Self-Exclusion and Limits: Taking a Break That Holds

Self-exclusion means asking to be blocked from gambling for a fixed period. It is designed to be hard to undo, which is what makes it work. In Canada, how you do it depends on your province and on whether the site you use is regulated there. This page sets out the options, from a short cooling-off period to a multi-year exclusion.

Ontario: BetGuard

BetGuard is iGaming Ontario's centralized self-exclusion program. One registration excludes you from all regulated Ontario iGaming sites at once, for a term of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Before it existed, players had to exclude themselves site by site, and it was easy to miss one. BetGuard covers regulated Ontario sites only; it does not reach operators that are not registered in the province.

Other provinces

Outside Ontario, self-exclusion is handled by each operator and by the provincial lottery corporations for their own platforms. Use the responsible gambling section of the lottery corporation's site, and contact every other operator you have an account with. Keep a list, so that you do not leave one open.

Operators outside the provincial system

A site without a provincial registration is not covered by BetGuard or by a lottery corporation's program. To exclude yourself there, contact its support in writing and ask for a self-exclusion, not just an account closure; a closed account can often be reopened, an exclusion should not be. Ask for written confirmation and the end date.

Shorter tools: limits and time-outs

Not every break needs to be long. Most accounts offer deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders and a time-out of a day to a few weeks. Lowering a limit usually works straight away; raising it typically comes with a waiting period. Use these early, when you notice play creeping up, rather than waiting for a crisis.

Making the break stick

• Unsubscribe from casino emails and texts, and remove saved payment details.
• Install blocking software that prevents gambling sites from loading on your devices.
• Tell someone you trust what you are doing; it helps on difficult days.
• Plan what you will do at the times you used to play.

Help alongside exclusion

Self-exclusion stops access; it does not deal with the urge. In Ontario, ConnexOntario is free, confidential and available 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600 or by texting CONNEX to 247247. British Columbia's Gambling Support BC Line is 1-888-795-6111 and Quebec's Jeu : aide et référence is 1-800-461-0140. More services are on our responsible gambling page.

Frequently asked questions