Setting Gambling Limits and Getting Help in Canada
Gambling should be a paid form of entertainment with a cost you have chosen in advance. This guide covers how to set limits, how to spot trouble, and where Canadians can find support. Services differ by province, so always check your province's official service for current details.
What limits should you set?
Decide before you start, when you are calm, not mid-session.
| Limit | How to set it |
|---|---|
| Money | An amount you could lose without affecting rent, bills, food or savings |
| Time | A fixed session length, with an alarm |
| Frequency | Which days you play, and which you don't |
| Deposits | Use deposit limits in the casino account, set to your budget |
How do you stick to a limit?
- Set limits in the account settings, not just in your head.
- Never use credit you cannot repay or money earmarked for bills.
- Take a break after each session, and a longer one after a big win or loss.
- Keep track of what you have spent over the month.
- Avoid gambling when stressed, tired or drinking.
Should you chase losses?
No. Every spin is independent, and a loss does not make a win more likely. Raising stakes to get back to even is one of the most common ways small losses become large ones. See our RTP guide for why.
What are the warning signs of gambling harm?
- Betting more money or time than you meant to
- Hiding gambling from family or friends
- Borrowing, or missing bills, to fund play
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down
- Thinking about gambling most of the day
Where can you get help in Canada?
Services are mostly provincial, so use the one that covers where you live and check its site for current opening hours and contact details.
| Service | What it offers |
|---|---|
| ConnexOntario | Free, confidential help and referrals for people in Ontario |
| GameSense | Responsible gambling information from British Columbia's lottery corporation |
| Responsible Gambling Council | Research, tools and resources on safer gambling |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings for people who want to stop gambling |
| Your provincial helpline | Search for your province's official problem gambling service |
If you are in distress or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 9-8-8, Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline, or call emergency services.
What is self-exclusion?
Self-exclusion lets you ask a gambling operator, or a provincial program, to bar you for a chosen period. Programs and how they work differ by province and by operator, so ask your provincial gambling regulator or the casino directly about what is available and how it is enforced.
How can you help someone else?
Choose a calm moment, speak without blame, and describe what you have noticed. Offer to go through the support options together, and avoid lending money to cover gambling debts. Encourage them to contact a service above.
More support links are on our responsible gambling page. Adults only: the age of majority is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.