Responsible Gaming
How to play carefully
Don't think of the game as a way to make money.
Only play with money that you can afford to lose.
Set a limit of money in advance.
Set a time limit in advance.
Don't try to recover your losses.
Don’t play when you are feeling depressed or upset.
Balance the game with other activities.
Do not bring your credit card with you.
Take breaks.
Do not drink or use drugs while playing.
Signs that you are playing in a problematic way
According to the APA, a diagnosis of gambling disorder requires at least four of the following criteria to be met in the past year:
Need to play with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement.
Agitated or irritable when trying to reduce or stop playing.
Repeated and unsuccessful efforts to control, reduce, or stop gambling.
Frequent reflections on gaming (for example, reliving past gaming experiences, planning the next gaming moment, reflecting on the
means of obtaining money to play).
Play frequently when in distress.
Come back frequently to recoup an amount of money after losing it while playing (what is called "wanting to recoup your losses").
Lying to hide gaming activity.
Endangering or losing an important relationship, a job, or an educational or career opportunity because of gambling.
Relying on others to solve one's problems caused by gambling.
You are not alone
Whatever the current prevalence, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from gambling addiction worldwide.
Where to find help
According to the Canadian Safety Council, here are the confidential local helplines, available 24/7, for addiction:
Alberta 1-866-332-2322
British Columbia 1-888-795-6111
Manitoba Gambling Helpline 1-800-463-1554
New Brunswick 1-800-461-1234
Newfoundland and Labrador 1-888-899-4357
Nova Scotia 1-888-347-8888
Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut 1-800-265-3333
Ontario 1-888-230-3505
Prince Edward Island 1-888-299-8399
Quebec 514-527-0140
Montreal and surrounding area 1-800-461-0140 and 1-866-767-5389
Saskatchewan 1-800-306-6789
If you need urgent assistance, please visit your local emergency service or call 911.
For your personal development and for more information, visit http://www.problemgambling.ca/