Responsible Gambling
Responsible Gambling at Online Casinos
Engaging in online casino activities should be a fun and secure experience. Gambling should be seen as a form of entertainment, not a financial strategy. We’ve integrated various tools and offer advice tailored to Ontario’s gaming environment to keep your online gaming responsible and enjoyable.
Play Safely and Responsibly
Remember that gambling at an online casino is about entertainment, not income. Monitoring your gambling time and expenditure is vital for control, especially within Ontario’s unique gaming landscape.
Self-Assessment Test
If you sense that your gambling practices might be turning into an issue, or if you suspect you’re facing a gambling problem, we highly recommend taking the Self-Assessment Test. This test is crafted to offer a deeper understanding of your gambling patterns and pinpoint any emerging problems. Should the test outcomes indicate any troubling aspects, it would be wise to take a break from gambling or reach out to our Customer Support team for advice and direction.
When Does It Stop Being Fun?
If you’re playing at an online casino, ask yourself these questions to see if your gambling might be problematic, whether you enjoy RNG games like slots or play live casino games:
- Am I spending more than I can afford?
- Am I prioritising gambling over spending time with friends and family?
- Am I playing during work hours?
- Am I gambling to escape stress?
- Am I spending too much time gambling?
- Am I staying up until the early hours of the morning to gamble?
- Am I angry when I lose?
- Am I chasing my losses?
- Am I spending money meant for something else?
- Am I borrowing money to gamble?
- Am I gambling after promising myself to stop?
- Am I feeling remorseful after gambling?
If you answer “Yes” to any of the above questions, it’s time to rethink your approach for a more enjoyable and responsible gaming experience at your online casino. You should consider taking a break from playing.
Key Strategies for Responsible Gambling
- Set Financial Limits: Choose a budget that fits your financial situation before playing.
- Never look at gambling as a way to make money.
- Avoid Chasing Losses: Stop playing if you reach your spending limit.
- Mind Your Emotional State: Don’t gamble when feeling down, upset, stressed, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Don’t Borrow Money: Never borrow money to gamble with or use funds meant for bills or other expenses.
- Mind the Time: Keep track of how much you play, and ensure your playing time doesn’t drastically increase.
- Understand the Games: Learn how the games work, including odds, RTP (Return to Player), and volatility rating.
- Seek Help: Reach out to one of the many gambling counselling services available (see below).
19+ Only
In Ontario, it is illegal for individuals under the age of 19 to have an account with an online casino. Proof of age is required, and accounts may be suspended until verification is complete.
Resources for Preventing Underage Gambling in Ontario
Gamban: www.gamban.com
Bet Blocker: www.betblocker.org
Gam Block: www.gamblock.com
Tips for Parents
- Do not leave your computer unattended with casino software running.
- Password-protect all your devices.
- Keep your login details and financial instruments out of reach of children.
- Do not allow minors to participate in any gambling activity.
- Avoid storing passwords where they can be easily accessed by children.
- Limit the amount of time your children spend online and use parental control software to block access to inappropriate material.
Helpful Tools:
- NetNanny: www.netnanny.com
- CYBERsitter: www.cybersitter.com
Tools and Methods for Self-Regulation
Responsible online casinos are committed to helping players maintain control over their gaming habits by providing various self-regulation tools.
Time Out
Concerned about your gambling frequency? Use the Time Out feature to take a break from gaming for a day, a week, a month, two months, or three months. During this period, logging into your online casino account is not possible until the chosen time frame concludes. You may still receive marketing materials unless you choose to opt out.
Regularly using the Time Out feature can help you manage your gaming habits and encourage disciplined online play.
Deposit Limits
All players can set deposit limits to control how much they can deposit over a day, week, or month. If multiple limits are set (e.g., daily and weekly), the lowest will apply. Increasing limits triggers a 24-hour cooling period, while decreases take effect immediately.
Loss Limit
You can also limit your losses to ensure you never go beyond what you can afford. Loss limits can be set daily, weekly, or monthly and operate independently.
The loss limit refers to a net amount — winnings during this period are added to that total. If limits are raised, a 24-hour cooling period applies; reductions take effect right away.
Self-Exclusion
If gambling is negatively impacting your finances or wellbeing, consider activating the Self-Exclusion option, available directly through the online casino or by contacting customer support.
You can self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. During this period, you won’t have access to your account or receive promotional materials. Any remaining balance will be returned upon request.
How Casino Games Work
It’s important to understand that slot games are entirely based on chance. These online casino games use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to determine outcomes randomly.
Each game also has a Return to Player (RTP) percentage, which shows the house edge and expected long-term returns. For example, if a game has a 96% RTP, the casino’s edge is 4%. This means that, theoretically, wagering $100 would yield an average return of $96 — though real results can vary widely over the short term.
Professional Help
If you need professional advice about your gambling habits, the organizations below offer free, confidential, and supportive services:
Gamblers Anonymous Toronto
Email: info@gatoronto.ca
Phone: 1-855-222-5542
Responsible Gaming Council
Phone: 1-416-499-9800
Connex Ontario
Connex Ontario provides 24/7 information and resources for issues related to gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health.
Phone: 1-866-531-2600
SMS: 247247
Credit Canada
Credit Canada is a non-profit providing financial education and debt relief services. They offer confidential support and online tools to promote financial literacy, manage debt, and improve financial wellbeing.
Phone: 1-800-267-2272
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
GA helps individuals overcome gambling addiction through peer support and shared experiences.
Phone: 1-855-222-5542
