What should I do if I feel the urge to chase my losses while playing at an online casino?

Stop playing — right now, before you place another bet. That's the single most useful thing you can do the moment you feel the pull to chase losses. Everything else flows from that one decision.

Why chasing is the trap, not the solution

Loss-chasing feels logical in the moment — you're "so close" to being even — but it's one of the clearest warning signs that gambling has shifted from entertainment to something more harmful. No betting pattern, stake size, or game choice changes the underlying math. Each spin, hand, or round is independent. The money already lost is gone, and placing more bets to recover it doesn't change that; it only puts more at risk. Recognizing this urge for what it is — a psychological response, not a rational strategy — is the first step toward acting on it wisely.

Immediate things you can do right now

Close the app or browser tab. Physically stepping away from the screen — even briefly — breaks the loop. Then use the tools that Ontario's regulated market requires every licensed operator to provide:

• Deposit and loss limits: Registered operators in Ontario are required to provide players with an easy and obvious way to set financial or time-based gaming limits, including loss and deposit limits, both at registration and at any time afterward. If you haven't set these, log into your account settings and do it now — not after the next session.
• Short-term breaks in play: Ontario's regulatory standards require operators to give players the option to initiate a short-term break, with options ranging from one day to three months. Once a break is initiated, you are unable to place further wagers for the duration. This is a friction-free way to force a pause without committing to a full self-exclusion.
• Self-exclusion at the operator level: All legal operators in Ontario are required to have a self-exclusion program that is well-promoted, easily accessible, and includes resources and information about gambling support services. You can activate this directly through your account.

If you want a stronger, province-wide barrier

Ontario now has BetGuard, a centralized self-exclusion tool run by iGaming Ontario. BetGuard lets you set the length of time you want to opt out of regulated iGaming in Ontario; it verifies your identity and adds you to a central registry for the period you choose. Regulated online gambling websites in Ontario then match your information and prevent you from logging in or creating accounts, establishing a single secure barrier across the entire regulated market. You can opt out for a term of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or a custom term. Visit betguard.ca to get started — anyone 19 or older can opt out in a few minutes without needing to visit individual gambling websites.

Talk to someone

The urge to chase losses is worth taking seriously even if you don't consider yourself a problem gambler — it's a signal worth paying attention to. ConnexOntario is available by phone and online 24/7 and can connect you to free professional support. Call them at 1-866-531-2600, text CONNEX to 247247, or visit connexontario.ca. ConnexOntario provides service information and resources for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health — the service is free and confidential.

There's no shame in using these tools. They exist precisely because the regulated Ontario market is built around the idea that empowering players to make informed choices is central to responsible gambling — and informed choice means using the knowledge and tools available to make safer decisions. A session you walk away from is one you can revisit on your own terms, when you're in the right headspace. That's always the better outcome.