Gambling becomes a problem when it starts affecting your finances, relationships, or wellbeing. Recognising the signs early makes it easier to get help.
1
Spending more than you can afford to lose, or gambling with money set aside for bills or essentials
2
Chasing losses — continuing to gamble to try to win back money you've already lost
3
Feeling unable to stop or cut back even when you want to
4
Gambling affecting your job performance, relationships, or mental health
5
Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
6
Lying to family or friends about how much time or money you spend gambling
7
Feeling anxious, restless, or irritable when you try to reduce or stop gambling
8
Using gambling as a way to escape problems, stress, or negative feelings
Helplines
Canadian & International Support
🍁 Ontario
ConnexOntario
1-866-531-2600 · 24/7 · Free & confidential
🍁 Canada
Problem Gambling Canada
problemgambling.ca — national resources & referrals
GAMBAN blocks access to over 40,000 gambling websites and apps across all your devices — phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. It works at the device level, making it very difficult to bypass. Ideal for serious self-exclusion.
BetBlocker is a free device-level blocking tool that restricts access to gambling sites for periods between 24 hours and 5 years. Available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Every reputable casino on our list offers self-exclusion through their account settings or customer support. You can typically choose a period from 6 months to permanent. Contact the casino's live chat and request "self-exclusion" — they are required to honour this request.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In Ontario, ConnexOntario operates a 24/7 helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Across Canada, Problem Gambling Canada (problemgambling.ca) provides resources and referrals by province. The Gambling Therapy platform at gamblingtherapy.org offers free online support internationally, including live chat with trained advisors.
GAMBAN (gamban.com) is a comprehensive device-level blocking tool that prevents access to over 40,000 gambling sites across all your devices. BetBlocker (betblocker.org) is a free alternative. Most casinos also offer self-exclusion through their account settings — contact live chat and request it specifically.
Crypto gambling carries the same addiction risks as traditional gambling. The speed of transactions (minutes vs days for bank transfers) can make it easier to deposit repeatedly without a natural pause. We recommend setting a strict session budget before you start, and treating any losses as entertainment costs rather than investment activity.
Most reputable crypto casinos allow you to set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits through your account settings. These limits take effect immediately. You should not be able to increase them without a cooling-off period. If a casino makes it easy to remove limits instantly, treat that as a warning sign.
Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org) provides free support for both gamblers and their families, including a dedicated "Friends and Family" forum. ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) can also refer you to local support services for family members of problem gamblers in Ontario.