If it stops being fun, it's time to stop playing.
I review online casinos for a living, and I enjoy playing them. But I also recognize that gambling carries real financial and emotional risk. Every casino on my list of the best online casinos in Canada has been tested for responsible gambling tools — and this page exists because those tools only work if players know about them and know when to use them.
This isn't a legal disclaimer buried in the footer. It's a genuine resource I've put together for Canadian players who want to stay in control of their gambling.
Gambling becomes a problem when it stops being a choice. Here are signs that your relationship with gambling may need attention.
Depositing more money to win back what you've lost. This is the single most common pattern in problem gambling — and the most financially destructive. If you find yourself thinking "one more deposit will turn it around," that's the moment to stop.
Using rent money, bill money, or borrowed money to gamble. Entertainment budgets exist for a reason. If you're diverting money from necessities, the gambling has crossed a line regardless of whether you think you'll win it back.
Lying to family, friends, or partners about how much time or money you spend gambling. Secrecy is a strong indicator that you already know the behavior isn't healthy.
Setting a limit before a session and consistently exceeding it. Telling yourself "just five more minutes" or "just one more spin" repeatedly. If you can't walk away when you planned to, that's a loss of control.
Missing work, skipping social commitments, or ignoring personal obligations because of gambling. When gambling takes priority over the rest of your life, it's become a problem.
Gambling to cope with stress, anxiety, boredom, or depression. Using gambling as an escape rather than entertainment is a pattern that escalates quickly.
If you recognize yourself in any of these descriptions, please reach out to one of the support resources listed below. There's no shame in asking for help — the only mistake is waiting too long.
Answer honestly. These questions are adapted from the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI), used by health professionals across Canada.
Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
Have people criticized your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem?
Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
If you answered "yes" to even one of these questions, consider setting stricter limits on your gambling or speaking to a professional. If you answered "yes" to three or more, please contact one of the support services below.
I test these at every casino I review — it's step 8 of my review process. Here's what to look for and how to use them.
Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month. Once you hit the limit, the casino blocks further deposits until the period resets. Set this before your first session — not after a losing streak.
My recommendation: Set a weekly limit that you'd be comfortable losing entirely. If losing that amount would affect your daily life, the limit is too high.
Separate from deposit limits, these cap your net losses over a period. Even if you've deposited under your limit, the casino stops you from playing once losses hit the threshold. Not all casinos offer this — the ones that do earn extra points in my reviews.
Set a reminder that pops up after a certain amount of playing time — typically 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Some casinos make these easy to dismiss (bad). The best implementations pause your gameplay and require you to actively choose to continue.
Periodic popups showing your session duration, total wagered, and net win/loss. Ontario-licensed casinos are required to offer these. When you see you've been playing for 3 hours and are down C$200, it's much harder to tell yourself "just five more minutes."
Temporary self-exclusion lasting 24 hours to 6 months. Your account is locked for the duration and you cannot access games or deposit funds. Use this when you feel yourself losing control but aren't ready for permanent exclusion.
Close your account permanently with no option to reopen. This is the nuclear option — and sometimes it's the right one. Every legitimate casino must offer this. If a casino makes it difficult to self-exclude, that tells you everything about their priorities.
Free, confidential help is available 24/7. You don't need to have hit rock bottom to reach out.
Ontario's addiction helpline. Free, confidential support for gambling, drugs, alcohol, and mental health. Available 24/7 in English and French.
connexontario.caCanada's leading organization for responsible gambling research, education, and treatment referrals. Extensive self-help tools and resources.
responsiblegambling.orgPeer support meetings (in-person and online) for anyone affected by gambling. Free and anonymous. No commitment required — just show up.
gacanada.caFree, confidential support for Albertans. Counselling referrals, self-help resources, and family support. As a fellow Albertan, this is the number I'd call first.
albertahealthservices.caUK-based but serves international players. Comprehensive online support tools, live chat, and self-assessment resources. Particularly useful if you play at UK-licensed casinos.
gamcare.org.ukEducation, prevention, and treatment resources. Their website includes interactive tools for tracking gambling habits and setting personal budgets.
begambleaware.orgI deposit my own money at every casino I review. I have a strict personal budget for testing — C$100-200 per casino, tracked in a spreadsheet, never exceeded. I treat it as a business expense, not entertainment spending. You can read the full breakdown in my review methodology.
I've seen what problem gambling looks like. During my years of reviewing, I've received emails from readers who lost more than they could afford at casinos I recommended. Those emails weigh on me, and they're part of why I evaluate responsible gambling tools so seriously in every review.
Here are my personal rules that I recommend to every reader:
Online gambling is restricted to adults aged 19+ in most Canadian provinces. If you are under the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction, do not use any of the casinos reviewed on this site.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, please reach out to any of the resources listed above. Help is free, confidential, and available right now. If you have questions about the casinos reviewed on this site, visit our contact page.