Free Help and Game Break in B.C.
This page covers two things worth knowing before any casino visit. One is a free phone line for gambling worries. The other is Game Break, a way to ask to be kept out of casinos in B.C.
Gambling Support BC: 1-888-795-6111
Gambling Support BC answers at 1-888-795-6111. The call is free and confidential. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the hour never matters.
The line is not only for the person who gambles. If you are worried about a partner, a parent or a friend, you can call too. You do not need a plan or the right words. You can simply say what is going on.
Game Break in plain words
Game Break is BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program. Self-exclusion means you ask to be kept out of casinos, by your own choice.
Enrolment happens in person. You can do it at any casino, community gaming centre or commercial bingo hall. Bring government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence. A GameSense Advisor or a staff member walks you through it and takes your photo.
Since June 26, 2023, every person entering a B.C. casino must show government-issued photo ID. Security scans it at the door and checks it against the list of restricted people, including those enrolled in Game Break. For people who are let in, the system does not save personal information.
Does calling Gambling Support BC cost anything?
No, the call is free. It is also confidential, and the line at 1-888-795-6111 is open 24/7.
Can you enrol in Game Break at Starlight Casino?
Yes, enrolment works in person at any casino, and Starlight is a casino. Bring government-issued photo ID. A GameSense Advisor or staff member will guide you and take a photo.