Help · Burnaby, B.C.
Help with gambling in Burnaby and B.C.
Its subject is where to turn once gambling has stopped feeling like a night out. It gives the provincial help line, describes Game Break self-exclusion and notes a few signs to watch for.
The legal age for gambling in British Columbia, casinos included, is 19. The help described here applies in Burnaby as it does across the province.
Call Gambling Support BC, any hour
Gambling Support BC answers at 1-888-795-6111. Calling costs nothing, stays confidential, and help is there 24/7. It is open to anyone worried about their own gambling, or about someone else's.
Nobody needs a crisis to pick up the phone. A vague unease counts. So does a quiet question about a partner, a parent or a friend. The editors would rather readers call early than wait for a reason that feels big enough.
Game Break: self-exclusion, in person
BCLC's Game Break is a voluntary program of self-exclusion. Sign-up is done in person at any casino, commercial bingo hall or community gaming centre, or through an electronic meeting with a BCLC employee.
Bring government-issued photo ID. A staff member or a GameSense Advisor takes a photo and walks through each step, so no one is left to figure it out alone.
Starting June 26, 2023, B.C. casinos require government-issued photo ID from every person who walks in. Security scans the ID, then compares it with the restricted-entry list, which also covers everyone enrolled in Game Break. Once a person is admitted, the system keeps none of their personal information.
Signs worth taking seriously
- Spending more than planned, more than once, and shrugging it off afterwards.
- Chasing losses: coming back to win back money already lost.
- Hiding play, or what it costs, from partners, family or friends.
- Borrowing money, or moving it around, in order to keep gambling.
- Feeling restless or irritable on the days without play.
Questions
Does calling Gambling Support BC cost anything?
Calling costs nothing at all. The line at 1-888-795-6111 is free, confidential and open 24/7, for your own gambling or someone else's.
How does Game Break connect to the casino door?
Showing government-issued photo ID is required for anyone coming into a casino in B.C. At the door, security scans the ID and matches it to the restricted-entry list. People enrolled in Game Break are on that list. When a guest is admitted, no personal information is kept by the system.