Deciding to stop, or cut back, is the hardest and most important step — and it is one that treatment can genuinely support. Gambling disorder is a recognised behavioural addiction, not a failure of character, and it responds to the same kinds of evidence-based care used for other addictions. This guide sets out the practical first steps, the treatment options available in Canada, and how to build a recovery that lasts.
First Steps You Can Take Today
- Set deposit, loss, and time limits on every account you use — and lower them.
- Enrol in a self-exclusion program to bar yourself from venues and licensed sites.
- Install gambling-blocking software (such as Gamban or GamBlock) and ask your bank about transaction blocks.
- Remove saved card details and uninstall betting apps.
- Tell someone you trust — secrecy sustains gambling; openness undermines it.
Treatment Options in Canada
Most people recover with a combination of approaches. The table below summarises the main options and what the evidence says about each.
| Approach | What it involves | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) | Structured therapy that targets the thoughts and triggers driving gambling. The most studied and best-supported psychological treatment. | Most people; available one-to-one or in groups |
| Motivational interviewing | Short, collaborative counselling that builds motivation to change, often used early on. | Those unsure about stopping |
| Gamblers Anonymous / peer support | Free 12-step mutual-support groups, in person and online. | Ongoing support alongside therapy |
| Medication (off-label) | No drug is approved specifically for gambling in Canada; naltrexone has been researched to reduce urges, used off-label under medical supervision. | Some cases, usually combined with therapy |
| Concurrent care | Treating co-occurring depression, anxiety, or substance use at the same time. | The majority, given how often these overlap |
Do Medications Help?
There is currently no medication approved by Health Canada specifically to treat gambling disorder. Research — including work at CAMH in Toronto — has studied naltrexone, which blocks part of the brain’s reward response and can reduce gambling urges in some people. Where medication is used, it is prescribed off-label and works best alongside therapy, not instead of it. Any medication decision should be made with a doctor.
Building a Recovery That Lasts
Recovery is rarely a straight line, and a lapse is not a failure — it is information about what to strengthen. A good plan anticipates high-risk moments and puts barriers in place before they arrive.
- Identify your triggers — stress, boredom, alcohol, payday, certain apps or venues — and plan around them.
- Replace the time and role gambling filled with other activities and connection.
- Keep the practical barriers (self-exclusion, blocks, limits) in place well into recovery.
- Address the reasons behind the gambling, such as anxiety or low mood, with professional help.
- Treat a lapse as a prompt to reach out, not a reason to give up.
Where to Get Help
- ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) — free, confidential referral to gambling treatment across Ontario, 24/7; every province has an equivalent service.
- Responsible Gambling Council — self-assessments and links to provincial treatment.
- Your family doctor, who can refer you to publicly funded addiction services.
- If you are in crisis, the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available by call or text.
Understanding the condition helps too — see how gambling affects the brain and gambling addiction symptoms.
Sources and Further Reading
The information on this page draws on Canadian public-health, clinical, and regulatory sources. For the underlying research and official guidance, see:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) — Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital.
- Gambling disorder comorbidity: a narrative review (peer-reviewed, 2025).
- Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction — Canada’s Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines.
If Gambling Is Causing Harm, Help Is Available in Canada
Support is free, confidential, and available across the country. If you or someone close to you is struggling, you don’t have to wait until things reach a crisis point.
- ConnexOntario — free, confidential help for gambling, alcohol, drugs, and mental health, 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600.
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline — call or text 9-8-8 any time if you or someone you know is in distress.
- Responsible Gambling Council — a Canadian non-profit with tools, self-assessments, and provincial resources.
- Read more across our guides, starting with the Responsible Gambling in Canada hub.