Table of Content 9
In short
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Budget
Decide what you can afford to lose before you play, and treat it as spent.
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Limits
Set a deposit limit before your first deposit and before any bonus.
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Breaks
Use time-outs and self-exclusion when play stops being fun.
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Help
Free, confidential help lines exist in every province.
So what
What it means for you
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Offshore casinos are outside provincial schemes
Self-exclusion through BetGuard in Ontario or Alberta's program covers regulated sites only. At an offshore casino, use its own self-exclusion and add a blocking app.
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Lowering a limit is instant, raising it is not
Most casinos apply a lower limit at once and delay an increase, often by a day or more. Set limits low.
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No limit tools is a warning sign
If a casino offers no deposit limit or self-exclusion in the account menu, do not deposit.
Full text
What responsible gaming means
Responsible gaming means staying in control of the time and money you spend, knowing the odds are set in the casino's favour, and stopping before play harms your finances, your relationships or your health. Players, casinos and regulators each have a part in it, but the limits that work best are the ones you set yourself.
The legal age for online gaming is 19 in most provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. Any casino can ask for ID before your first withdrawal, and new casinos often do.
Warning signs
- Chasing losses: playing on to win back what you lost.
- Borrowing money, or using money meant for bills, to play.
- Hiding how much you play from people close to you.
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to stop.
- Playing longer than you planned, again and again.
Two quick checks: try a week without playing and notice how it feels, and look at where your playing money came from last month. If either answer worries you, talk to one of the help lines on this page.
Simple rules that work
Set a budget and keep it
Decide on a monthly amount you can afford to lose and stop when it is gone. Never top it up from savings or credit.
Set a time limit
Online play has no closing time. Use the casino's session reminder or a phone timer, and stop when it rings.
Keep stakes small
With $100 to play with, $1 bets give you far more time than $10 bets, and the house edge per bet is the same.
Be careful with bonuses
Wagering keeps you playing longer than you planned. Set your deposit limit before you claim. Our page on new casino bonuses shows what an offer really costs.
Use self-exclusion when you need a break
Self-exclusion locks you out of your account for a period you choose. It works best combined with a blocking app on your phone and computer.
Self-exclusion in Canada
Ontario launched BetGuard on 14 May 2026: one registration, with ID, excludes you from every regulated Ontario gaming site for six months, one year, five years or a custom term.
Alberta's regulated sites must connect to the province's self-exclusion program, which also covers land-based casinos in Alberta. In other provinces, the provincial lottery corporation runs self-exclusion for its own site and venues.
Help for family and friends
If someone close to you is struggling, the provincial help lines above also support family members. Our addiction help page explains how to start the conversation and what treatment looks like.
Free help in Canada
Confidential and free to call.
- ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 Ontario, 24 hours a day connexontario.ca ↗
- Jeu : aide et référence: 1-800-461-0140 Québec, in French and English aidejeu.ca ↗
- BC Gambling Support Line: 1-888-795-6111 British Columbia, 24 hours a day gamblingsupportbc.ca ↗
- Alberta Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322 Alberta, 24 hours a day albertahealthservices.ca ↗
- Responsible Gambling Council Information and tools, Canada-wide responsiblegambling.org ↗
- Gambling Therapy Online support in many languages gamblingtherapy.org ↗
Responsible gaming: questions
What limits should I set at a new casino?
A deposit limit before your first deposit, then a loss limit and a session time limit. Set them lower than you think you need.
Does self-exclusion at one casino block the others?
No. In Ontario, BetGuard blocks every regulated site at once, and Alberta's program covers its regulated sites. Offshore casinos are outside both, so self-exclude at each one and add a blocking app.
What if a casino has no limit tools?
Do not deposit. Deposit limits and self-exclusion should be in the account menu from day one.
Is casino play a way to make money?
No. Every casino game is built so the casino keeps a share of all money staked over time. Budget for it as entertainment.
Where can I get help in Canada?
Call ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 in Ontario, Jeu : aide et référence on 1-800-461-0140 in Québec or the BC Gambling Support Line on 1-888-795-6111. Gambling Therapy offers free online support everywhere.
How old do I have to be to play?
The legal age for online gaming is 19 in most provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec.