Set an affordable ceiling
Use a fixed amount of disposable money that you can afford to lose. Keep rent, bills, debt repayments and savings outside the gambling budget.
Use account controls
Set deposit, spend or time limits where provided. Understand when limit reductions take effect, how increases work and whether limits are shared across products.
Choose a break or self-exclusion
A short pause and long-term self-exclusion are different controls. Ontario’s BetGuard offers a centralized route across regulated online gambling; other provinces have their own arrangements.
Ask for support early
Help is available even when you are unsure whether gambling has become a problem. Use the official help directory; support can also be for someone concerned about another person.