Gambling Help and OLG My PlayBreak
This page covers where to turn when gambling stops feeling like a night out. It lists the ConnexOntario help line, explains My PlayBreak self-exclusion for casinos, and notes BetGuard for online play.
Casinos and online casino gaming in Ontario are 19+.
Part 1
ConnexOntario: one call, any hour
ConnexOntario answers at 1-866-531-2600, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calling is not the only route. You can text CONNEX to 247247, use live chat or send an email.
The service refers people to help rather than treating them itself. Think of it as a switchboard that knows the options. If the worry is about a partner, parent or friend, the same line is a sensible place to start.
Part 2
My PlayBreak and BetGuard self-exclusion
My PlayBreak is OLG's self-exclusion program. For casinos, start it by calling the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098, emailing [email protected], or asking staff on site. Terms run from 3 months to 5 years.
Casino registration includes a photo. That photo is used with facial recognition cameras at casinos. For OLG.ca, the program sits under the My PlayBreak tab in the account.
Online play elsewhere has its own tool. BetGuard, launched on May 14, 2026, is Ontario's centralized self-exclusion from all regulated online gaming sites. It is open to people 19+, with terms of 6 months to 5 years, through BetGuard.ca.
Part 3
Signs worth taking seriously
- Money set aside for the evening keeps running out, and more gets spent anyway.
- Losses start to feel like something to win back on the next visit.
- Play gets hidden from a partner, family or friends, or the amounts get shaded.
- Borrowing, or dipping into money meant for bills, starts to fund gambling.
- Days without playing bring restlessness or a short temper. Any of these is reason enough to call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.