Responsible Gambling

Casino Weekly deskUpdated October 31, 2026

Gambling should be entertainment you can afford, not a way to make money. These are the rules and the help available to players in Canada.

Legal age by province

19+ — Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories.
18+ — Alberta, Manitoba and Québec.

Where to get help

ConnexOntario — 1-866-531-2600, free, confidential, 24/7 (connexontario.ca).
Responsible Gambling Council — tools and information for players and families (responsiblegambling.org).
GameSense — responsible gambling programme used by BCLC and other provincial operators (gamesense.com).

Self-exclusion

Every regulated operator in Ontario must offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. Provincial programmes are also run by the AGLC in Alberta (online included since July 2026), BCLC in British Columbia and Loto-Québec. Offshore casinos offer their own account tools — use them, and ask support to close the account if you need a break.

Warning signs

Chasing losses or depositing money set aside for bills.
Playing longer than planned or hiding play from family.
Borrowing to gamble, or feeling restless when you try to stop.

If any of these sound familiar, call ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 or talk to your doctor. Help is free and confidential.