PowerPlay Responsible Gambling

PowerPlay Responsible Gambling explains the safer play tools built into every account and the free Canadian support services available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Play at PowerPlay

Most people who play at PowerPlay do so for fun and never run into trouble. A minority do, and we treat that seriously. Every page on the site links back here and every account has the same safer play tools built in by default. If you only read one page on PowerPlay, please make it this one.

What safer play tools does PowerPlay offer?

Inside your account settings you will find deposit limits, loss limits, wager limits and session time limits. Set any of them per day, per week or per month. Reductions take effect immediately. Increases require a 24 hour cooling off period before they apply. You can also set a reality check pop-up at 15, 30 or 60 minute intervals, take a cool-off of 24 hours up to six weeks or fully self-exclude for six months, one year or five years. None of these tools cost anything to use and none of them require a phone call to support. Casino and sports share the same set of limits, so anything you set applies to both verticals.

How do I tell if my play has become a problem?

Common warning signs include chasing losses, lying about how much time or money you spend, borrowing money to gamble, missing work or sleep to play, feeling anxious when you cannot play and skipping personal commitments. If any of those resonate, talk to someone today. ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 is free, confidential and open 24/7. The Responsible Gambling Council and the provincial helplines listed in the help directory cover the rest of the country. The people on the other end of the phone have heard every story before and they are not there to judge anyone.

Who can I contact in Canada for free help?

ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600 is the first port of call for Ontario residents. Quebec residents can call the Gambling Help and Referral line on 1-800-461-0140. The Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is on 1-866-332-2322. British Columbia residents can reach the BC Problem Gambling Help Line on 1-888-795-6111. Across all provinces, the Responsible Gambling Council offers self-assessment tools, online chat and a directory of local treatment services. Every line listed is free, confidential and available 24/7.

How does PowerPlay handle players who might be struggling?

The PowerPlay safer play team monitors aggregate behavioural patterns across the account base for early signs of harmful play. Triggers include large rapid deposits, repeated cancelled withdrawals, late-night session spikes and a sudden change in stake size. When a player flags up against several of those markers, the team reaches out by email with a non-judgemental note suggesting a reality check, a deposit limit or a conversation with the support team. No accounts are closed automatically, but the proactive contact gives players who may be drifting into problem patterns an early chance to step back before things spiral.

How do reality checks help?

A reality check is a small pop-up that interrupts your session at a set interval to show how long you have been playing and what your current net result is. Research from the Responsible Gambling Council shows it is one of the most effective in-product interventions for reducing session length because it pulls people out of the flow state that long slot or live-table sessions can create. We recommend setting a reality check at 30 minutes for casual players and 15 minutes if you tend to play in longer stretches.

What is self-exclusion and how does it work?

Self-exclusion locks your account for a fixed period of six months, one year or five years. During that window you cannot log in, deposit, place a bet or open a new account. PowerPlay also removes you from all marketing communications. At the end of the exclusion period the account does not automatically reopen, you have to request reinstatement and complete a short conversation with the safer play team. Self-exclusion is the right tool when limits and cool-offs are not enough. Set it from the responsible play hub inside your account or ask live chat to apply it on your behalf.

How can I support a friend or family member?

The most useful thing is to listen without judgement. Problem gambling carries a heavy stigma and most people who are struggling will not admit it freely. Ask open questions, share what you have noticed without accusations and point them gently toward ConnexOntario or one of the provincial helplines. Gam-Anon runs free support groups for family and friends of problem gamblers and the meetings are open across Canada. You can also contact PowerPlay support to discuss third-party exclusion if the person at risk holds an account with us and consents to the conversation.

See the account closure guide for step-by-step instructions and the help directory for the full list of Canadian support services.

How do deposit and loss limits actually work in practice?

A deposit limit caps the total amount you can add to the account within a rolling period, regardless of whether you win or lose during that window. A loss limit caps net losses, so winning sessions effectively top up the available budget. Most players find a deposit limit simpler to reason about because it maps directly to the money leaving their bank account. Whichever you pick, the limit is enforced at checkout, so you cannot accidentally deposit beyond it even during a long session. Limits sit on top of any payment-method caps your bank already enforces and are independent of any promotional bonus terms.

What is the difference between cool-off and self-exclusion?

A cool-off pauses the account for between 24 hours and six weeks and then reopens it automatically. Self-exclusion locks the account for a minimum of six months and requires an active reinstatement request afterwards. Cool-off is the right tool when you need a short reset between sessions or to step back during a busy life period. Self-exclusion is the right tool when gambling has started to feel unhealthy and you want a longer, harder firebreak. The full step-by-step path for both lives in the how to close account guide, alongside notes on what happens to your balance during each.