Help
Taking a break from gambling in BC
In British Columbia, gambling help costs nothing and is available round the clock. This page sets out where to find it, by phone, online and inside every casino.
Gambling Support BC and GameSense
Gambling Support BC gives free help at 1-888-795-6111, day and night, all week. 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.
Every casino in BC, from Elements Casino Surrey to Parq in Vancouver, has a GameSense Advisor on hand. Talking to one does not require a phone call or a website.
GameBreak self-exclusion
With BCLC's GameBreak program, a person can bar themselves from BC casinos and community gaming centres. A term can be 3 years, 2 years, 1 year or 6 months. The exclusion also covers PlayNow.com for the same period. The chosen term is fixed and cannot be altered afterwards.
GameBreak does not cover private online sites. Entry at Elements Casino Surrey involves a scan of government-issued photo ID against GameBreak and restricted lists; the ID is not kept. 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.
