Help
Taking a break from gambling in BC
Help with gambling in British Columbia is free and open at any hour of the day. This page sets out where to find it, by phone, online and inside every casino.
Gambling Support BC and GameSense
Gambling Support BC offers free help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-795-6111. The same service is available online at gamblingsupportbc.ca. It is open to any resident of British Columbia. That includes people affected by someone else's gambling, not only the person who gambles.
A GameSense Advisor is available in every casino in BC, from Elements Casino Surrey to Parq in Vancouver. Talking to one does not require a phone call or a website.
GameBreak self-exclusion
BCLC's GameBreak program lets a person exclude themselves from casinos and community gaming centres in BC. Terms run for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years. The exclusion also covers PlayNow.com for the same period. Once a term is chosen, it cannot be changed.
GameBreak does not cover private online sites. At Elements Casino Surrey, government-issued photo ID is scanned at entry against GameBreak and restricted lists, and it is not retained. Minors may not be present in a casino or bingo facility in BC. The minimum age for casinos and online gambling is 19.
Before and during a visit
- Set a time limit and a spending amount before leaving home, and keep to both.
- Step away from the gaming floor at intervals, for a meal or a walk outside.
- Ask for the GameSense Advisor, who is available in every casino in BC.
- Call Gambling Support BC free at 1-888-795-6111 at any hour, or visit gamblingsupportbc.ca.