PGF Services

PGF Services Free, confidential counselling, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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30/10/2025

🎟️ “I didn't meet the VIP requirements for 1 month, so they just threw me back to the start again. That's when you realize you're not actually important to these people, because they don't care, bottom line.”

VIP perks reward spending, not wellbeing. The ‘Velvet Rope’ keeps you chasing status.

You’re Not Weak. The System Is Strong →
👉 Learn more about the psychological tactics and how to remain protected: www.beingplayed.info
📖 We dive deeper into the 'Velvet Rope' tactic here: www.pgf.nz/knowledge-hub/velvet-rope
💬 Reach out for free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

💔 Three decades. Hundreds of thousands lost.This new Stuff feature reveals how one person’s gambling addiction, hidden f...
28/10/2025

💔 Three decades. Hundreds of thousands lost.

This new Stuff feature reveals how one person’s gambling addiction, hidden for years, quietly destroyed lives and finances. The story offers a stark reminder: gambling harm doesn’t always look dramatic - it can be quiet, persistent, and destructive.

📖 Read the full article and ask yourself: what does harm look like when it’s behind the closed door?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360863847/rat-drainpipe-lizzies-three-decades-and-hundreds-thousands-lost-addiction

👉 If you’re concerned about gambling - for you or someone you know - help is available: pgf.nz



Link in bio
Image credit: Stuff NZ

28/10/2025

💚 The 'Are You Being Played?' team hit Dunedin - and the vibe was incredible!

Loads of students came through to enjoy the sausage sizzle, have a chat, and learn how to 'Ban, Block, Bounce' the tactics gambling companies use to keep people betting.

The kōrero was real, the energy was high, and the message was clear: when we understand how the game works, we can stop being played by their game.

Awareness starts with action, and small steps make a big difference.

🎯 Learn their tactics and how to 'Ban, Block, Bounce' - the 3 B's that have your back!

👉 www.beingplayed.info

Links in bio.

Everyone loves to feel special - but with online betting companies, VIP perks are not rewards, they’re pressure tactics....
28/10/2025

Everyone loves to feel special - but with online betting companies, VIP perks are not rewards, they’re pressure tactics.

Seen these red flags before before?

🚩 Loyalty tiers reset if you don’t play enough
🚩 Perks are tied to deposits, not wellbeing
🚩 The illusion of status encourages more betting

Big gambling know VIP bettors lose more than recreational bettors. The Velvet Rope lures you in, then ties you up in your losses - which are their profits.

It feels like privilege, but it’s really pressure disguised as loyalty. Step outside the rope.

You’re Not Weak. The System Is Strong →

👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
💬 Free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

24/10/2025

“Placing the bet is probably more of a dopamine hit than winning the bet itself.”

Microbets deliver constant dopamine hits that keep you playing, even without big wins.

You’re Not Weak. The System Is Strong →
👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
💬 Free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

Microbets = macro hooks. Betting companies use constant small wins and losses to deliver a dopamine fix every time you p...
23/10/2025

Microbets = macro hooks. Betting companies use constant small wins and losses to deliver a dopamine fix every time you play.

Microbets give you small and continuous fixes of dopamine, just like other addictions. It feels exciting in the moment - but that’s how the 'Dopamine Fix' trap is set.

💥 Quick-fire bets give your brain a rush
💥 Dopamine spikes whether you win or lose
💥 Harder to stop once the cycle begins

You think you're in control, until you realise you're hooked. Recognise the cycle before it controls you.

You’re Not Weak. The System Is Strong →
👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
💬 Free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

16/10/2025

“My team is winning 5-0, but I’ve put a bet on 6-0… It ends 5-0, I lose this bet, and I'm angry. Even though my team's just won”

This captures the reality of in-play betting: the odds are stacked so that wins on the field don’t translate to wins in the app.

In‑play prompts force split‑second decisions. Your team can win and you still lose - the Hospital Pass.

Spot the tactics, spot the trap →
👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
💬 Free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

Your team might win the game… but you still lose your bet. That’s the Hospital Pass tactic.We know it well... offering r...
15/10/2025

Your team might win the game… but you still lose your bet. That’s the Hospital Pass tactic.

