Help with gambling in Ontario
This page gathers the help that exists in Ontario when gambling stops feeling light. It covers a free line that answers around the clock, OLG's self-exclusion for casinos and OLG.ca, and BetGuard for regulated online sites. The legal age for casinos and online casino play is 19.
01
ConnexOntario, free and always open
ConnexOntario answers at 1-866-531-2600, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The help is free and confidential. You can also text CONNEX to 247247, open a live chat, or send an email.
Its role is to listen and point the way. Staff refer people to services rather than providing treatment themselves.
02
My PlayBreak for casinos and OLG.ca
My PlayBreak is OLG's self-exclusion program. For casinos, it can be started by calling the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098. Emailing [email protected] works too, and so does asking staff on site.
Terms for casinos run from 3 months to 5 years. Registration includes a photo, which is used with facial recognition cameras at casinos. On OLG.ca, the program sits under the My PlayBreak tab in the account.
03
BetGuard for regulated online sites
BetGuard launched on May 14, 2026 as Ontario's centralized self-exclusion from all regulated online gaming sites. One registration covers every one of them. It is open to people 19 and older, with terms from 6 months to 5 years. Sign-up happens through BetGuard.ca.
04
Signs worth taking seriously
- Spending more money or time than planned, and noticing it happens again.
- Chasing losses, going back to win back what is already gone.
- Hiding play from family or friends, or playing down what it costs.
- Borrowing money, or using money meant for bills, in order to gamble.
- Feeling restless or irritable during the hours when not playing.