Responsible Gambling in Canada

Gambling is a popular activity for millions of Canadians. From lottery tickets to casino games and sports betting, many people enjoy the excitement gambling brings. But just like other fun activities, gambling has risks.

Responsible gambling means treating games of chance as entertainment, not as a way to make money. It’s about making smart choices, knowing the odds, and keeping control of how much time and money you spend. The main goal is to keep gambling fun without causing problems in your life, relationships, or bank account.

Gambling in Canada: The Current Picture

Big Picture: 64.5% of Canadians (18.9 million people) gambled in the past year.

This comes from the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey. While most people who gamble don’t have problems, some do:

Problem Gambling Rate: 1.6% of gamblers (304,400 Canadians) are at risk for gambling problems.

Who gambles most? The survey found some clear patterns:

• Men gamble more than women in all age groups and have higher problem rates (2.0% vs 1.2%)
• People aged 45-64 gamble the most (72.3% participated)
• Those aged 15-24 gamble least (43.9%) but face higher risks when they do
• Indigenous people gamble more (72.4% vs 64.2%) and have much higher problem rates (4.5% vs 1.5%).

Teen Gambling: Even though they’re too young to legally gamble, 41.6% of high school students in three provinces reported gambling within three months. About 9.4% gambled online.

Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling problems don’t show up overnight. They grow slowly, with warning signs popping up in different parts of life. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) groups these warning signs into four types:

Who’s at Risk? Understanding Vulnerabilities

Anyone can develop a gambling problem, but research shows some groups face bigger risks. Knowing these risk factors can help people make better choices about their gambling.

Young Adults (18-24)

7% of young adults reported gambling problems in a 12-month period.

Young adults have higher risks because:

• Their brains aren’t fully developed yet, especially parts that control decision-making
• Many are handling their own money for the first time
• They often take more risks and act on impulse
• They’ve grown up with gambling ads and easy online access

The Responsible Gambling Council found that online gambling is one of the biggest red flags for problems in this age group.

Indigenous Communities

Indigenous people have problem gambling rates 4x higher than others.

Several factors contribute to this:

• Historical trauma and ongoing effects of colonialism
• Cultural practices in some communities that include gambling activities
• Using gambling to cope with stress or discrimination
• Fewer economic opportunities, making the chance of a big win more appealing

People with Lower Incomes

People with less money actually gamble less overall, but when they do gamble, they face more harm:

• They spend a bigger chunk of their income on gambling
• Losing even small amounts hits their budget harder
• The dream of solving money problems with a jackpot seems more attractive
• People in poorer neighbourhoods have 1.28 times higher odds of gambling problems

Other Things That Increase Risk

Your chances of developing problems also go up if you:

• Had a big win when you first started gambling
• Can easily access your favorite type of gambling
• Don’t understand how unlikely winning really is
• Have mental health issues, especially depression or anxiety
• Recently experienced major life changes (divorce, job loss, retirement)
• Have family members with gambling problems
• Struggle with alcohol or drug use

7 Golden Rules of Safer Gambling

If you choose to gamble, these basic rules can help keep it fun and less risky:

1. Set a money limit before you start: Decide ahead of time how much you can afford to lose. Never go over this amount. Think of this money as the cost of entertainment, like buying a movie ticket.
2. Set a time limit and take breaks: Decide how long you’ll play and stick to it. Take regular breaks to clear your head. Walking away for a while helps you keep a healthy outlook.
3. Don’t chase losses: Accept that losing is normal in gambling. Trying to win back money you’ve lost usually leads to losing even more.
4. Don’t gamble when upset: Avoid gambling when you feel sad, worried, or stressed. Gambling to escape problems typically creates bigger ones.
5. Keep a clear head: Limit drinking and avoid drugs while gambling. They cloud your judgment and lead to bad choices.
6. Mix up your fun activities: Make sure gambling is just one of many things you do for fun, not your main entertainment.
7. Know the real odds: Remember that gambling games are designed for the house to win in the long run. Each game outcome is random – no strategy can change this.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction recommends these limits:

• Spend no more than 1% of your household income on gambling each month
• Gamble no more than 4 days per month
• Stick to 2 or fewer types of gambling games

What to Do If You Have a Problem

Understanding that you have a gambling problem is an important first step, but taking action is equally crucial. Here’s how to move forward:

Acknowledge the Situation

Be honest with yourself about your gambling habits. Taking a self-assessment (like the one linked in section) can help provide clarity. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Reach Out for Support

