1. Our Commitment to Responsible Gambling

Gambling is an established form of entertainment, and the overwhelming majority of guests who visit our casino do so without difficulty. We recognise, however, that for some individuals gambling can cease to be a leisure activity and begin to cause harm. Our responsibility is to make certain that every guest has access to accurate information, practical controls and discreet assistance at every stage of their visit.

The policies set out on this page apply to all gaming areas within the Dorvessian Royal Inn property. All team members involved in gaming operations receive regular training in responsible gambling principles and are required to apply those principles consistently and without prejudice.

2. Adult-Only Access to Gaming Areas

Participation in any form of gambling at Dorvessian Royal Inn is restricted to persons who are aged 18 years or older. This requirement is absolute and applies regardless of whether a guest is a hotel resident, a day visitor or a member of any loyalty programme.

2.1 Age Verification at Entry

Our gaming floor staff are authorised to request photographic proof of age from any individual whose age cannot be confirmed with reasonable certainty. Acceptable documents include, but are not limited to:

• A current New Zealand passport or foreign passport
• A current New Zealand driver licence or overseas equivalent
• A current New Zealand Firearms Licence
• A HANZ-issued Hospitality New Zealand 18+ Card or equivalent government-issued proof-of-age card

Entry to gaming areas will be refused where satisfactory identification cannot be produced. This decision is final and is not subject to appeal at the point of entry. Team members who apply this requirement do so in good faith and are fully supported by management.

2.2 Responsibility of Adult Guests

Adult guests who are accompanied by minors must ensure that those minors do not enter or remain in designated gaming areas. Our team will respectfully redirect any minor found in a gaming zone and may ask the accompanying adult to accompany the minor to a suitable area of the hotel.

3. Gambling as a Choice, Not an Obligation

No guest of Dorvessian Royal Inn is ever required or encouraged to gamble. Gaming facilities are one part of the broader range of experiences available at our property. Guests are free to enter and leave the casino environment at any time and are welcome to enjoy all other hotel amenities without any expectation that they will participate in gaming activity.

Our promotional materials and team members will never suggest that gambling is a way to recover losses, supplement income or solve financial difficulties. Gambling outcomes are determined by chance, and there is no strategy, system or pattern of play that guarantees a positive financial result.

We ask every guest to approach gambling with the following principles in mind:

• Decide on a fixed entertainment budget before you begin, and treat that amount as the cost of the experience rather than an investment.
• Accept that losses are possible and plan for that possibility in advance.
• Never gamble with money that is needed for essential living costs, rent, mortgage payments, bills or family obligations.
• Do not gamble to escape stress, loneliness or difficult emotions.
• Keep gambling one leisure activity among many, rather than your primary source of excitement or relaxation.

4. Time and Spending Limits

Setting clear limits before you begin is one of the most effective ways to keep gambling an enjoyable part of your stay. Dorvessian Royal Inn encourages every guest to use the following practical limit-setting practices.

4.1 Spending Limits

4.2 Time Limits

Extended gaming sessions can impair judgement and make it harder to recognise when play is no longer enjoyable. We recommend that guests:

• Decide in advance how long they intend to spend in the gaming area.
• Set an alarm or reminder on their personal device before they begin.
• Honour the time limit they have set, even if they are ahead financially.
• Avoid playing for extended periods without taking a substantial break away from the gaming floor.

Clocks are displayed throughout our gaming areas so that guests can monitor the time without interrupting play. Team members are also available to provide a time reminder on request.

4.3 Requesting a Personalised Limit

Guests who would like additional support in maintaining a personal spending or time boundary are invited to speak privately with a member of our guest services or gaming operations team. We will work with you to note your preferences and apply any agreed arrangements as part of your visit.

5. Recognising When Gambling May Be Causing Harm

Problematic gambling rarely appears suddenly. It typically develops gradually, and many people find it difficult to recognise the signs in their own behaviour. The following indicators are not a formal assessment but rather a practical prompt for honest self-reflection. If several of these descriptions feel familiar, it may be a useful moment to pause, speak to someone you trust or review the support resources described later on this page.

5.1 Patterns of Thought and Feeling

• Spending a significant amount of time thinking about gambling, planning future sessions or reliving past ones.
• Feeling irritable, restless or anxious when you are not able to gamble.
• Gambling as a way to cope with feelings of worry, low mood or personal problems.
• Believing that a winning session is overdue and that continued play will eventually produce a big return.
• Feeling excitement or relief that seems to require higher stakes over time in order to achieve the same effect.

5.2 Patterns of Behaviour

• Returning to gamble on another occasion in order to recover money that was lost previously.
• Making repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce, control or stop gambling.
• Spending more time or money on gambling than you originally planned, on a regular basis.
• Concealing the extent of your gambling activity from people who are close to you.
• Borrowing money, selling personal possessions or neglecting financial commitments in order to fund gambling.
• Reducing time spent on work, study, family or social activities in favour of gambling.

5.3 If You Recognise These Signs

Recognising a concern is a meaningful and constructive step. You do not need to be in a crisis situation to seek information or to put protective measures in place. The sections below describe the options available to you at our property and in the wider community.

6. Taking Breaks

Stepping away from the gaming floor at regular intervals is one of the simplest and most effective ways to maintain perspective and keep gambling enjoyable. Our property offers a wide range of comfortable spaces where guests can rest, refresh and take stock before deciding whether to continue play.

We actively encourage guests to:

• Leave the gaming area for at least 20 minutes for every two hours of play.
• Use break time to review how much time and money have been spent relative to the limits decided before the session began.
• Speak to a companion, friend or family member during a break rather than remaining in the gaming environment.
• Consider whether they are still enjoying the experience or are continuing out of habit, frustration or the desire to recover losses.

