Game Break
The Game Break program is designed to help individuals who experience difficulties associated with gambling.
About the program
It’s important to take breaks when gambling. It’s a way to pause and regain perspective. However, when it becomes harder to fit in breaks and gambling just doesn’t seem fun anymore, BCLC’s Game Break program can be the first step towards getting help.
After March 25th, 2024, individuals enroled in the Game Break program will be excluding themselves from:
- All gambling facilities with slot machines including casinos, community gaming centres, and the slot floor or race tracks.
- All commercial bing halls, community gaming centres, and any gambling facility offering bingo; and
- All online gambling on PlayNow.com, the BC Lotto! App and the PlayNow BC Sportsbook App.
Learn more about the Game Break program.
Term options
Individuals can choose from the following time frames for the duration of their exclusion:
- Six months
- One year
- Two years
- Three years
Self-exclusion begins as soon as a person enrols and it cannot be cancelled or changed until the term expires.
Helping people honour their commitment
We know the decision to take a break from gambling isn’t easy, but for some it’s a necessary starting point towards getting help. Enrolling in the program is a personal commitment and we strive to do our part to help individuals honour their commitment with additional resources and support, including:
- Sharing information and photos of self-excluded individuals amongst security and surveillance staff at gambling facilities across British Columbia;
- Investing in technologies that help supplement the efforts of surveillance teams to identify self-excluded individuals in order to help prevent them from entering gambling facilities;
- Working with researchers to continually enhance the program to best support individuals who have chosen to take a break from gambling and;
- Making Game Break enrollees ineligible for jackpots. Research indicates that removing the financial incentive may help deter individuals from breaching their Game Break agreements. Withheld funds are used for player health research projects.
Game Break program longitudinal study
Game Break is an important component of BCLC’s Player Health Ambition. We work with researchers to continually enhance the program to best support individuals who have chosen to self-exclude from gambling.
As part of that commitment, BCLC has re-engaged researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley to conduct a comprehensive four-year evaluation of BCLC's Game Break program from the perspectives and experiences of the program participants. Through a series of interviews, the study will assess the level of satisfaction, uptake of counselling treatment, and the program’s overall effectiveness.
The research components of the project will culminate in a report with comprehensive recommendations with an anticipated completion date of 2023. Review the results of the most recent study, BCLC’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program from the Perspectives and Experiences of Program Participants.
Gambling Support BC
Gambling Support BC is open 24/7 for confidential and free problem gambling support. Funded and administered by the Province of B.C., the helpline offers information, referrals and crisis counselling related to gambling.
