Responsible Gaming

Our Commitment

At CrystalKoru, we believe that gaming should always be a source of enjoyment, relaxation, and positive entertainment. As a free social gaming platform, we are deeply committed to fostering a responsible and healthy gaming environment for every visitor. While CrystalKoru does not involve any real money wagering, gambling, or financial risk, we recognise that any form of entertainment — including social gaming — should be enjoyed in moderation and with awareness. Our commitment to responsible gaming is woven into every aspect of our platform, from our age verification systems to our transparent communication about the nature of our games. We want every person who visits CrystalKoru to have a positive experience and to feel empowered to make informed decisions about their entertainment habits.

We actively promote awareness of responsible gaming principles and provide access to professional support resources for anyone who may need assistance. Our team regularly reviews and updates our responsible gaming measures to ensure they reflect current best practices and address the evolving needs of our community.

Social Gaming vs Gambling

It is important to understand the clear and fundamental distinction between social gaming and gambling. CrystalKoru is a social gaming platform — not a gambling site. Here is how they differ:

No real money involved: CrystalKoru does not accept, process, or require any real money deposits or payments. All games on our platform are completely free to access and play. There are no hidden fees, premium tiers, or pay-to-play mechanics.
No financial risk: Because no real money is involved, there is zero financial risk to players. You cannot lose money on CrystalKoru, and you cannot win money either. The concept of financial gain or loss simply does not apply to our platform.
No real prizes: Virtual credits, tokens, or points earned during gameplay on CrystalKoru have absolutely no real-world monetary value. They cannot be exchanged for cash, goods, services, or anything of tangible value. They exist solely to enhance your entertainment experience within the platform.
Entertainment only: Our games are designed purely for entertainment and enjoyment. The purpose of CrystalKoru is to provide beautifully crafted, engaging social games that bring joy to our community — nothing more, nothing less.

Despite these clear differences, we acknowledge that social gaming can share visual and mechanical similarities with real money gambling products. For this reason, we take extra care to clearly label our platform as a social gaming site with no real money involvement, and we encourage all visitors to maintain healthy, balanced gaming habits.

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Even though CrystalKoru is a free social gaming platform with no financial implications, we encourage all players to establish healthy boundaries around their gaming activities. Maintaining a balanced approach to entertainment is important for overall wellbeing. Here are some practical guidelines to help you game responsibly:

Set time limits: Decide in advance how much time you want to spend gaming each day or each session, and stick to that commitment. Consider setting a timer or alarm to remind you when your chosen time limit has been reached.
Take regular breaks: Step away from the screen periodically to stretch, hydrate, and rest your eyes. A good rule of thumb is to take a five to ten minute break for every hour of screen time. Breaks help maintain focus and prevent fatigue.
Prioritise responsibilities: Gaming should never interfere with work, study, family obligations, or other important responsibilities. Ensure that your daily tasks and commitments are fulfilled before engaging in entertainment activities.
Stay socially connected: While online gaming can be a fun leisure activity, it should not replace face-to-face social interactions. Make time for friends, family, and real-world activities that enrich your life beyond the screen.
Monitor your mood: Pay attention to how gaming makes you feel. If you find yourself feeling frustrated, anxious, stressed, or unable to stop playing, it may be time to take a step back and assess whether your gaming habits are serving you well.
Avoid chasing virtual outcomes: Remember that virtual credits and game outcomes have no real value. There is no need to play longer or more intensely to "win back" virtual losses or achieve virtual milestones at the expense of your wellbeing.

Signs of Problem Gambling

While CrystalKoru is not a gambling platform, we want our community to be informed about the warning signs of problem gambling so they can recognise these patterns in themselves or in others. Problem gambling can affect anyone, and early recognition is key to seeking help. Common warning signs include:

Spending more time or money on gambling than you can afford or intended to spend
Feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when attempting to reduce or stop gambling
Chasing losses by returning to gamble again after losing money, hoping to recover what was lost
Lying to family members, friends, or others about the extent of your gambling activity
Borrowing money, selling possessions, or going into debt to fund gambling
Neglecting work, education, family responsibilities, or personal health due to gambling
Using gambling as a way to escape problems, relieve stress, or cope with negative emotions such as anxiety, guilt, or depression
Experiencing relationship difficulties as a result of gambling behaviour
Repeatedly attempting to control or stop gambling without success
Feeling preoccupied with gambling, constantly planning the next session or reliving past gambling experiences

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, we strongly encourage you to reach out to one of the professional support organisations listed below. Help is available, confidential, and free of charge.

Self-Assessment Questions

Honest self-reflection is a valuable tool for maintaining healthy habits. If you have concerns about your relationship with gambling or gaming, consider the following questions. Answer each one honestly:

Do you spend more time gaming or gambling than you originally planned?
Have you ever felt the need to be secretive about how much time or money you spend on gambling or gaming?
Do you feel anxious, irritable, or restless when you are not gaming or gambling?
Has your gaming or gambling activity ever caused conflict with family, friends, or colleagues?
Have you ever neglected important obligations such as work, school, or household duties because of gaming or gambling?
Do you find it difficult to stop a gaming session once you have started, even when you know you should?
Have you ever used gaming or gambling as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, loneliness, or other difficult emotions?
Do you find yourself thinking about gaming or gambling frequently throughout the day, even when you are doing other things?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of these questions, it may be worthwhile to speak with a professional counsellor or contact one of the support resources below. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and confidential support is available around the clock.

Resources and Support

If you or someone you care about is struggling with problem gambling or needs guidance on maintaining healthy gaming habits, the following organisations provide free, confidential, and professional support:

NZ Gambling Helpline: Free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 0800 654 655 or visit www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz
GambleAware: An independent charity that provides information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm. Visit www.gambleaware.org
GamCare: Offers free information, support, and counselling for anyone affected by problem gambling. Visit www.gamcare.org.uk
Gambling Foundation NZ: Provides prevention, intervention, and treatment services for people affected by gambling harm across New Zealand.

These organisations offer a range of services including telephone helplines, online chat support, face-to-face counselling, self-help tools, and educational resources. All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the individual seeking help. Do not hesitate to reach out — trained professionals are ready to listen and support you.

Age Restriction

CrystalKoru is strictly for individuals aged 18 years and over. Although our platform does not involve real money gambling, we enforce this age restriction as a core part of our responsible gaming commitment. We believe that social gaming entertainment should be accessed only by adults who can make informed decisions about their leisure activities. Our age verification process is presented to every first-time visitor, and we store this verification locally so that returning visitors are not repeatedly prompted. We do not permit individuals under the age of 18 to access our Platform under any circumstances. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use parental control software and to supervise the online activities of minors to ensure they do not access age-restricted content. If we discover that a minor has accessed our Platform, we will take immediate steps to restrict that access.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our responsible gaming commitment, need assistance with setting healthy gaming boundaries, or wish to provide feedback on how we can improve our responsible gaming measures, please contact us. We value your input and take every inquiry seriously:

Email: support@crystalkoru.com
Address: CrystalKoru, 15 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 555 0334

Our team is committed to responding to all responsible gaming inquiries promptly and with care.

CrystalKoru is a free social gaming platform for entertainment purposes only. No real money wagering takes place. No real money prizes are awarded. All virtual items have no monetary value. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call the NZ Gambling Helpline at 0800 654 655. Must be 18+ to access this platform.