Gambling should be entertainment — not a way to earn money or escape life's problems. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you care about, free, confidential help is available right now in Papua New Guinea.
Recognising the signs early can help you or someone you love get the right support before gambling causes serious harm.
Increasing the size or frequency of bets in an attempt to win back money already lost. This cycle almost always leads to greater losses and deeper financial trouble.
Lying to family, friends, or a partner about how much time or money you spend gambling. Secrecy and shame around gambling are strong indicators that behaviour has become harmful.
Using personal loans, credit cards, or asking friends and family for money specifically to fund gambling. Financing gambling with borrowed money is a serious warning sign that requires immediate attention.
Skipping work, neglecting household bills, or missing important family commitments because of gambling. When gambling takes priority over core responsibilities, it has moved beyond recreational play.
You are not alone. These services provide free, confidential support to PNG players and their families — no matter where you are in the country.
Papua New Guinea's primary free counselling helpline for gambling-related harm, mental health, and personal crises. Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by trained counsellors.
The National Gaming Control Board regulates all gambling in PNG. You can register for voluntary self-exclusion, submit a formal complaint about an operator, or report unlicensed gambling.
Access professional online counselling for problem gambling, anxiety, and stress from a licensed therapist. Sessions are conducted via chat, phone, or video — available from anywhere with an internet connection.
Self-exclusion is a powerful tool that allows you to block yourself from gambling at an online casino for a defined period of time — or permanently. Here is how to do it in PNG.
You can self-exclude directly through your online casino account — usually found under Account Settings → Responsible Gambling → Self-Exclusion. Alternatively, you can apply through the National Gaming Control Board's self-exclusion register at ngcb.gov.pg, which notifies all licensed PNG operators simultaneously. Choose a duration: most platforms offer options from 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or permanent exclusion.
Once self-exclusion is confirmed, your account will be immediately suspended. You will not be able to log in, place bets, or receive promotional offers or marketing emails from that casino. Any remaining balance in your account will be refunded to you via your registered payment method within the timeframe stated in the casino's terms and conditions — typically 5 to 10 business days.
Self-exclusion periods are binding — you cannot reverse the decision before the chosen period expires. For permanent self-exclusion, a minimum cooling-off period of at least 5 years must pass before a formal review can be requested. All requests to lift a self-exclusion require a face-to-face review with the operator or regulator to ensure the decision is in your best interest. We strongly encourage seeking professional counselling support during and after any self-exclusion period.
All reputable PNG-licensed online casinos are required to provide these responsible gambling tools. Use them proactively — you do not have to wait until gambling becomes a problem.
Set a maximum amount you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly. Once your limit is reached, the casino will block further deposits until the period resets.
Define the maximum time you can spend playing in a single session. The casino will automatically log you out when your chosen time limit is reached.
Receive regular on-screen pop-up reminders showing how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost during that session, helping you stay aware.
Take a temporary break from gambling — from 24 hours up to 6 weeks — without fully closing your account. Your account is suspended during this period.
Request a permanent or long-term ban from the platform. This is the most robust tool available and is binding for the full duration of the selected period.
Online gambling is strictly for adults. We take the protection of minors seriously and urge all parents and guardians to act.
This website is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, please leave this site immediately. Underage gambling is illegal in Papua New Guinea.
All licensed online casinos operating in PNG are required by law to verify the age and identity of every player before allowing real-money gameplay. This process — known as KYC (Know Your Customer) — includes submitting a valid government-issued ID such as a national passport or driver's licence. Accounts are suspended until verification is successfully completed.
If you share a device or computer with children or teenagers, we strongly recommend installing parental control software such as Net Nanny, Bark, or your device's built-in screen time controls to block access to gambling websites. You can also contact your internet service provider to request that gambling-related domains be filtered at the network level. If you suspect a young person is gambling online, contact the National Counselling Service PNG on 1800 611 or report it directly to the National Gaming Control Board via ngcb.gov.pg.
Answers to common questions about responsible gambling in Papua New Guinea.
The most important first step is to reach out for help — you do not need to manage this alone. Call the National Counselling Service PNG on 1800 611 (free, 24/7) for immediate confidential support. You should also consider using the self-exclusion tools available at any online casino you use, which will prevent you from accessing your account while you seek help. Speaking to a trusted friend or family member about what you are experiencing can also provide emotional relief and practical support.
Log in to your online casino account and navigate to Account Settings or My Profile. Look for a section labelled "Responsible Gambling," "Player Safety," or "Limits." From there you can set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits. Changes that reduce your limit take effect immediately, while requests to increase a limit typically require a 24-hour cooling-off period to ensure the change is deliberate. If you cannot find the settings, contact the casino's live support chat for direct assistance.
Yes. The National Gaming Control Board of Papua New Guinea operates a central self-exclusion register. By registering with the NGCB, your exclusion is communicated to all licensed PNG operators, meaning you are blocked from all regulated casinos in one step. Visit ngcb.gov.pg to start the process or call the NGCB directly. Note that this only applies to licensed PNG operators — offshore unlicensed casinos will not be covered, which is another reason to only play at regulated sites.
Yes. The National Counselling Service PNG helpline (1800 611) is completely free of charge and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls are confidential, and no referral is required. Services include crisis counselling, ongoing support, and referrals to local services. Self-exclusion through the NGCB is also free. If you prefer online therapy and have internet access, BetterHelp offers paid services, but the national helpline remains the most accessible free option for PNG residents.
There are several effective methods. On Android or iOS, you can use the built-in Screen Time (iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) features to block specific apps and websites. For a more comprehensive solution, download a dedicated gambling-blocking app such as Gamban, which blocks thousands of gambling websites and apps across all your devices with a single subscription. You can also contact your internet service provider (ISP) and request that gambling-related domains be blocked at the router level. Using all of these methods together provides the strongest protection.