Limits, breaks and self-exclusion, step by step
Set limits in your operator account before you deposit, and use self-exclusion if you need a longer stop. In Ontario that means BetGuard, with terms of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years; in Alberta, selfexclusion.ca; in British Columbia, the program on PlayNow; in Québec, Loto-Québec breaks of 1 to 89 days. Help lines are listed below.
Checked by the editorial team on
- 3 min read
- 8 sections
- 1 table
- 5 FAQ
The steps
- Pick the tool. Limit: a cap on deposits or losses over a period. Break: a short pause. Self-exclusion: a longer ban. Choose the least you need, and move up if it is not enough.
- Open your province's page. Each province below has its own program; use the one for where you live.
- Set it, then check it. Confirm the confirmation message or e-mail, and look the setting up again in your account.
- Tell someone. A person you trust can help you keep to it.
- Keep the help line. The numbers are in the table.
Takeaway: a limit set before you deposit is easier to keep than one set after a bad night.
By province
| Province | Self-exclusion | Help |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (19+) | BetGuard at betguard.ca since 2026-05-14; terms of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years; operators also run their own programs | ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600, SMS 247247 |
| Alberta (18+) | selfexclusion.ca (AGLC); covers registered iGaming sites | Call 211 |
| British Columbia (19+) | PlayNow program; required on PlayNow | Gambling Support BC 1-888-795-6111, 24 hours |
| Québec (18+) | Autoexclusion in the account or in person; breaks of 1 to 89 days | Jeu : aide et référence 1 800 461-0140 |
| Manitoba (18+) | Not confirmed as of 2026-11-13 | Not confirmed as of 2026-11-13 |
Operator tools, such as the limits each registered site offers, are not retold here; they will sit in the responsible gambling tools dataset.
Ontario: BetGuard
BetGuard is a centralized program. The standards were published on 2026-04-02 and the program started on 2026-05-14. Read the steps on betguard.ca; we have not enrolled, so we describe no screens. More: BetGuard in detail.
Alberta, British Columbia, Québec
- Alberta: start at selfexclusion.ca.
- British Columbia: the program sits on PlayNow, run by BCLC. Details of its terms: not confirmed as of 2026-11-13.
- Québec: Loto-Québec lists breaks of 1 to 89 days. A weekly deposit limit is mandatory on its platform, per our reference notes; we could not re-read that page, so confirm it there.
What we could not confirm
- The length of a Québec Autoexclusion term.
- Self-exclusion and help lines for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic Canada and the territories.
- Whether one provincial program covers sites outside its province.
How we checked
- We took names, dates and terms from official program pages.
- We left a cell empty where the page gave no labelled value.
- We did not enrol in any program.
Sources
What changed
- : first version; live walk-through still to do.
FAQ
How long can I self-exclude in Ontario?
Through BetGuard, the terms are 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. BetGuard started on 2026-05-14.
How do I self-exclude in Alberta?
Through selfexclusion.ca, the central program of Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), which applies on registered iGaming sites in the province.
What can I do in Québec?
Loto-Québec offers breaks of 1 to 89 days and an Autoexclusion option. We could not confirm the length of an Autoexclusion term as of 2026-11-13.
Is a break the same as self-exclusion?
No. A break, or time-out, is a short pause you can set yourself. Self-exclusion is a longer ban and is harder to undo.
Who do I call if I need to talk to someone?
Ontario: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 or SMS 247247. BC: Gambling Support BC 1-888-795-6111. Québec: 1 800 461-0140. Alberta: 211.