Help with gambling in Ontario is free and confidential. It does not depend on which casino someone visits or which online site they use.
ConnexOntario, at any hour
ConnexOntario offers free, confidential help 24/7. There are three ways to reach it: call 1-866-531-2600, text CONNEX to 247247, or start a chat at connexontario.ca. A text or chat can be easier for someone who would rather not talk on the phone. The service is open at any hour, so there is no need to wait for a weekday.
In a crisis, call 988. The Suicide Crisis Helpline answers that number 24/7, and it is the right call when someone's safety is at risk.
PlaySmart Centres
PlaySmart Centres are at every OLG casino in Ontario. They are run with the Responsible Gambling Council. It is also one of the places to enrol in My PlayBreak.
For people away from a casino, the virtual PlaySmart Centre answers 7 days a week, with hours running from 11 am until 7 pm. Its number is 1-833-888-2306. Outside those hours, ConnexOntario answers at any time, by phone, text or chat.
Taking a break
My PlayBreak is OLG's self-exclusion program for casinos. The length is chosen by the person: either 3 or 6 months, or a span between 1 and 5 years. A casino break bars entry to any Ontario casino, not only the one where it was arranged. To enrol, people contact the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098, via on-site staff, or by visiting a PlaySmart Centre.
A term cannot be ended early after it has been set. That fixed length is part of how the program works, so the choice of term deserves some thought.
BetGuard applies to regulated online play instead. Since May 14, 2026, the program has been run by iGaming Ontario. Through it, anyone can lock themselves out of Ontario's regulated online gambling, OLG.ca too, for a self-chosen span or a set term of 5 years, 6 months or 1 year. The program is found at betguard.ca. BetGuard does not cover land-based casinos, so someone stepping away from both needs both programs.
Questions
Is ConnexOntario only for gambling?
This guide lists ConnexOntario for gambling help, which it offers free and confidentially 24/7. What else the service covers can be checked at connexontario.ca or by calling 1-866-531-2600.
Can a My PlayBreak term be shortened?
A My PlayBreak term cannot be cancelled early. Whatever length is set at enrolment stays in force; the choices run from 1 to 5 years, or else 3 months or 6 months.
Does BetGuard cover casinos?
BetGuard does not cover land-based casinos. It applies to regulated Ontario online gambling sites, including OLG.ca. For casinos, the matching program is OLG's My PlayBreak.