How do I self-exclude from online casinos as an Ottawa player?

Say you've decided you need a real break — not just closing a tab, but a genuine, enforced step away from online gambling. Ontario's regulated market now has exactly the right tool for that, and it covers every licensed site in the province with a single registration.

BetGuard: one request, every regulated site

BetGuard is a tool that enables individuals aged 19 and older to voluntarily opt out of all Ontario regulated online gaming platforms through one online portal. That's the key practical point for Ottawa players: you don't need to track down each operator individually and submit separate requests. By opting out through BetGuard.ca, players are prevented from accessing their existing accounts, creating new accounts, or receiving marketing communications from any regulated igaming site in Ontario.

The dedicated website allows anyone 19 and older to opt out in a few minutes without visiting individual igaming sites, and it incorporates all igaming websites in Ontario's regulated market, including OLG's. Available terms are 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or a custom term. That flexibility matters — a custom term means you're not locked into a preset bracket if your situation calls for something different.

How to spot a regulated site before you start

If you're unsure whether a site you've been using is actually part of Ontario's regulated market, there's a quick visual check. Every internet gaming website offered by a fully registered and approved operator in Ontario displays both the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos. Seeing those logos tells you the site is managed by iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO — a clear signal you're on a secure, regulated platform. If those logos aren't there, the site is not part of Ontario's licensed market, and a BetGuard exclusion won't reach it.

Operator-level tools still exist alongside BetGuard

All igaming operators in Ontario participate in BetGuard, but operators are also required to have their own self-exclusion program that meets the requirements set out in the AGCO Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming. In practice, this means each licensed site has its own in-account controls — spending limits, time limits, short cooling-off periods — that you can use for lighter-touch management. At a minimum, operators must provide spend-limit and time-limit setting tools and the ability to take a short-term break or to self-exclude for a longer term. BetGuard is the nuclear option that covers everything at once; individual operator tools are the day-to-day layer underneath it.

What to do right now

• Go to BetGuard.ca and create an account — you'll need to verify your identity as part of the setup process.
• Choose your exclusion term: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or a custom duration.
• Once enrolled, operators are informed not to send direct marketing to individuals who have opted out — so the emails stop too.
• If you want to confirm which sites fall under the exclusion, the full list of regulated operators is maintained at igamingontario.ca.

If you or someone you know wants to talk through what's going on before making any decisions, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) offers free, confidential support around gambling and mental health — available 24/7.