1. Set a budget before you start
Decide what you can afford to lose this month and treat it as spent. Keep it separate from bill money, and never top it up from savings or credit. Set the same figure as a deposit limit in your account, so the casino enforces it for you.
2. Know the game you are playing
Read the rules and the RTP in the help screen before you stake real money, and try the demo first. Knowing that a slot returns 96% on average, or that a 6:5 blackjack table costs four times more, helps you choose games that last longer.
3. Watch the clock
Online casinos never close. Use the session reminder in your account or a timer on your phone, take a break at least every hour, and stop at the time you set, win or lose. Playing late or tired leads to bigger bets.
4. Use the tools in your account
- Deposit limits: daily, weekly or monthly caps.
- Loss limits: stop play once losses reach a set amount.
- Reality checks: pop-ups that show how long you have played.
- Time-outs: lock your account for a day to a few weeks.
- Self-exclusion: close your account for six months or more.
In Ontario, BetGuard excludes you from every regulated site at once. Offshore casinos are outside it, so add a free blocker such as BetBlocker. More on our responsible gaming page.
5. Review what happened
Look at your transaction history once a month: deposits, withdrawals and time played. If the numbers surprise you, lower your limits. If you notice you are chasing losses or hiding your play, talk to a help line such as ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600.