Responsible gambling and finding support

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Not gambling is always an option. If you choose to gamble, treat any spending as an entertainment cost you may lose entirely—not as savings, income or a way to solve financial problems.

• Protect essential spending first, including housing, food, bills, transport and existing financial commitments.
• Decide what you can afford to lose before starting. If no money is genuinely spare, do not gamble.
• Never borrow, use credit or sell necessary belongings to continue playing.
• Set an end time in advance, use an alarm and stop when it arrives—even if you are winning.
• Keep a record of deposits, withdrawals and time spent. Do not treat a later win as proof that earlier losses no longer matter.
• Avoid gambling when distressed, intoxicated or trying to escape a difficult situation. Do not chase losses by raising stakes or extending a session.

Availability and definitions vary between operators and jurisdictions. Read the rules for each control rather than assuming its name tells you everything. Limits are safeguards, not a guarantee against harm.

You do not need a diagnosis or a financial crisis to ask for help. Pay attention to changes in behaviour and the effect gambling is having on everyday life.

• Spending more money or time than you intended, or repeatedly breaking your own limits.
• Trying to win back losses instead of accepting them and stopping.
• Hiding gambling, spending or debts from people close to you.
• Missing sleep, work, study, family time or essential payments because of gambling.
• Feeling preoccupied with gambling or finding it difficult to stop despite wanting to.
• Borrowing money, using essential funds or feeling increasingly distressed after playing.

Self-exclusion arrangements exist in regulated markets, but their coverage varies. Excluding from an individual operator is not necessarily the same as joining a wider scheme. Closing an account may also differ from formally requesting self-exclusion.

1. Stop the current sessionStep away from the game and avoid further deposits. You do not need to recover losses before taking a break.
2. Request the restriction you needUse the operator’s published process to request a time-out or self-exclusion. Ask for confirmation of its scope and duration, and keep a copy.
3. Add barriers where availableCheck official local self-exclusion schemes, ask your bank about gambling-payment controls and consider blocking software. Avoid opening other accounts to get around restrictions.
4. Get support alongside restrictionsTell someone you trust or contact a gambling-support service. If money remains in an account, ask about withdrawal separately rather than continuing to play.

Look for support relevant to where you live. In Ontario, ConnexOntario provides information about mental health, addiction and problem gambling services at connexontario.ca or 1-866-531-2600. Elsewhere, a public-health website, gambling regulator or recognised gambling-harm organisation can be a starting point. Check the service’s own website for current contact details, opening hours, eligibility and confidentiality information.

• For gambling-related support, look for a local helpline, counselling service or peer-support organisation.
• For financial difficulties, seek an independent debt-advice service rather than trying to gamble your way out.
• For health concerns, contact a qualified healthcare professional.
• For exclusion arrangements, check your local regulator or official scheme provider for participating operators and coverage.

You can seek support for yourself even if the person gambling is not ready to do so. Choose a calm time to discuss specific concerns without blame. Set boundaries around shared money and avoid lending money to fund further gambling. A local support service can help you consider practical next steps; you do not have to manage the situation alone.

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