Treatment paths
Gambling-specific help exists in every province — most of it free.
These are the kinds of help that exist in Canada, in plain language. We don't publish prices or facility phone numbers — those change, and quoting them would only mislead. When you want a person, we confirm the fit and make one warm introduction, only to someone you approve.
Publicly funded problem-gambling counselling
Free outpatient counselling through community agencies and hospital programs, available in every province with no doctor's referral needed. Often delivered virtually, so distance is rarely a barrier.
Individual & group CBT for gambling
Cognitive behavioural therapy — one-on-one and in groups — is the core clinical approach for gambling, targeting the beliefs that keep the next bet feeling like a solution. Common in hospital-based outpatient programs.
Residential & inpatient tracks
Private residential programs with dedicated gambling streams exist across Canada, usually admitting within days. Suited to a crisis where the betting can't stop even between meetings.
Concurrent-disorders (dual) care
When depression, heavy drinking, or thoughts of self-harm ride alongside the gambling, coordinated care treats them together — clinical support and financial support at the same time, not one after the other.
Sliding-scale & virtual counselling
Income-based sessions, often with evening and weekend hours, for people who fall between free public care and private pay. Couples and family sessions are frequently available.
Non-profit credit & debt counselling
Free provincial non-profit credit counsellors see gambling debt every week. The guidance is simple: get free debt advice before any consolidation loan or family bailout, because paying it off fast can backfire.
Provincial self-exclusion programs
Voluntary bans from casinos, online platforms, and lottery terminals, run by each provincial operator. Enrolment always happens on the operator's own official site — we walk you through the steps, plainly.
Phone-level & bank-level blocking
App-install blocks behind someone else's passcode, DNS-level blocking of gambling sites, and gambling-transaction blocks that most Canadian banks will switch on if you ask. Small frictions that matter most at 1 a.m.
Gamblers Anonymous & Gam-Anon
Free peer fellowships — one for the person gambling, one for the family. Meetings are everywhere, cost nothing, and ask nothing. They work best alongside treatment, not instead of it.
Self-exclusion, by province
Ban yourself before you unban yourself. It isn't willpower — it's removing the option while the option is loud. Every provincial operator runs a real program; enrolment always happens on the operator's own official site.
Ontario
OLG Self-Exclusion
Covers casinos, OLG.ca, and lottery terminals. Ontario-licensed private sportsbooks run their own exclusion tools too.
British Columbia
BCLC Game Break
One enrolment covers B.C. casinos and PlayNow.com. Terms from six months to three years — and it holds even when you don't want it to.
Québec
Loto-Québec Self-Exclusion
Covers casinos, gaming halls, and the Espacejeux online platform, in person and online, in French and English.
Alberta
AGLC Self-Exclusion
Covers Alberta casinos, racing centres, and Play Alberta, with a re-entry process that makes coming back a decision, not an impulse.
In another province or territory? Your operator runs an equivalent program — ask us and we'll point you to the right one. Pair any of these with a phone-level app block and a bank gambling-transaction block for the frictions that matter most at 1 a.m.
Not sure which path is yours?
That's the normal starting point. Take the private self-check, or let a navigator narrow it to the strongest fit and make one introduction — with your consent.
In crisis? Call or text 988, any hour, free.