Responsible gambling
19+ in most of Canada, 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Betting is meant to be entertainment, never a way to make money or recover a loss. If it has stopped feeling like entertainment, the help below is free and confidential.
Some pages on this site mention sports betting operators. We think anyone reading those pages should also see this one, so it is linked from every page of the site.
Minimum legal age by province
| Province or territory | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 18 |
| Manitoba | 18 |
| Quebec | 18 |
| British Columbia | 19 |
| Saskatchewan | 19 |
| Ontario | 19 |
| New Brunswick | 19 |
| Nova Scotia | 19 |
| Prince Edward Island | 19 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19 |
Rules also differ on which operators are licensed to serve you. In Ontario, regulated online operators are licensed through iGaming Ontario and overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Elsewhere in Canada, provincial lottery and gaming corporations run the legal offering. Check what applies where you live.
Warning signs
- Betting more than you planned, or more often than you planned.
- Chasing losses with bigger stakes to get back to even.
- Borrowing money, selling things, or using bill money to bet.
- Hiding how much you bet from family or friends.
- Betting to escape stress, boredom or low mood.
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back.
One of these on its own is not a diagnosis. Several of them together, over time, is worth taking seriously.
Practical limits that work
- Set a deposit limit before you start, not after a losing run.
- Set a time limit as well as a money limit.
- Never bet with money set aside for rent, bills, food or debt.
- Do not bet while drinking or while upset.
- Treat losses as the cost of the entertainment, not a debt to recover.
- Use the operator's own cool-off and self-exclusion tools. Licensed operators must offer them.
Where to get help in Canada
Free and confidential
- Ontario
- ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600
- Nationwide
- Talk to your provincial health line
- Peer support
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Cost
- Free, 24/7
Every province funds a problem gambling helpline and free counselling. ConnexOntario operates around the clock in Ontario. Outside Ontario, your provincial health authority can direct you to the equivalent service, and Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings across the country, online and in person. You do not need a referral and you do not need to have hit a crisis point to call.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion lets you block your own access to gambling products for a set period. Licensed operators must offer it, and provincial gaming authorities run broader schemes covering multiple venues or sites at once. It works, and choosing to use it is a sign of control, not failure.
Helping someone else
If you are worried about a family member, the same helplines support friends and relatives, not only the person betting. Paying off someone's gambling debt without other support usually delays the problem instead of solving it. Counselling services can help you work out a plan that does not leave you carrying the risk.
Our position on betting links is set out in the terms of use. We publish no tips, no predictions and no staking advice.