Responsible Gambling

Casino games should be approached as paid entertainment rather than as a way to make money or solve financial problems.

Decide what role gambling has in the visit before you start. It can be one part of an evening that also includes food, conversation, time with friends or simply leaving when you have had enough.

A good visit does not depend on how long you play or whether you finish ahead.

Choose an amount you are comfortable spending on entertainment before gambling begins.

That amount should be separate from money needed for housing, food, bills, transportation, savings, debt payments or other obligations.

Once the planned gambling budget is used, treat that as the end of the session rather than as a reason to increase the limit.

Avoid borrowing money, using credit intended for essential expenses or moving money from another commitment in order to continue playing.

Time can become difficult to track when attention stays focused on repeated rounds, spins or decisions.

Set a time limit before you start and check the time during the visit instead of relying only on how long the session feels.

When the planned time has passed, step away and decide whether the evening should move on to something else.

A break should create genuine distance from the next wager.

Leave the gaming area for a while, sit down for food, have a conversation or focus on another part of the visit.

Breaks can help you notice whether you are still following the limits you set or whether the session has started to feel more urgent than enjoyable.

A previous loss does not create an obligation for a future game to return that money.

Increasing wagers, extending the session or continuing only because you want to recover what has already been lost can quickly move gambling away from entertainment.

If the main reason for continuing is “to get the money back,” that is a strong reason to stop the session.

Avoid gambling when you are highly stressed, angry, exhausted, emotionally distressed or otherwise unable to make deliberate decisions.

Alcohol and other impairing substances can reduce judgment and make personal limits harder to follow.

If your ability to make clear decisions is affected, gambling should wait.

Different games use different rules, wager structures and payout conditions.

Before playing, understand the basic objective, the amount being wagered and what determines the result.

For slot machines, check the denomination, total wager, paytable and feature rules. For table or electronic games, understand the available betting options and game procedure.

Knowing how a game works does not change the uncertainty of the result, but it can help you make more informed decisions.

Gambling may be becoming harmful if it repeatedly begins to conflict with money, relationships, responsibilities or emotional well-being.

Warning signs can include:

• spending more money than originally planned;
• regularly gambling for longer than intended;
• chasing losses or increasing wagers in an attempt to recover money;
• borrowing money or using funds intended for essential expenses;
• hiding the amount of time or money spent gambling;
• missing work, appointments or personal responsibilities because of gambling;
• experiencing conflict with family or friends about gambling;
• feeling restless, distressed or unable to stop even when you want to.

One warning sign is enough to deserve attention. You do not need to wait for several problems to appear before changing your behaviour or asking for help.

Self-exclusion is intended for people who want a formal barrier between themselves and gambling access.

If you are considering self-exclusion, speak with casino staff about the process, the restrictions that apply and the available responsible-gambling information.

Self-exclusion should be treated as an access restriction, not simply as a way to stop receiving promotions.

If a self-exclusion arrangement applies to you, do not attempt to bypass it by using another person's membership, account, identification or access.

If gambling is causing financial, personal or emotional harm, stopping and seeking support is appropriate.

You can speak with casino staff about responsible-gambling information and available support options.

You may also choose to contact an appropriate health, counselling or responsible-gambling service in your area.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing an urgent mental-health crisis, contact emergency or crisis-support services appropriate to your location.

Gambling-related harm can affect partners, family members and friends as well as the person who is gambling.

If someone close to you is borrowing money, hiding gambling activity, repeatedly chasing losses or allowing gambling to interfere with everyday responsibilities, take those changes seriously.

You do not need to finance another person's gambling or help them bypass limits, account restrictions or self-exclusion.

Support services can also be useful for family members and others affected by another person's gambling.

Casino access in Ontario is restricted to guests who meet the applicable minimum age requirement.

Sudbury Casino identifies casino access as 19+ and guests may be required to present valid identification.

Do not provide identification, membership credentials, funds or other assistance intended to help an underage person bypass casino restrictions.

Do not allow another person to use your membership, account, payment method or identification to avoid a restriction.

Keep payment information, passwords and other account access secure.

If a gaming or membership service has its own account controls or responsible-gambling tools, use those controls according to the rules of that service.

Selecting Play Now may take you away from the Sudbury Casino website to a separate gaming destination or service.

Responsible-gambling tools, limits, account controls and eligibility requirements available there are determined by that service.

Review the responsible-gambling information and controls provided by the destination before using its gaming features.

Sudbury Casino presents gambling as one part of an entertainment experience, not as a financial strategy.

Responsible gambling means understanding the game, choosing limits before play begins, staying aware of time and spending, taking breaks and being willing to stop.

The point is not to play for as long as possible. It is to keep control of the decision to play at all.