We know it well... offering real-time betting during live games, urgent notifications pressuring you, and triggering FOMO.

⚡ Fast-changing odds
⚡ Split-second bets
⚡ Confusing outcomes even when your team wins

It’s a risky play designed to work against you, and increase sports betting companies' winnings.

Slow the game down and protect your wallet. In-play betting pushes you to make snap decisions under pressure:

Spot the tactics, spot the trap →
👉 Learn more: www.beingplayed.info
💬 Free, confidential support: 0800 664 262

Links in bio.

Dunedin sausage sizzle pop-up this week!After the student stories on Paddy Gower Has Issues, we’re bringing the kōrero s...
15/10/2025

Dunedin sausage sizzle pop-up this week!

After the student stories on Paddy Gower Has Issues, we’re bringing the kōrero straight to campus.

Stop by to grab a bite, scan the QR code, and find out how to protect yourself and your mates from gambling harm.

🗓️ Wednesday & Thursday
📍 Around Dunedin Uni campus
🌭 Free sausage sizzles + giveaways
📱 Learn their tactics, and how to 'Ban, Block, Bounce'

Are you being played? Check out the 3 Bs - they've got your back!
👉 beingplayed.info

💚 Recovery from gambling harm isn’t just about stopping - it’s about healing mentally, emotionally, and socially.This Me...
09/10/2025

💚 Recovery from gambling harm isn’t just about stopping - it’s about healing mentally, emotionally, and socially.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating stories of hope and resilience. Proof that life after gambling harm is possible.

Because with the right support, recovery truly happens.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you don’t have to face it alone.
👉 Take our gambling self-test: https://screener.pgf.nz/gambling-survey
👉 Talk to someone who gets it: https://www.pgf.nz/free-counselling
👉 Learn how we can help: pgf.nz

💭 Gambling harm doesn’t always look like what you think.It can be quiet, lonely, and deeply isolating - and it’s happeni...
08/10/2025

💭 Gambling harm doesn’t always look like what you think.

It can be quiet, lonely, and deeply isolating - and it’s happening in homes across Aotearoa.

This powerful new Stuff feature shares the voices and journeys of people from around the country. Each revealing the hidden reality of gambling harm and its impact on everyday life.

These raw, honest stories remind us why awareness and support are more important than ever.

📖 Read the full article:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360845720/gnawing-dog-bones-survive-lonely-addiction-where-no-one-ever-wins

If you’re worried about gambling - for yourself or someone close - you’re not alone.
👉 Learn more or take the confidential self-test: pgf.nz



Image credit: Stuff NZ

Behind Dunedin’s student flats lies a dangerous new trend.This week Paddy Gower Has Issues investigates how gambling har...
07/10/2025

Behind Dunedin’s student flats lies a dangerous new trend.

This week Paddy Gower Has Issues investigates how gambling harm is already impacting young people. With offshore casinos infiltrating NZ's student culture, spreading fast, and paying students to illegally promote online gambling sites.

As Aotearoa is on the cusp of licensing up to 15 online casinos, this story is a wake-up call for all of us.

👉 Read the full article on Stuff
🎥 Watch the full episode - log in to ThreeNow: threenow.co.nz/shows/paddy-gower-has-issues/

We're proud of the students who came forward to shine a light on this growing issue. Let’s make sure harm prevention grows faster than the industry itself.

Image credit: Paddy Gower Has Issues

Address

128 Khyber Pass Road
Auckland
1150

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+64800664262

Website

https://www.beingplayed.info/, https://linktr.ee/pgfservices

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Our Story

At PGF Services we are trained to help. Our qualified counsellors provide free, professional and confidential counselling for both gamblers and others affected by gambling.

A gambling problem (sometimes called a gambling addiction) can significantly impact your life and the lives of those closest to you. For many people, phoning a gambling helpline or seeking help from anyone at all can be a difficult step to take.

We also have support groups. While they are not run in the same way as Gamblers Anonymous, they are designed for people who would like to work towards and maintain being ‘gamblefree’ or in control of their gambling.

Talking about your gambling, or someone else’s gambling, can bring huge relief and help you get your life back on track. We are here so that you do not need to make changes by yourself without support.