Our commitment
Every guide on stake.com is written for adults who choose to gamble and want to stay in control. We publish the house edge, wagering requirements and withdrawal times so you know what a game or offer really costs, and we never present a bonus or a strategy as a way to beat the odds. If gambling stops being fun, the most useful thing you can do is pause and talk to someone, and this page shows you how.
Age limits in Canada
Gambling is strictly for adults. The minimum age is 19 in most provinces and territories, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Stake checks your date of birth at registration and confirms it with an identity document at KYC Level 2, and accounts opened by minors are closed.
If a child or teenager shares your device:
- keep your login details private and never save passwords in a shared browser;
- turn on two-factor authentication or passkey sign-in so the account cannot be opened without you;
- install parental-control or blocking software such as Gamban, GamBlock or Net Nanny;
- log out after every session, including in the iOS app.
Recognising problem gambling
Problem gambling often builds slowly. Ask yourself honestly whether any of these sound familiar:
- you spend more money or time than you planned, more than once;
- you chase losses by raising your bets or depositing again;
- you borrow money, use credit or skip bills to keep playing;
- you feel anxious, irritable or low when you cannot gamble;
- you hide your gambling from family or friends;
- gambling affects your sleep, your work or your relationships.
If two or more of these apply, it is a good moment to set limits, take a break or speak to one of the free services listed below. Several of them offer short, confidential self-assessment tests online.
Control tools in your Stake account
Every tool below sits in the Responsible Gambling menu in your Stake account settings, and Stake’s support can help you set any of them through live chat:
- Deposit limits: cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month, in CAD or crypto; a limit takes effect at once, while any increase waits through a 24-hour cool-off;
- Wager and loss limits: set the most you can bet or lose daily, weekly or monthly;
- Product Exclusion: block the casino or the sportsbook on its own, for 24 hours or longer;
- Break in Play: pause your whole account for a day, a week or a month;
- Self-Exclusion: block access indefinitely, with at least six months before the exclusion can be reviewed;
- Account Closure: close the account permanently, after you withdraw your balance.
Two habits make these tools work better. Set your limits before you start playing rather than in the middle of a session. And treat any Vault balance or winnings you plan to withdraw as money you have already taken out.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is the strongest tool available. Once it is active, you cannot log in to place bets or play until the chosen period has passed, and the decision cannot be reversed early. During that time, unsubscribe from gambling newsletters and remove casino apps and bookmarks from your devices.
Several provinces run their own voluntary self-exclusion programmes for their regulated venues and sites. Ask your provincial help line about the options where you live, because combining a provincial programme with Stake’s own Self-Exclusion gives you the widest protection.
Free help in Canada
These services are free, confidential and staffed by trained advisers:
- Ontario: ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600, or text 247247;
- Quebec: Gambling: Help and Referral, 1-800-461-0140;
- British Columbia: Problem Gambling Help Line, 1-888-795-6111;
- Alberta: Addiction Helpline, 1-866-332-2322;
- Manitoba: Addictions Help Line, 1-800-463-1554;
- Saskatchewan: Problem Gambling Help Line, 1-800-306-6789;
- Across Canada: the Responsible Gambling Council keeps a directory of support services in every province and territory.
International support is available as well. Gambling Therapy offers free online chat and forums in several languages, and Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings across Canada and online.
Supporting someone else
If someone close to you is struggling with gambling, talk to them calmly and without blame, and focus on how gambling is affecting them rather than on the amounts lost. The help lines above also advise family members and friends, and many offer separate support sessions for them.
How to get help from us
If you have a question about this page or want us to explain how a Stake control tool works, write to [email protected]. We reply Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 Pacific Time. To set a limit, take a break or self-exclude on your account, contact Stake’s support directly through live chat or [email protected], which answer around the clock.
Gambling is for adults only: 19+, or 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Play responsibly.