Responsible Gambling

Gambling should always be entertainment — never a way to make money, and never something that costs you more than you can afford to lose. This page explains the warning signs of problem gambling, the tools available to help you stay in control, and where to find free, confidential support in Ireland and Canada.

Signs to watch for

Problem gambling can develop gradually, and it’s not always obvious from the inside. Some common signs:

Spending more money or time gambling than you intended, or than you can afford
Chasing losses — gambling more to try to win back what you’ve lost
Borrowing money, or selling things, to fund gambling
Neglecting work, family, or personal responsibilities because of gambling
Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when you’re not gambling
Being secretive with family or friends about how much you gamble or spend

If several of these sound familiar — to you or someone you care about — it’s worth reaching out to one of the resources below. There’s no shame in it, and every service listed here is free and confidential.

Tools to help you stay in control

Every casino and sportsbook we review is checked for the presence of these tools. Most licensed operators offer some or all of the following directly in your account settings:

Deposit limits — cap how much you can add to your account daily, weekly, or monthly
Loss limits — cap how much you can lose in a given period
Session time limits — automatic reminders or cut-offs after a set amount of time playing
Cooling-off periods — temporary breaks, typically from 24 hours up to 6 months
Self-exclusion — block yourself from an operator (or, where available, from all licensed operators) for a set period or indefinitely
Reality checks — pop-up reminders showing how long you’ve been playing and your current win/loss

We recommend setting deposit and loss limits before you start playing, not after — they’re far more effective as a guardrail than as a reaction.

Getting help in Ireland

Problem Gambling Ireland / GamblingCare.ie Freephone helpline: 1800 936 725 Free, confidential support, advocacy, and referrals into counselling, group programmes, and residential treatment where needed. Visit gamblingcare.ie for current hours and full details.

Gamblers Anonymous Ireland gamblersanonymous.ie Free peer-support meetings, in person and online, across Ireland. Dublin: 01 872 1133 (regional numbers available on their site).

Extern Problem Gambling problemgambling.ie · +353 (0)89 241 5401 Free, specialist counselling for anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, anywhere on the island of Ireland.

Gam-Anon Support specifically for the families and friends of people affected by gambling — problem gambling rarely affects just one person.

Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) grai.ie maintains an up-to-date list of gambling addiction support services, including regional counselling and treatment options. A National Gambling Exclusion Register — a single self-exclusion covering all GRAI-licensed operators, similar to the UK’s GAMSTOP — is being developed under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and is expected to launch alongside the full licensing framework.

Getting help in Canada

Gambling support in Canada is organized provincially rather than through one national hotline — but every province has a free, confidential service, and there’s a strong national resource to help you find the right one for where you are.

Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) responsiblegambling.org Canada’s leading independent authority on responsible gambling. Their site will point you to your province’s specific helpline, connect you with a gambling counsellor, or direct you to GamTalk, a peer-support community for people affected by gambling.

Ontario — ConnexOntario A free, confidential helpline available 24/7 with service in 170 languages, plus support booking your first counselling appointment. Visit connexontario.ca for current contact details. Ontario also offers BetGuard, a free centralized self-exclusion tool from iGaming Ontario covering all regulated online gambling sites in the province — anyone 19+ can opt out for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or a custom term, no player account required.

Other provinces: the Responsible Gambling Council’s site lists the specific helpline and self-exclusion program for every province — start there if you’re outside Ontario.

Supporting someone else

If you’re worried about someone else’s gambling, approach it with empathy rather than judgment — name specific behaviours you’ve noticed rather than making it about them as a person, and offer to help them find support rather than trying to solve it yourself. Both Gam-Anon (Ireland) and the Responsible Gambling Council (Canada) have resources specifically for family and friends, not just the person gambling.

In an emergency

If you or someone else is in immediate crisis, contact emergency services directly — 999 or 112 in Ireland, 911 in Canada — or a crisis line such as Samaritans (Ireland, 24/7 emotional support) rather than a gambling-specific helpline.

This page is provided for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical or financial advice. Resources and contact details are current as of the last review of this page and may change — please verify directly with the relevant organization if a number or link doesn’t work as expected.