Set limits before opening an account
Choose a spending amount that does not affect housing, bills, debt payments, savings or other priorities. Decide on a time limit as well as a money limit, and never increase either to chase a result.
An entertainment budget is a maximum cost, not an investment. Winnings should not be expected or included in financial plans.
Use account controls and self-exclusion
Operators may provide deposit, loss, wager and session limits, cooling-off periods, reality checks and self-exclusion. Confirm the activation and account effects before depositing.
In Ontario, BetGuard can exclude a person from all sites in Ontario's regulated online market for a selected term. Other provinces and territories use their own systems or operator processes.
Recognize warning signs
- Spending more time or money than planned
- Chasing losses or increasing stakes to recover
- Borrowing or using money needed elsewhere
- Hiding gambling activity or account statements
- Feeling anxious, irritable or unable to stop
- Using gambling to escape financial or personal problems
Canadian support and treatment directory
The Responsible Gambling Council maintains Canada-wide help information and a treatment-centre directory organized by province and territory. Contact the listed local service to confirm current hours and channels.
Financial and immediate crisis support
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada publishes information about working with a credit counsellor. For suicide crisis support in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 at any time. Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department when there is immediate danger.
For friends and family
Choose a calm time, describe specific behaviour without blame and encourage professional support. Do not lend money for gambling or take control of another adult's finances without appropriate consent and advice.
Support services can also guide family members who are affected, even when the person gambling is not ready to seek help.
Responsible Gambling Resources FAQ
Stop the session and do not deposit again to recover a result. Use a cooling-off or self-exclusion tool when a personal limit is difficult to maintain, and contact a current local support service.
No. Tools, activation times, coverage and account effects differ. Provincial or territorial exclusion programs can also have different scope.