Gambling Help Lines in Canada by Province

If you or someone close to you is worried about gambling, help in Canada is free, confidential and available in every province and territory — and most lines answer 24 hours a day. This page is a verified directory of the problem gambling help lines across Canada, from ConnexOntario in Ontario to the crisis lines that serve the northern territories, together with the national services anyone can reach. Use it to find the right number quickly, understand what happens when you call, and know who can reach out — you do not have to be the person gambling to ask for help.

Canada’s gambling help lines at a glance

Every Canadian province runs a dedicated problem gambling help line, and the three territories are served by general crisis and wellness lines that also handle gambling. The quickest way to reach support right now is to call or text 988, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, or your provincial number in the table below. All of the provincial gambling lines are free and confidential, and most operate around the clock. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 first.

A help line is often the simplest first step because a trained counsellor can listen, explain your options and connect you to local treatment without any paperwork, cost or obligation. You can also learn more about the wider picture of responsible gambling in Canada, including self-exclusion and the warning signs to watch for.

Gambling help lines in Canada by province and territory

The table below lists the main problem gambling help line for each province and the general help line that serves each territory. Every number was confirmed against official government or health-authority sources in October 2026 (see the Sources list at the end). Numbers do occasionally change, so if a line does not connect, dial 988 or 2-1-1 and ask to be directed to local gambling support.

Two details are worth flagging. First, Manitoba runs a dedicated 24-hour problem gambling line (1-800-463-1554) that is separate from its general addictions helpline — use the gambling number for gambling concerns. Second, the three territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon) do not operate gambling-specific lines; their crisis and wellness lines handle gambling alongside other mental-health and addiction concerns and can refer you to counselling.

What is a problem gambling help line?

A problem gambling help line is a free phone service — often with text and online chat options — staffed by trained counsellors who support people affected by gambling. The counsellor who answers is not there to judge or to make you stop; their job is to listen, give you accurate information and help you find the next step that fits your situation.

In practice, these lines do four main things:

• Information: answering questions about gambling, its risks and the help that exists.
• Short-term support: talking through a difficult moment, including crisis intervention when someone is distressed.
• Referrals: connecting callers to free local counselling, treatment programs and peer-support groups.
• Support for families: helping partners, parents and friends who are worried about someone else’s gambling.

How Canada’s gambling help lines work

What happens when you call?

When you call, a trained counsellor or navigator answers and asks what brought you to the line today. There is no script you have to follow and no form to fill in before you can talk. You can stay anonymous, describe as much or as little as you want, and the counsellor will either talk things through with you on the spot or point you to a service near you, such as free counselling, a treatment program or a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Many lines, including Saskatchewan’s, offer short-term counselling over the phone as well as referrals.

Is it free and confidential?

Yes — every provincial gambling help line in Canada is free to call and confidential. You do not need a doctor’s referral, a diagnosis or health insurance, and in most provinces you do not need to give your name. Several lines, including British Columbia’s and Quebec’s, also offer multilingual support, and Ontario’s ConnexOntario and Manitoba’s AFM line can arrange interpretation in many languages.

Can I call about someone else’s gambling?

Yes. You do not have to be the person gambling, and you do not have to be in crisis, to use these lines. Provinces such as Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island specifically encourage family members, friends and co-workers to call when they are worried about someone else. If you are unsure whether a situation “counts,” that uncertainty is itself a good reason to make the call.

Can I text or chat instead of calling?

In many provinces, yes. ConnexOntario lets you text CONNEX to 247247 or chat online, Saskatchewan offers a text line and live chat during set hours, and Quebec’s service added online chat in 2024. The national 988 line also accepts texts — text the word START to 988. Text and chat hours can be narrower than the 24-hour phone line, so if you need help immediately, calling is the most reliable option.

National gambling and crisis resources in Canada

988 Suicide Crisis Helpline

988 is Canada’s national suicide and crisis line, reachable from anywhere in the country by calling or texting 988, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is for anyone having thoughts of suicide or in emotional distress, including distress connected to gambling debts or losses. The service is free, available in English and French, and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). If you cannot dial 988, the backup number 1-833-456-4566 works across Canada.

Hope for Wellness Helpline (First Nations, Inuit and Metis)

The Hope for Wellness Helpline offers free, 24/7 counselling and crisis support to all Indigenous people in Canada at 1-855-242-3310, with online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. Telephone and chat support are available in English and French, and counselling in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut can be arranged on request. It is a culturally grounded option for anyone who would prefer to talk with a counsellor who understands their community and context.

