Gambling Awareness

Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money, and it should only ever involve money you can afford to lose. Most people bet without harm, but for some it can become a problem. This page explains the rules in Canada, the tools that help you stay in control, the warning signs to watch for, and where to get free, confidential help in every province and territory.

Know your age limit

The legal gambling age is set by your province or territory. You must meet the age where you live to open an account and bet.

In Ontario, 18 applies to lottery and charitable games, but you must be 19 for casino, poker and regulated online sports betting.

What Squawka Canada does, and does not do

Squawka Canada is an independent guide and comparison site. We do not take bets, hold funds or run any gambling service, and we feature licensed, regulated operators only. We are here to help you choose well and play safely, not to push you to bet more than you want to.

Stay in control

• Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stick to both
• Treat any money you gamble as the cost of entertainment, not income
• Never chase losses, and never bet money you need for essentials
• Avoid gambling when you are stressed, upset or under the influence
• Take regular breaks, and balance betting with other activities

Tools that help you stay in control

Every licensed Canadian operator offers safer-play tools. Use them before you need them:

• Deposit, loss and wager limits (daily, weekly or monthly)
• Time limits, session reminders and short cooling-off time-outs
• Reality checks that show how long and how much you have spent
• Self-assessment questionnaires to check your own habits
• Account and transaction history, so you can see the full picture

Signs gambling may be a problem

Gambling may be becoming harmful if you, or someone you know, are:

• Chasing losses, or betting more to win back what was lost
• Spending more time or money on gambling than intended
• Borrowing money, selling things or falling behind on bills to keep gambling
• Feeling anxious, guilty or irritable about gambling, or when trying to stop
• Letting gambling affect work, study, health or relationships
• Thinking or talking about gambling far more than before

Self-exclusion in Canada

Self-exclusion lets you block your own access to gambling for a set period. There is no single national list, so you need to register in each province where you play, as well as with individual operators. Key programs include:

• Ontario: My PlayBreak (OLG) and BetGuard (iGaming Ontario), covering regulated online sites
• British Columbia: Game Break, BCLC’s voluntary self-exclusion program
• Alberta: the AGLC Self-Exclusion Program for Alberta venues and Play Alberta
• Quebec: Loto-Quebec self-exclusion through Jeu : aide et reference

Most regulated sites also let you self-exclude or take a break at the account level.

Where to get help

Help is free, confidential and available across Canada. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out:

You can also reach the Responsible Gambling Council for prevention resources and the GameSense program for safer-play information.

19+ (18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 or your provincial helpline. Please play responsibly.