How do you self-exclude from online gambling in Ontario, and what does BetGuard leave out? BetGuard Ontario, the province's centralized self-exclusion program, has been run by iGaming Ontario (iGO) since May 14, 2026. One free registration blocks you from every regulated online gambling site in Ontario for six months to five years. It does not cover in-person casinos, sites outside Ontario's regulated market or other provinces.
BetGuard is a self-exclusion tool and is not a treatment. If you would rather talk to a person first, ConnexOntario offers free and confidential support at 1-866-531-2600, or you can text CONNEX to 247247.
BetGuard Ontario: what it is and who runs it
BetGuard describes itself in one sentence: “BetGuard is a centralized self-exclusion tool where you set the length of time you want to opt out of regulated igaming in Ontario.” Once BetGuard confirms your identity, it adds you to a central registry for the term you choose, and regulated online gambling websites in Ontario can match your details against that registry to stop you from logging in or creating accounts, according to BetGuard.ca.
iGO runs BetGuard as a player support tool, and the footer of BetGuard.ca describes iGO as an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) sets and enforces the standards that operators registered with the AGCO must follow. Its new Standard 2.14.1 on centralized self-exclusion, together with changes to Standards 2.14, 2.03 and 3.01 of the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, took effect on May 14, 2026, the AGCO says. The word “regulated” matters here. For how it works elsewhere, see what a regulated site means in each province.
What the regulator actually checks
Three parties share the work, and only one of them blocks you from a site. iGO keeps the registry and answers operators' questions. The AGCO sets the standards and enforces them. The operator does the blocking. BetGuard's terms say so directly: “BetGuard does not independently implement or enforce self-exclusion measures on Operator Websites or OLG iGaming Websites.” Operators and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) carry that responsibility, and each operator checks the registry in real time, according to BetGuard's FAQ.
Who can register and what you need
BetGuard is free, and no gambling account is needed to use it. The FAQ sets the conditions: “To use BetGuard you have to be 19 or older, and have a valid government photo ID, a permanent Canadian or U.S. address, and a valid cell phone number and email address.” Nobody can register for you. In BetGuard's words, “Opting out with BetGuard is a personal choice and can only be completed by the person for themselves.”
BetGuard accepts these kinds of photo ID, according to its FAQ:
- a driver's licence
- a passport or passport card
- a permanent resident card or residency permit
- a Certificate of Indian Status
- a provincial or state photo card
Provincial health cards are not accepted. BetGuard also states that your ID “is only used to verify your information as part of your registration in BetGuard. It is not stored or shared.”
How to register with BetGuard, step by step
BetGuard describes three stages on its site, and its “Before you start” page adds a preparation step.
- Sign out of any open player accounts, and have your photo ID, your cell phone and a device with a camera within reach. BetGuard asks for a quick photo of your ID and a scan of your face.
- Create your account at BetGuard.ca. BetGuard says setup takes less than five minutes. Give details that match your existing Ontario online gambling accounts, and confirm your phone number with the code BetGuard sends.
- Confirm your identity with one valid government photo ID and a facial recognition check.
- Select how long you want to opt out: six months, one year, five years or a custom length within that range.
The last step deserves the most thought, because the term cannot be shortened afterwards. If you get stuck, the BetGuard Contact Centre can walk you through registration after it confirms your identity. The numbers are 416-479-0008 for the Greater Toronto Area and 1-833-776-7171 toll-free, which BetGuard says works in Canada and the U.S. only. Support is available in English and French. This line helps with registration. It is not a helpline for people experiencing gambling harm.
How long BetGuard lasts and what happens when the term ends
BetGuard lasts for the term you choose: six months, one year, five years or a custom length between six months and five years. Once you register, you cannot shorten it, and the exclusion does not simply stop when the term does.
Choosing a term you can extend but not shorten
The AGCO's information bulletin of April 2, 2026 says Standard 2.14.1 requires the program to offer terms of six months, one year and five years. BetGuard adds a custom option inside the same range. Its FAQ is plain about what follows: “Once you've signed up, you can't shorten the term, but you can extend it anytime.” The terms add that a registration cannot be revoked, cancelled, paused or reduced, and that a renewal term cannot be shorter than your current one. Only the longer option stays open.
What happens when the term ends
The end of the term does not end the exclusion on its own. The FAQ explains: “After the end of your exclusion term, you can stay centrally self-excluded by selecting a new term. Or you can decide to remove yourself from BetGuard. If you do neither of those, BetGuard will keep you centrally self-excluded for seven years after your term ends.” The terms call this the Extended Protection Period. If you take no action during it, reinstatement happens automatically once it passes. A five-year term followed by the full seven years can therefore run to 12 years in total.
Coming back after the term
Leaving BetGuard before the seven years run out is an active step. The terms say: “You must complete the Reinstatement process to remove your status as centrally self-excluded from the BetGuard Registry. You are eligible for Reinstatement once your Exclusion Term ends.” A cooling-off period can follow, and the terms do not say how long it lasts, so check the current version. Each operator may also have its own process for letting you back in.
What happens to your accounts, bets and money
Once you are registered, operators must cancel your outstanding wagers and refund them to your player wallet within 24 hours, except bets on an event that takes place inside that window, according to BetGuard's FAQ. Unused funds in your player wallet are returned to you either automatically or on request, depending on each operator's process. Marketing is covered too: “All regulated igaming Operators in Ontario must not send marketing to self-excluded individuals.”
The AGCO's bulletin sets the timing for operators. They must prevent new accounts and access to existing ones, and they must stop marketing within 24 hours. Standard 2.03 also bars advertising aimed at people who are centrally excluded. These are requirements on operators, and BetGuard's terms add a limit of their own: BetGuard cannot guarantee that your exclusion takes effect the moment you register. In practice, a gap between registering and the block is possible.
