Responsible Gaming

Gambling Should Be Entertainment

At CapitalClaims.ca, we believe gambling should be treated as paid entertainment—not as a way to earn money, recover losses, or solve financial problems. Casino games involve risk, outcomes are uncertain, and the house has an advantage over time.

Only gamble with money you can comfortably afford to lose. Never use money needed for rent, food, bills, debt payments, or other essentials, and never borrow to gamble. Fast withdrawals may provide quicker access to funds, but they do not improve your odds or reduce the risks of gambling.

Age Verification

You must be at least the legal gambling age in your province or territory. In Canada, this is generally 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, and 19 in all other provinces and territories. Any higher age requirement or product-specific local rule also applies.

Licensed operators may verify your age and identity before allowing you to gamble or withdraw funds. Never gamble underage, use another person’s account or payment method, or help someone bypass age verification. Adults should keep gambling accounts and payment details secure and consider parental controls on shared devices.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Gambling harm can affect anyone and may develop gradually. Consider whether any of the following feel familiar:

• Chasing losses or increasing bets to try to win money back
• Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
• Hiding gambling, lying about losses, or becoming defensive when asked about it
• Borrowing money, using credit, selling belongings, or missing bills because of gambling
• Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, or other difficult feelings
• Neglecting work, school, sleep, relationships, or responsibilities
• Thinking constantly about gambling or planning the next session
• Feeling restless, irritable, or distressed when trying to cut back
• Repeatedly trying and failing to reduce or stop gambling
• Relying on gambling as income or expecting it to fix financial difficulties

You do not need to experience every sign to seek support. If gambling is causing you or someone close to you harm, reaching out early can help.

Self-Help Tools

Before playing, decide on an affordable budget and a firm stopping time. Available controls vary by operator and province, but useful tools include:

• Deposit limits: Restrict how much you can deposit over a day, week, or month.
• Loss limits: Set a maximum amount you are prepared to lose and stop when you reach it.
• Session limits and reality checks: Use reminders showing how long you have played and how much you have spent.
• Time-outs: Take a short break from your account without making further deposits or bets.
• Self-exclusion: Block access to gambling for a longer period through the operator and, where available, your provincial or territorial self-exclusion program.

Contact the operator’s support team if you need help activating these tools. You can also ask your bank about gambling-transaction blocks and consider blocking software. Avoid gambling while intoxicated or highly distressed, and do not raise limits or use another operator to get around a break or exclusion.

Support Organizations in Canada

• Responsible Gambling Council (RGC): An independent Canadian non-profit providing responsible-gambling information, prevention resources, and guidance. Visit www.responsiblegambling.org.
• ConnexOntario: Free, confidential information and referrals for Ontario residents seeking help with problem gambling and related concerns. Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit www.connexontario.ca.
• Gambling Support BC: Support and treatment information for British Columbia residents. Call 1-888-795-6111 or visit www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca.

Elsewhere in Canada, contact your provincial or territorial health service, a healthcare professional, or a local addiction-support service to find confidential help near you. Support is also available for affected family members and friends.

If Gambling Is Causing Harm, Seek Help

If gambling no longer feels entertaining or under your control, stop playing, consider a time-out or self-exclusion, and contact a support service today. You do not have to wait until the problem becomes severe, and you do not have to handle it alone. Asking for help is a positive and courageous step.

If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 for Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.