new registrations during that window aren't permitted to proceed.
Is the Gambling Helpline only for people with a serious problem?
No. Gambling Helpline NZ, on 0800 654 655, is available for any concern, large or small, including questions from family members or players who simply want to talk something through early.
Do reality checks stop me from playing, or just remind me?
Reality checks are reminders, not blocks. A pop-up shows elapsed time and net spend at intervals you choose, so you can decide in the moment whether to continue or step away.
Will setting a limit affect bonuses or account features?
No. Deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders and cool-off periods sit alongside your account without affecting eligibility for games or promotions you already qualify for.