01
Sessions run longer than planned
You meant to play for ten minutes and it has been an hour. Time limits exist precisely because this is the easiest sign to miss while it is happening.
18+ only // Play within your limits
Gambling is entertainment. It stops being that quietly.
Nobody decides in advance to play more than they meant to. It happens in small steps, which is why the controls on this site are designed to be set before you need them — and why this page explains what to watch for.
18+
Responsible gambling
01 // The basics
Two things worth being clear about
Neither of these is a warning label bolted onto a product page. They change how a reasonable person plays.
It is a form of entertainment, not a source of income
The money you spend on a ticket is spent, the same way the price of a cinema seat is spent. A win is a possible outcome of that spending, never a plan for covering an expense.
- Decide the amount before you start, not while you are playing.
- Never play with money set aside for rent, bills, food or debt.
- Playing is not a way to solve a financial problem — it usually makes one worse.
Every draw and every ticket is independent
A number that has not come up for months is not "due". A losing streak does not build up credit toward a win. Each draw starts from the same conditions as the last one, and each instant ticket is settled on its own.
- No pattern in past results predicts a future draw.
- Buying more tickets in a row does not improve the odds of the next one.
- No system, service or paid tip sheet can change how a draw works.
02 // Warning signs
What harmful gambling actually looks like
The signs below are the ones people recognise afterwards. Recognising one of them now is worth acting on, even if the rest do not apply.
02
Spending creeps upward
The amount that felt normal a month ago now feels small. Deposits get topped up mid-session rather than decided in advance.
03
Chasing what you lost
Playing to win back an earlier loss is the single clearest warning sign, and the one most likely to escalate quickly.
04
Hiding it from people close to you
Playing in secret, closing the screen when someone walks in, or being vague about how much was spent.
05
Playing to change how you feel
Using gambling to handle stress, boredom, loneliness or a bad day, rather than for the entertainment of the game itself.
06
Borrowing to keep playing
Using credit, an advance, or money borrowed from someone in order to keep playing or to cover what playing has already cost.
If any of this sounds familiar
Noticing it is the hard part
You do not have to reach a crisis point to use the tools on this site, and you do not have to explain yourself to anyone to set a limit, take a break or exclude yourself. Free confidential help is also available anywhere in Québec, whether or not you have an account here.
03 // Your controls
Three separate measures, in order of how binding they are
They are deliberately not variations of one setting. Choose the one that matches the decision you are actually making.
01
Gambling limits
Deposit, wagering and session-time caps. A lower limit applies right away; raising one takes effect only after a delay.
02Breaks
A cooling-off period you choose. Access to play pauses, the account itself stays open.
03Self-exclusion
A formal, binding period. Access is blocked and marketing stops for the whole duration.
04 // Compare
Limits, breaks, self-exclusion and account closure
These four are regularly confused with each other, and the difference matters most at the moment you choose one.
| Measure | What it does | The account | How it ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling limits | Caps deposits, wagers or session time while you keep playing. | Stays open and fully usable within the caps. | You change it. A lower limit applies immediately; an increase takes effect only after a delay. |
| Break | Pauses access to play for a period you choose. | Stays open; you can still sign in to account settings. | Ends on its own when the period runs out. |
| Self-exclusion | Blocks access to play and stops promotional communications. | Access to games is blocked for the whole period. | Only when the period you chose has fully elapsed — it cannot be cancelled early. |
| Account closure | Ends the account relationship entirely. It is an administrative step, not a protective measure. | Closed. | It does not end. Closing an account is not a substitute for self-exclusion — a closed account can be reopened. |
05 // FAQ
Questions people actually ask
No. Limits are a normal part of an account and are treated as such. Nobody reviews them, and setting one has no effect on anything else about the account.
No. That is the point of it: a self-exclusion runs for the whole period you chose and cannot be lifted early. A break behaves the same way once it starts — it is meant for a shorter stretch and ends on its own, not on request.
The specific handling of an account balance and of any participation already under way is set out in the specific online gaming conditions of use, which apply to your account. This page does not restate figures or timelines it cannot confirm.
The helpline below is for anyone affected by someone else’s gambling, not only for the person playing. It is free and confidential anywhere in Québec.
Need to talk to someone
Talking to someone is not a last resort
The helpline is for the person playing and for the people around them. It is free, confidential, available across Québec, and it does not require an account with anyone.
Gambling: Help and Referral — Free and confidential, anywhere in Québec. 1 800 461-0140
aidejeu.caResponsible Gaming certification, World Lottery Association