Responsible Gaming

Introduction

Gambling should be a form of entertainment, never a way to earn money or solve financial problems. Always play within your means and treat losses as the cost of the experience. If gambling stops being fun, take a break and seek help.

Age Verification

You must be at least 18 years old — or meet the higher minimum legal gambling age in your province or territory — to access any gambling service in Canada. For example, the legal age is 19 in British Columbia, Ontario, and many other regions. We strongly encourage all players to verify their age and comply with local laws. Underage gambling is illegal and harmful.

Warning Signs of Problem Gambling

Recognizing the early signs can prevent serious harm. Ask yourself if you have experienced any of the following:

• Chasing losses by continuing to gamble to win back money you lost.
• Hiding your gambling activity from family or friends.
• Spending more time or money on gambling than you intended.
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling.
• Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or stop.
• Neglecting work, school, or family responsibilities because of gambling.
• Using gambling as a way to escape from stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Lying to others about how much you gamble or how much you lose.

Self-Help Tools

Many platforms, including Stake, offer built-in tools to help you stay in control. Use these features proactively:

• Deposit limits: Set daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much you can add to your account.
• Loss limits: Set a maximum amount you are willing to lose within a specific period.
• Reality checks: Enable pop-up reminders that show how long you have been playing and how much you have spent.
• Self-exclusion: Temporarily or permanently block your own access to gambling services. This is a powerful step if you feel your gambling is becoming problematic.

Read the terms and settings on your account to locate these tools, or contact customer support for assistance in activating them.

Support Organizations

If you or someone you know needs help, these organizations provide free, confidential support:

• Canada: Responsible Gambling Council — www.responsiblegambling.org
• UK: GamCare — www.gamcare.org.uk
• UK: GamStop — www.gamstop.co.uk
• Australia: Gambling Help Online — www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
• US: National Council on Problem Gambling — www.ncpgambling.org
• Germany: Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) — www.bzga.de
• Other regions: Contact your local national gambling support hotline or health service. A quick online search for "problem gambling help [your country]" will connect you with the most relevant organization.

Call to Action

If you recognize any warning signs in yourself or a loved one, please seek help today. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. Speak with a trusted friend, family member, or contact one of the support organizations listed above. Help is available, and recovery is possible.