Choose your exclusion type
Players decide whether they want to exclude from casinos, Charitable Gaming Centres, OLG.ca, or a combination of these.
Ontario players who want to step back from gambling have access to a dedicated program built specifically for that purpose. In this My PlayBreak review, we’ll tell you about the self-exclusion tool operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
It is a customizable self-exclusion program that allows players to pause their access to gambling venues and platforms across Ontario. Unlike a blanket ban with no flexibility, the tool is designed around personal choice. Players decide how long they want their break to last, and they can select from defined, renewable term lengths ranging anywhere from three months to five years.
The program covers three main areas of Ontario's regulated gambling landscape:
Anyone entering My PlayBreak self exclusion loses access to the relevant venue or platform for the entire duration of the term they've chosen.
The program replaced and enhanced OLG's previous self-exclusion program in September 2022, giving the tool a more modern name and a more flexible structure. The rebrand wasn't just cosmetic. OLG expanded the program's term options, added ongoing support features, and worked to make registration less intimidating for players who might be hesitant to ask for help.
According to OLG's own public statements at launch, the goal was to give customers more flexibility and choice, whether they wanted a break from a physical casino, a Charitable Gaming Centre, or their OLG.ca account specifically. The Responsible Gambling Council, which helps operate PlaySmart Centres at dozens of casinos and charitable gaming sites province-wide.
Every regulated casino operating in Ontario, including major properties run by companies like Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, is required to recognize and enforce the program registrations. A property can't selectively honour self-exclusion. If a player is registered, they are denied entry to the gaming floor at that location and, in most cases, across all other Ontario gaming properties covered under the same framework.
Because the program is not an opt-in program for individual venues but a mandatory requirement across all OLG-regulated gaming properties, participation isn't something operators choose, it's a condition of holding a Casino Operating and Services Agreement (COSA) with OLG. Every land-based casino and Charitable Gaming Centre operating under an OLG contract enforces My PlayBreak Casino registrations, regardless of which private company runs day-to-day operations.
| Region / Gaming Bundle | Central, Southwest & North Ontario |
|---|---|
| Key Properties | Casino Rama Resort, OLG Slots at Georgian Downs, properties in Point Edward, Woodstock, London, Clinton, Dresden, Hanover, and sites extending north to Kenora |
| Region / Gaming Bundle | Greater Toronto Area |
|---|---|
| Key Properties | Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, Pickering Casino Resort, Great Blue Heron Casino and Hotel (operated in partnership with the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation) |
| Region / Gaming Bundle | Southern & Niagara Ontario |
|---|---|
| Key Properties | Caesars Windsor, Casino Ajax, Casino Niagara, Fallsview Casino Resort, Fort Erie Race Track |
While every operator covered under the self-exclusion programs frameworks answers to the same baseline regulatory standards, set by AGCO and iGO, the actual player experience varies considerably from one platform to the next. Below you’ll find the best casino with My PlayBreak.
The PlayBreak slots catalogue has 4,500+ games, sorted into tabs like "Popular," "New Releases," "Bonus Buy," and "Favourites," with filters for popularity, RTP, rating, and alphabetical order. Players can search by name or browse by provider, and save favourites via the star icon.
The platform operates under a licence from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, a leading regulator serving the Canadian market, requiring only certified, independently tested software.
Software comes from dozens of providers, browsable alphabetically.
Popular titles include:
| Min/Max deposit | 10 / 5,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | 20 / 3,000 CAD daily |
| Deposit time | Instant |
| Withdrawal time | Hours-1 business day |
| Min/Max deposit | 15 / 10,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | 25 / 5,000 CAD weekly |
| Deposit time | Instant |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days |
| Min/Max deposit | 10 / 4,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | 20 / 2,500 CAD daily |
| Deposit time | Instant |
| Withdrawal time | Up to 24 hours |
| Min/Max deposit | 10 / 8,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | 20 / 6,000 CAD weekly |
| Deposit time | Instant |
| Withdrawal time | Minutes-24 hours |
| Min/Max deposit | 10 / 1,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | Deposits only |
| Deposit time | Instant |
| Withdrawal time | - |
| Min/Max deposit | 100 / 15,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Min/Max withdrawal | 100 / 10,000 CAD weekly |
| Deposit time | 1-3 business days |
| Withdrawal time | 3-7 business days |
Not everyone needs, or wants, to fully exclude themselves right away. The program also incorporates a set of graduated tools that let players set boundaries without stepping away entirely.
One point of confusion for Ontario players researching self-exclusion options is the relationship between these two programs. While both serve the same broad purpose, protecting players who want to step back from gambling, they cover entirely different parts of Ontario's regulated market and operate under separate regulatory bodies.
| My PlayBreak | OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | iGaming Ontario (iGO) |
| My PlayBreak | Provincial casinos, Charitable Gaming Centres, and OLG.ca |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | The broader regulated online market, roughly 70-plus private operators licensed under AGCO/iGO |
| My PlayBreak | OLG-operated and OLG-regulated properties only |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | Private iGaming operators separate from OLG's own platform |
| My PlayBreak | Required separately for OLG properties |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | Required separately for private online operators |
| My PlayBreak | Does not extend to private iGO-licensed operators |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | Does not extend to OLG-operated properties or OLG.ca |
| My PlayBreak | Players wanting to exclude from OLG casinos, Charitable Gaming Centres, or OLG.ca specifically |
|---|---|
| BetGuard | Players wanting to exclude from the wider private online casino and sportsbook market |