• Talk to someone you trust about what you’re experiencing
• Contact your provincial gambling helpline for confidential support
• Speak with your healthcare provider, who can refer you to specialized services
• Consider joining a peer support group like Gamblers Anonymous

Explore Treatment Options

Free treatment, including counselling, is available to anyone in Ontario affected by gambling – including family members. Similar programs exist across provinces. Treatment might include:

• Individual counselling to understand gambling triggers
• Group therapy to learn from others’ experiences
• Financial counselling to address money concerns
• Family therapy to heal relationships

Consider Self-Exclusion

All Canadian provinces offer voluntary self-exclusion programs that allow you to ban yourself from casinos and gaming venues for a set period. Many online gambling sites also offer this option.

Remember that recovery isn’t linear, and setbacks can happen. What matters is continuing to move forward and learning from experiences along the way.

How to Help Someone Addicted to Gambling

When someone close to you has a gambling problem, it affects you too. Research shows that one person’s gambling problem typically impacts six other people. Here’s how you can help:

How’s Your Gambling? Take a Quick Check

Not sure if your gambling is becoming a problem? This quick test can help. These questions come from the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, which experts use to spot potential issues.

Ask yourself:

• Have you bet more money than you could afford to lose?
• Do you need bigger bets now to get the same excitement?
• Do you go back to try to win back the money you lost?
• Have you borrowed money or sold things to get gambling money?
• Do you think you might have a gambling problem?
• Has gambling caused health problems, stress, or worry?
• Have others criticized your gambling or said you have a problem?
• Has gambling caused money troubles for you or your family?
• Do you feel guilty about how you gamble, or what happens when you do?

What your answers mean: If you answered “yes” to several questions, it might be worth talking to a professional. Remember, this quick check doesn’t diagnose problems – it just helps you spot warning signs.

Want a more complete check-up? Take the full quiz at the Responsible Gambling Council’s website: responsiblegambling.org.

Where to Get Help in Canada

Help for gambling problems is available all across Canada. Each province has its own services:

Province/Region	Helpline	In-Person Support
Alberta	Alberta Problem Gambling Resources Network 1-866-461-1259	GameSense Info Centres in all Alberta casinos
British Columbia	BC Problem Gambling Help Line 1-888-795-6111	GameSense Info Centres in every casino
Manitoba	Manitoba Addictions Help Line 1-800-463-1554	GameSense Advisors at McPhillips Station and Club Regent Casinos
Ontario	ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600	PlaySmart Centres at all Ontario casinos CAMH offers specialized treatment services
Quebec	Gambling: Help and Referral 1-800-461-0140	Centre du hasard kiosks in all Quebec casinos
Atlantic Provinces	Newfoundland: 1-888-899-4357 New Brunswick: 1-800-461-1234 Nova Scotia: 1-888-429-8167 PEI: 1-855-255-4255	Services vary by province
Northern Territories	Northwest Territories: 1-800-661-0844 Nunavut: 1-800-265-3333 Yukon: 1-866-456-3838	Limited in-person services available

International Resources

Need help with gambling problems but not in Canada? These international organizations can help:

Taking a Break from Gambling

Sometimes the smartest move is simply to take a break. All Canadian provinces offer self-exclusion programs to help you step away from gambling for a while.

How Self-Exclusion Works

Self-exclusion lets you ban yourself from casinos, gaming venues, or online gambling sites for a set time period. It creates a physical barrier between you and gambling when willpower alone might not be enough.

Though details differ by province, most programs work like this:

1. You pick how long to stay away (usually 3 months to 5 years).
2. They take your information and often a photo.
3. You stop getting gambling ads and promotions.
4. If staff spot you at a gaming venue, they’ll ask you to leave.
5. Some places use face-scanning technology to enforce the ban.

How to Sign Up

Every province offers self-exclusion:

• Alberta: Visit any GameSense Info Centre or ask casino security.
• British Columbia: Go to any GameSense Info Centre or ask the gaming venue staff.
• Manitoba: Visit the GameSense Info Centre or call Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Security.
• Ontario: Stop by any PlaySmart Centre or call OLG at 1-800-387-0098.
• Quebec: Visit customer service at any casino or Loto-Quebec headquarters.

Taking a break doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it means you’re taking charge instead of letting gambling control you. Many people find that stepping away helps them think more clearly about their relationship with gambling.