Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not income, not a strategy and not a way out of a financial problem. If it has started to feel like any of those, that is the signal to stop and talk to someone.
Warning signs worth taking seriously. Betting more than you planned to. Chasing a loss with a bigger stake. Gambling with money meant for something else. Hiding how much you play. Feeling you need to gamble to feel normal. Borrowing to keep playing.
Tools available in almost every cashier. Deposit limits, which take effect immediately when lowered and after a cooling-off period when raised. Loss limits. Session reminders. Timeouts from 24 hours to several weeks. Self-exclusion for longer or permanent closure. And the no-reversal setting, which stops a pending withdrawal being cancelled and played back.
Free confidential help in Canada. ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 operates around the clock for Ontario. Every other province runs an equivalent service, and the Responsible Gambling Council publishes provincial contacts. None of them require an account, a wait or a payment, and they will speak to family members as well as players.
If you are reading this because of someone else, you do not need their permission to ask for advice on your own behalf.