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Responsible Gambling in Canada

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By BetCanada Editorial Staff
July 18, 2025 09:26am

Canada's gambling landscape has transformed dramatically since the legalization of single-event sports betting in 2021. With approximately 19.3 million active online gamblers and over $63 billion wagered in Ontario alone during 2023-24, responsible gambling has become a critical public health priority. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) emphasizes that increased gambling availability correlates with heightened participation rates and associated harms, particularly affecting youth, young adults, Indigenous peoples, and South Asian communities. Our team at BetCanada takes this very seriously when reporting on or reviewing sportsbook and casino operators. We Make sure to include important responsible gambling terms at the bottom of every review. Read on to learn more about responsible gambling initiatives throughout the country.

National Responsible Gambling Initiatives

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addition leads Canada's federal responsible gambling efforts through evidence-based initiatives and advocacy. Their most well known program, the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines , represents the world's first evidence-based gambling guidelines, developed through international collaboration with over 60,000 participants across eight countries.
 

Guidelines:

  • Don't bet more than 1% of household income before tax per month
  • Don't gamble more than 4 times per month
  • Don't play at more than 2 types of games if gambling regularly
  • Interactive Risk Assessment Tool: gamblingguidelines.ca

CCSA Contact Information:

Federal Legislation

  • Bill C-218 (Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act) passed in 2021, enabling provinces to conduct single-event sports betting. 
  • Currently, Bill S-269 proposes a National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act to limit gambling advertising visibility and restrict celebrity endorsements.
    The Competition Bureau oversees advertising standards
  • Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulates broadcasting content. 
  • Canada lacks a unified federal gambling regulator, with the CCSA calling for a pan-Canadian strategy to address gambling-related harm through national standards and systematic monitoring.
     

Major Online Gambling Operators And Their Programs

Canada's regulated online gambling market features both international operators and provincial platforms, each required to meet stringent responsible gambling standards. The following section examines the responsible gambling programs of major operators serving Canadian players, both international and provincial monopolies.

International operators

Leading international sportsbooks and online casinos operating in Canada have established industry-leading responsible gambling programs that often exceed regulatory requirements from a province. It is good to get yourself familiar with the initiatives at each operator you play on. These operators leverage global technological innovations to provide players with state of the art tools for managing their gambling behavior.

bet365 Casino & Sportsbook Responsible Gambling Initiatives

  • Comprehensive responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, session limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion
  • RG Check Accreditation for Ontario operations
  • 24/7 customer service with responsible gambling focus
  • Multi-language support in over 20 languages (English & French most importantly)

DraftKings Casino & Sportsbook Responsible Gambling Initiatives

  • Deposit limits, wagering limits, time limits, and cool-off periods
  • RG Check compliance for Ontario market
  • Comprehensive player education resources
  • Temporary and permanent self-exclusion options

FanDuel Casino & Sportsbook Responsible Gambling Initiatives

  • Full suite of responsible gaming tools including contest entry alerts
  • Flexible time-out periods and reality checks
  • Direct integration with problem gambling support services
  • RG Check certified

BetMGM Casino & Sportsbook Responsible Gambling Initiatives

  • Player protection through loss limits and account monitoring
  • RG Check certification achieved
  • Proactive identification of problematic gambling patterns
  • Extensive responsible gambling educational content
     

Caesars Casino & Sportsbook Responsible Gambling Initiatives

  • Achieved RG Check certification in 2024
  • Comprehensive staff training on responsible gambling
  • Public awareness campaigns and research funding
  • Full suite of player protection tools

Author

BetCanada Editorial Staff
BetCanada Editorial Staff
Fact Checker

BetCanada Editorial Staff is a team of gambling experts that research, review, and test online gambling products to provide unbiased perspectives to Canadians.