New Zealand launches MyChoice self-exclusion app for problem gamblers as 15 online casinos prepare to enter the market in February 2026
Two gaming societies in New Zealand have launched a self-exclusion app just months before 15 online casinos are set to enter the market.
Grassroots Trust and Lion Foundation rolled out MyChoice, allowing problem gamblers to ban themselves from pokies venues using smartphone QR codes rather than filling out forms and taking photos at venues.
The development comes at a critical time as New Zealand prepares to license 15 offshore gambling operators in February 2026, raising questions about whether traditional venue exclusions will protect players from the incoming wave of online gambling platforms in New Zealand.
How the MyChoice App Works
The application removes barriers that previously discouraged players from seeking help. Problem gamblers can scan QR codes at participating venues or visit mychoice.nz to complete digital self-exclusion forms. Their information flows directly to the Salvation Army’s national exclusion database rather than venue staff.
Players choose their exclusion period and can opt for counselling support at the same time. The system replaces what industry leaders called an ‘antiquated’ paper-based process that required face-to-face interactions with venue staff.
Grassroots Trust executive chairman Martin Bradley stated the traditional method created massive barriers for people already under stress. The 19 Class 4 venues in the Waikato region are piloting the programme with plans for nationwide expansion.
Source: The source for this news story comes via the New Zealand Herald, which published the MyChoice gambling harm app launched article.
Concerns From Anti-Gambling Advocates
Not everyone welcomes the development. Colin Bridle from Feed Families Not Pokies questions the timing, calling pokie machines blood money that destroys poorer communities. The group remains sceptical about whether the app genuinely helps or simply collects personal data.
Problem Gamblers Foundation spokesperson Andree Froude said her organization needs to understand how the app protects private information before commenting on its effectiveness.
Hapai Te Hauora’s Jason Alexander highlighted that Māori communities face problem gambling rates three to four times higher than those of non-Māori populations, making responsible gambling tools particularly important for these groups.
The Online Casino Question
The elephant in the room remains whether self-exclusions will transfer to licensed online casinos. Bradley admitted the thought of excluded players accessing online platforms keeps me up at night.
For New Zealand players specifically, this creates a dangerous gap. You could ban yourself from every physical venue in the country, yet potentially access thousands of online slots and table games through the incoming licensed operators. The NZ Online Gambling Bill, currently before Parliament’s governance and administration select committee, will impose fines of up to $5 million on unlicensed operators. However, regulations around harm minimization for licensed platforms remain unreleased.
Foreign companies will likely dominate when licenses are granted. Whether these operators must honour existing New Zealand exclusion databases remains unclear.
How Will The MyChoice App Affect Kiwis?
This gambling news presents a complicated picture for players. The MyChoice app removes the shame and paperwork associated with seeking help, representing genuine progress. Anyone struggling with pokies addiction now has a private, dignified path to self-exclusion. However, the timing raises legitimate concerns. As physical venue exclusions become easier, 15 new online platforms will offer unprecedented access to casino games on your phone or computer.
The critical question remains unanswered: whether the MyChoice app will also include new iGaming platforms coming to New Zealand in 2026.
Will your MyChoice exclusion actually stop you from accessing these sites?
For players committed to recovery, understand that self-exclusion tools only work if you genuinely want to stop. The app makes the first step easier, but the influx of new online casinos will test your resolve harder than ever. If you choose to gamble at licensed online casinos when they launch, responsible gambling practices become even more important without the physical barriers that venue exclusions provide.
One area the MyChoice app will not be able to help is players who want to self-exclude from overseas online gambling sites.
Casinoplusbonus Opinion
The MyChoice app addresses a real problem with an elegant solution. Self-exclusion should never require courage beyond what someone already needs to admit they need help. Removing paperwork and face-to-face confrontation will likely encourage more people to use these protections before problems spiral.
However, the timing feels reactive rather than proactive. Launching this app months before 15 online casinos flood the market suggests addressing yesterday’s problem while tomorrow’s challenge looms larger. The real test comes when regulations for online operator exclusions are released.
From the industry perspective, collaborative harm reduction efforts between competing gaming societies demonstrate genuine concern beyond profit motives. From the player protection perspective, any tool that makes help more accessible deserves support, provided privacy protections hold up under scrutiny. The truth likely sits between these positions. MyChoice represents meaningful progress for physical venue harm reduction.
Whether it becomes part of a comprehensive national self-exclusion system covering online platforms will determine whether it genuinely protects vulnerable players or simply makes the current system slightly less awkward.
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