Responsible Gambling

Find support in Canada

You can contact a support service about your own gambling or concerns about someone close to you. These starting points offer help or connections to local services; they are separate from casino customer support.

For other provinces and territories, see the Responsible Gambling Council's Canadian support directory. Ask the service about the options available in your area. ConnexOntario and Alberta's 211 provide information and connections to services; a referral line is not the same as ongoing treatment.

If you are thinking about suicide or are unsure whether you need crisis support, call or text 9-8-8, available across Canada 24/7. If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911.

If you choose to gamble

Gambling should not be treated as a source of income or a way to repay debt. There is no spending limit or routine that makes it risk-free. If you are already finding it difficult to stop, consider taking a break and speaking to a support service instead of relying on a new budget alone.

For adults who choose to gamble, practical boundaries include:

• Set a spending limit before you start, using only money you can lose without affecting rent, food, bills or other essentials. Do not borrow to gamble.
• Decide when to stop and make plans for time away from gambling. Keep space for sleep, relationships and other activities.
• Do not increase your spending to recover a loss. A previous loss does not make the next bet a solution to it.
• Avoid gambling when alcohol, cannabis or other substances affect your judgement, or when you are using gambling to escape distress.
• Review what you actually spend and how long you play. If the limits keep moving, pause and ask for support.

These suggestions draw on CCSA's practical guidance and the Responsible Gambling Council's guidance on changing gambling behaviour. Gambling services are for people who meet the applicable legal age and local eligibility requirements.

Signs that gambling may be causing harm

The amount lost is not the only sign of a problem. Pay attention to changes such as:

• Gambling taking priority over work, study, relationships or activities you used to enjoy.
• Borrowing money, missing bills or using savings intended for other needs.
• Hiding losses or feeling unable to talk honestly about gambling.
• Returning to gamble mainly to win back money already lost.
• Anxiety, disrupted sleep or repeated difficulty stopping when you intended to.

These signs are reasons to seek support, not a diagnosis or a test you need to pass before receiving help. CAMH describes gambling harm as something that can affect health, finances and everyday life. CAMH: understanding problem gambling.

Taking a break and using self-exclusion

A deposit limit controls new funding; it does not necessarily cap losses from money already in an account. A short timeout temporarily restricts access. Self-exclusion is a separate arrangement to stay away from specified gambling services for an agreed period. Read what each tool actually covers.

Before enrolling in self-exclusion, ask the programme:

• Which websites, accounts and physical venues are included?
• How long does the exclusion last, and what restrictions apply during it?
• What happens to remaining funds and promotional messages?
• What steps, if any, are required when the selected term ends?

Rules vary between programmes. Do not assume one registration blocks every gambling site or that access returns automatically at the end of a term. See the Responsible Gambling Council's explanation of self-exclusion and confirm the current terms with the programme itself.

Blocking software and removing gambling apps or marketing notifications may also help reduce access and reminders. They are additional tools, not a guarantee that every route to gambling is blocked. A counsellor or helpline can help you decide which steps fit your situation. Practical ways to support a break.

If you are worried about someone else

Choose a calm moment to describe what you have noticed, using specific examples rather than blame. You can offer to help the person contact a service, while recognising that they may not be ready to talk.

You can also seek support for yourself. A counsellor can help you plan the conversation, set boundaries and consider how to protect essential household finances. You do not have to manage someone else's gambling alone. Support for loved ones.

About this page

We publish general information and links to external support. We do not provide counselling, monitor emergencies or enrol people in self-exclusion programmes. Contact the relevant service directly for personal support.

Support details and public sources checked September 17, 2026. If you notice an outdated contact or link, please report it through our correction policy.