Gamblers Anonymous and peer support

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a free, confidential peer-support fellowship with in-person and online meetings across Canada. It is not a help line, but most provincial help lines can tell you where and when the nearest GA meeting takes place. Peer support can sit alongside counselling rather than replacing it — many people use both.

GameSense, self-exclusion and the lottery corporations

Provincial lottery and gaming corporations run their own harm-reduction programs, such as BCLC’s GameSense, which explains how games work and points players to support. These bodies also operate voluntary self-exclusion programs that let you bar yourself from casinos and online sites. Self-exclusion is a separate tool from a help line, but the two work well together; the responsible-gambling hub covers how it fits into the bigger picture.

When should you contact a gambling help line?

You should contact a help line as soon as gambling starts to feel like a problem — you do not need to wait until it becomes a crisis. Common warning signs that it is time to reach out include:

• Spending more money or time gambling than you planned, or trying to win back losses (“chasing”).
• Borrowing money, selling things or falling behind on bills to keep gambling.
• Hiding or lying about how much you gamble.
• Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling, or gambling to escape stress.
• Gambling affecting your work, studies, sleep or relationships.
• Being a family member who feels worried, deceived or financially strained by someone else’s gambling.

If any of these feel familiar, a short, free phone call is a low-stakes way to talk it through. It helps to understand how casino games and the house edge actually work, because recognising that the odds always favour the house over time can make it easier to step back from chasing losses.

Common mistakes people make when reaching out for help

The biggest mistake is waiting too long — many people delay calling until debts or relationships are already in crisis, when help is most useful early. Other common mistakes include:

• Assuming the line is only for the gambler. Family and friends can and should call; worrying about someone else is a valid reason.
• Believing you must be “bad enough” to qualify. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis — these lines are for questions and early concerns too.
• Using the wrong number in Manitoba. The general addictions line and the problem gambling line are different; for gambling, call 1-800-463-1554.
• Looking for a way to win it back. No help line, system or “strategy” improves your odds; the only reliable way to stop losses is to stop gambling and get support.
• Relying on text or chat in an emergency. Chat hours can be limited; if you need help right now, call the phone line or 988.
• Stopping after one call. A single call is a start, not the whole plan — follow up on the counselling or self-exclusion options the line suggests.

How we verify these help line numbers

We confirm every number on this page against official sources — provincial governments, health authorities and the national services themselves — and re-check them when we update the page. Gambling in Canada is regulated province by province, so help lines, programs and even the legal gambling age differ across the country; you can read more about how gambling is regulated in Canada and about land-based casinos across the provinces. Casinos of Canada is an independent, information-only reference with no affiliate links or paid placement; our full editorial and fact-checking policy explains how we source and correct this material. If you spot a number that has changed, please tell us so we can fix it.

Disclaimer

This page is for information only. It is not medical, legal or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for professional help. The help line numbers listed here are operated by the named organisations, not by Casinos of Canada; we do not provide counselling, treatment or crisis services. In an emergency, or if someone is at risk of harm, call 9-1-1. For immediate emotional or crisis support anywhere in Canada, call or text 988. The legal gambling age in Canada is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. If gambling is causing harm, contact the help line for your province above or ask about voluntary self-exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the gambling helpline number in Canada?

There is no single national gambling number, because each province runs its own line. The fastest national option is 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, which you can call or text 24/7. For gambling-specific help, use your provincial number — for example ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 in Ontario — from the table above.

What is the ConnexOntario number?

ConnexOntario answers at 1-866-531-2600, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The line is free and confidential and covers addiction, mental health and problem gambling across Ontario. You can also text CONNEX to 247247 or use the online chat at connexontario.ca.

Are gambling help lines in Canada free and confidential?

Yes. Every provincial problem gambling help line in Canada is free to call and confidential. You do not need a referral, a diagnosis or health insurance, and in most provinces you can stay anonymous. Many lines also offer multilingual support and text or chat options.

Can I call a gambling help line about a family member?

Yes. Help lines support anyone affected by gambling, not only the person gambling. Partners, parents, friends and co-workers are specifically encouraged to call for information, advice and referrals, and you do not have to be in a crisis to reach out.

What help is available in the territories?

The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon do not have gambling-specific lines, but general crisis and wellness lines handle gambling and can refer you to counselling: the NWT Help Line (1-800-661-0844), Nunavut’s Kamatsiaqtut Help Line (1-800-265-3333) and Yukon’s CMHA Reach Out Support Line (1-844-533-3030). The national 988 and Hope for Wellness lines also serve the North.