A guest who has decided to end their session for the day is welcome to remain in all other areas of the property. No team member will ever encourage a guest to return to gaming after they have chosen to stop.

7. Property Self-Exclusion

Dorvessian Royal Inn offers a formal self-exclusion arrangement for any guest who wishes to be prevented from accessing the gaming areas of our property for a defined period or on an ongoing basis.

7.1 How to Request Self-Exclusion

A request for self-exclusion can be made in any of the following ways:

• In person at the front desk or with a member of the gaming operations team. A private meeting room is available for guests who prefer discretion.
• By written request sent to info@dorvessianroyalinn.com from the email address associated with any guest account or reservation.

7.2 Duration and Terms

Self-exclusion periods are available as follows:

Once a self-exclusion arrangement is confirmed, your details will be recorded and our team will take reasonable steps to refuse your entry to gaming areas during the nominated period. This arrangement applies to the Dorvessian Royal Inn gaming facility only.

7.3 During a Self-Exclusion Period

During any self-exclusion period:

• You remain welcome as a guest in all non-gaming areas of the hotel.
• You will not receive promotional communications related to gaming from Dorvessian Royal Inn.
• If you attempt to enter a gaming area and are recognised, team members will politely decline access and offer to direct you to another part of the property.
• Winnings accumulated after a self-exclusion arrangement was in place will not be honoured.

7.4 After a Self-Exclusion Period Ends

At the conclusion of a fixed-term exclusion period, your access to gaming areas will not automatically resume. You must make a positive written request to be reinstated, and a short meeting with a member of our guest services team will be arranged at your convenience before access is restored. This step is in place to support a considered and confident return, not as a barrier.

8. Support from Family, Friends and Trusted People

People close to someone experiencing gambling difficulties are often the first to notice a change in behaviour. They may also be affected themselves by financial pressure, relationship strain or feelings of helplessness. Dorvessian Royal Inn recognises this and is willing to assist trusted contacts as well as the individuals directly involved in gambling.

8.1 Third-Party Exclusion Requests

A family member or legal guardian who has genuine and reasonable concern for another person's gambling behaviour may contact our team to discuss whether a third-party notification arrangement is appropriate. All such enquiries are treated with complete confidentiality.

To make an enquiry of this nature, please write to info@dorvessianroyalinn.com with the subject line "Trusted Contact Enquiry." A member of our team will respond within two working days to arrange a private conversation.

8.2 Guidance for Concerned People

If you are concerned about someone close to you, the following approaches are widely recognised as constructive:

• Choose a calm, private moment to raise your concern rather than doing so immediately after a gambling session or a financial disagreement.
• Focus on specific behaviours you have noticed rather than making general judgements about the person's character.
• Listen without immediately offering solutions. The person may need to feel heard before they are ready to consider change.
• Set clear and consistent boundaries about what you are and are not willing to do, such as lending money or covering debts.
• Look after your own wellbeing. Seeking support for yourself is not disloyal; it is sensible and sustainable.

9. Responsible Gambling Resources in New Zealand

A range of community-based support services and official guidance is available in New Zealand for people who are concerned about their own gambling or the gambling of someone close to them. Dorvessian Royal Inn encourages all guests to be aware that such services exist and are accessible to New Zealand residents and visitors.

9.1 Official Regulatory Guidance

Gambling in New Zealand is subject to statutory oversight by central government authorities. Those authorities publish publicly available guidance on responsible gambling, the rights of players and the obligations of operators. Information produced by New Zealand's responsible gambling regulatory bodies is accessible through official government and public-health channels in New Zealand, at no cost to the individual.

9.2 Community and Peer Support

A variety of community organisations across New Zealand offer support to people experiencing difficulties related to gambling. These services are confidential and are typically available at no charge. They can assist with:

• Confidential conversations about gambling habits and concerns
• Guidance on self-management strategies and spending control
• Support for family members and close friends
• Assistance navigating formal exclusion processes across multiple venues
• Referrals to financial guidance services where debt or budgeting concerns arise

Our guest services team can assist you in identifying appropriate local and national support services during your stay. You are also welcome to ask any member of our gaming staff for information on available community resources. All such requests are handled discreetly and without judgement.

9.3 Financial Guidance

If gambling has created financial difficulty, free and impartial financial guidance is available in New Zealand through government-supported services and community organisations. Addressing financial concerns in parallel with any change in gambling behaviour can significantly improve outcomes and reduce stress.

10. Our Trained Team

Every member of the Dorvessian Royal Inn team who works in or adjacent to gaming areas receives regular training in recognising the signs of gambling-related harm and in responding appropriately and sensitively. This training covers:

• The principles and purpose of responsible gambling obligations
• How to approach a guest in a considerate and non-confrontational manner
• The self-exclusion process and how to initiate it with a guest who requests it
• Age verification procedures and their importance
• The range of support resources available in New Zealand
• How to refer a concerned family member or trusted contact to the appropriate channel

Team members are empowered to take action in the interests of guest wellbeing without requiring prior management approval in every instance. If you feel that a team member has not responded appropriately to a responsible gambling concern, please contact us at info@dorvessianroyalinn.com so that we can address the matter promptly.

11. Contact Us

For any responsible gambling query, self-exclusion request, concern about another person or feedback about our practices, please use the details below.

We aim to respond to all email enquiries within two working days. In-person requests are addressed immediately or, where a private meeting is required, within the same day where possible.

12. Review and Updates

This Responsible Gambling page is reviewed by on a regular basis to ensure it reflects current practices, any changes to applicable New Zealand law or regulation, and feedback received from guests and community stakeholders. The most current version of this page will always be published at dorvessianroyalinn.com.

If you have a suggestion for improving the information or support resources described on this page, we welcome your input at info@dorvessianroyalinn.com.