Where BetGuard applies and where it does not
| Where you gamble | Covered by BetGuard? | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated online sites in Ontario, including OLG's | Yes | BetGuard registry |
| One site's own self-exclusion program | Separate program | That site's own rules |
| In-person casinos and charitable gaming centres | No | My PlayBreak (OLG) |
| Sites outside Ontario's regulated market | No | No BetGuard protection |
| Other provinces | No | That province's program |
BetGuard and the program of a single operator are two different things. BetGuard's FAQ answers the question directly: “BetGuard is distinct from each operator's individual self-exclusion program.” Registering with one does not enrol you in the other. The AGCO says it will reassess the requirement for operators to run their own programs no later than 12 months after BetGuard launched. If full exclusion is more than you want right now, how deposit, loss and time limits work on regulated sites explains a smaller step.
In-person casinos are a separate case. OLG states that BetGuard does not cover land-based casinos, and for those OLG runs My PlayBreak, which also covers charitable gaming centres and OLG.ca. Terms run from three months to five years at casinos and charitable gaming centres, and from one day on OLG.ca. You can register through casino staff, at a PlaySmart Centre or by calling 1-800-387-0098 for a casino, or through the My PlayBreak tab in your OLG.ca account or at 1-855-978-7529 for OLG.ca. Check how My PlayBreak handles the end of a term before you choose a length, because this guide does not cover it.
Sites outside Ontario's regulated market sit beyond BetGuard's reach. BetGuard works through regulated operators that match your details against its registry, so a site that is not part of that market is not part of the arrangement. BetGuard's terms do not allow attempts to get around an exclusion. A complaint can only go further if there is a regulator to take it to, which is one more reason the edge of the regulated market matters.
Other provinces are outside BetGuard as well. It covers Ontario's regulated market only, and each province has its own programs and helplines, which are listed under gambling helplines and self-exclusion programs in other provinces.
How to tell the official BetGuard site from an imitation
On September 10, 2026, iGO warned that third parties were using the BetGuard name and brand and giving misleading information about how to opt out, as set out in its notice on impersonation. iGO has not said what the imitations claim. BetGuard.ca carries its own banner: “Beware of impostor sites. Be sure you are engaging with official BetGuard information.” Three checks help:
- The address is betguard.ca.
- The service is free, so a request for payment does not match BetGuard's own description.
- The footer names iGaming Ontario as the provider.
If you want to talk to someone before or after you register
BetGuard's terms state that “BetGuard is not a treatment for problem gambling” and that BetGuard cannot guarantee it will prevent you from gambling. Self-exclusion removes access to regulated sites, which helps people who gamble take a break. It does not replace support from a person. If gambling is affecting you or someone you care about, ConnexOntario offers free and confidential support in Ontario at 1-866-531-2600, and you can text CONNEX to 247247. Other provinces have their own helplines, listed under gambling helplines and self-exclusion programs in other provinces.
This guide gives general information and is not legal advice. BetGuard's terms can change, so check BetGuard.ca for the current version. The details here were last checked on October 6, 2026.
What do people ask most about BetGuard?
Is BetGuard Ontario free to use?
Yes. BetGuard says it is provided free of charge. You need to be 19 or older, hold a valid government photo ID, have a permanent Canadian or U.S. address and have a cell phone number and email address. No gambling account is needed to register.
How long does BetGuard Ontario self-exclusion last?
It lasts for the term you choose: six months, one year, five years or a custom length between six months and five years. Unless you renew or remove yourself, BetGuard keeps you excluded for seven more years.
Can you cancel or shorten BetGuard once you have registered?
No. BetGuard's FAQ says you cannot shorten the term once you have signed up, and its terms say a registration cannot be revoked, cancelled, paused or reduced. You can extend the term at any time, as long as the new term is not shorter than your current one.
What happens when your BetGuard term ends?
You can select a new term to stay excluded, or you can remove yourself from BetGuard by completing reinstatement. If you do neither, BetGuard keeps you excluded for seven years after the term ends. Operators may also have their own process for letting you back in, so check each site's rules.
Does BetGuard cover casinos in person?
No. OLG states that BetGuard does not cover land-based casinos. For in-person casinos and charitable gaming centres, OLG runs My PlayBreak, a separate program with its own registration process and terms.
Is BetGuard the same as self-excluding on one gambling site?
No. BetGuard is separate from each operator's own self-exclusion program, and registering with one does not enrol you in the other. BetGuard covers all regulated online gambling sites in Ontario at once.
Can you register a family member with BetGuard?
No. BetGuard's FAQ says opting out is a personal choice that only the person themselves can complete. If you are worried about a loved one, the help section above lists where to start, and the person can contact ConnexOntario or BetGuard's Contact Centre when they are ready.
Sources
- BetGuard, home page and registration steps (accessed October 6, 2026)
- BetGuard, frequently asked questions (accessed October 6, 2026)
- BetGuard, Terms and Conditions, effective May 14, 2026 (accessed October 6, 2026)
- iGaming Ontario, BetGuard launch announcement (accessed October 6, 2026)
- iGaming Ontario, warning about impersonation of BetGuard, September 10, 2026 (accessed October 6, 2026)
- AGCO, information bulletin on standards for centralized self-exclusion, April 2, 2026 (accessed October 6, 2026)
- AGCO, centralized self-exclusion standards now in effect (accessed October 6, 2026)
- OLG PlaySmart, My PlayBreak (accessed October 6, 2026)
- ConnexOntario, mental health, addictions and gambling support (accessed October 6, 2026)