Responsible Gambling and my playbreak Policy

2.1.  OLG’s RG program is built around OLG’s two primary RG goals of providing Players with tools, resources, and information that they need to:

        2.1.1. Prevent gambling-related risk and harm; and

        2.1.2. Mitigate gambling-related risk and harm.  

2.2. OLG’s RG program aims to support the needs of individuals across the player spectrum, from Prospective Players and new Players, to Intending Players, to casual, serious-social, and at-risk Players, to those Players who may be harmfully involved. To meet these needs OLG’s RG program offers a range of player education resources, RG play management tools, and the My PlayBreak program (detailed below).  

2.3. At the same time, OLG recognizes that the choice whether or not to gamble ultimately rests with the individual Player, and that efforts to control Player behaviour are inconsistent with current RG best practices. OLG’s RG program therefore focuses on informing and supporting Players. This Responsible Gambling and My PlayBreak Policy is not an acknowledgement of any obligation on behalf of OLG or its service providers to control, limit, prevent, or otherwise modify the gambling behaviour of Players, on OLG Internet Gaming. Players at all times remain solely responsible for their gambling behaviours.

3.1.   Breaks:  A “Break” is intended to provide a Player with a temporary break in Game play for periods shorter than 6 months (“Break”).

3.2.     Player Education and RG Information: Player Account pages include reference to PlaySmart.ca, OLG’s branded RG program. At PlaySmart.ca, both Players and members of the public can access a wide range of RG education materials which communicate important RG information with respect to Game information that promotes informed choices (e.g., rules of play, odds of winning/payout odds/return to player); gambling risks; and problem gambling help resources.

3.3.     Deposit Limits: Players have the option to set limits on the amount they deposit into their Player Account over a period of time selected by the Player (“Deposit Limits”). A Player will be restricted from making a deposit that would exceed a Deposit Limit they have set. Deposit Limits are offered on rolling and recurring periods of: (i) 24 hours, (ii) 168 hours (approximately seven days), and (iii) 720 hours (approximately 30 days), in each case, from the time the Deposit Limit is set by the Player. The amount of a Deposit Limit must be no less than $15.00 and no greater than $999,999.00. Players may set Deposit Limits for more than one time period option, in which case, the most restrictive Deposit Limit will apply. For example, where a 720-hour Deposit Limit of $2,000.00 is reached before a 24-hour Deposit Limit of $300.00 or a 168-hour Deposit Limit of $1,000.00 is reached, a Player would not be permitted to make an additional deposit even if either latter two limits would not be reached by the additional deposit.

Players can initiate a change to their Deposit Limit(s) at any point through their Player Account. Deposit Limit decreases take effect immediately. A Player may increase or remove their Deposit Limit, with either such change taking effect following a “cooling-off” period of 168-hours from the time the increase or removal is initiated (“Cooling-Off Period”), to provide Players with the opportunity to cancel their request after further consideration. Where an increase to a Deposit Limit has been initiated, and a subsequent increase or removal of the Deposit Limit is initiated during the Cooling-Off Period for the initial Deposit Limit increase, the Cooling-Off Period will restart from the time the subsequent increase or removal of the Deposit Limit is initiated.

3.4.     Pay-to-Play Game Limits and Budgets: Players have the option to set a limit, within a period of time selected by the Player, on the amount of Unutilized Funds that: (i) may be lost on Pay-to-Play Games, i.e. total amount of Unutilized Funds spent on wagering or betting for applicable Pay-to-Play Games less Prizes won from such wagering or betting (“Loss Limits”); and (ii) may be spent on wagering or betting on Pay-to-Play Games (“Spend Limits”). 

3.4.1.     With regard to Loss-Limits:

a. Loss-Limits apply only to Pay-to-Play Games;

b. Loss-Limits will restrict a Player from losing a total amount of Unutilized Funds on Pay-to-Play Games greater than their set Loss Limit for the Time Period Option the Player has selected;

c. Loss-Limits are offered as fixed (i.e., not rolling) and recurring periods of: (i) 24 hours (i.e. 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. in a given calendar day), (ii) seven days (i.e. 12:00 a.m. on Monday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday in a given calendar week), and (iii) one month (i.e. 12:00 a.m. on the first of the month until 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the month) (“Time Period Options”) ;

d. Loss Limits set for one of the Time Period Options during such time period will not be pro-rated, e.g. a seven-day Loss Limit of $1,000 set at 12 p.m. on a Thursday will remain in effect until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and will not be reduced to $500 for period of time remaining for that seven-day period;

e. Players can initiate a change to their Loss-Limits(s) at any point through their Player Account;

f. Loss-Limit decreases take effect immediately; while Loss-Limit increases or removals take effect following a seven-day cooling-off period;

g. Any Loss-Limit increase which is made during the cooling-off period for a prior Loss-Limit increase will reset the cooling-off period;

h. Bonus Funds wagered and lost on Pay-to-Play Games do not contribute toward the calculation of losses and are not subject to Loss Limits.

i. Players are not able to place a wager if a loss would result in the Loss-Limit being exceeded; and

j. Where more than one Loss Limit is in effect simultaneously, the Loss Limit with the lowest set loss amount will apply once such Loss Limit is reached (e.g. where a $300 24-hour Loss Limit and a $2,000 seven-day Loss Limit are in effect at the same time, a Player will be prevented from placing a wager or bet on a Pay-to-Play Game on Sunday if the $300 24-hour Loss Limit has been reached, even if they have only lost a total of $1,000 since Monday of that same week).

3.4.2.     With regard to Spend Limits applicable to Pay-to-Play Games that are not Sports Betting Games Played Online (i.e. casino-style Games) (“Casino Spend Limits”):

a. Casino Spend Limits will restrict a Player from spending a total amount of Unutilized Funds on wagering or betting for Pay-to-Play Games that are not Sports Betting Games Played Online that is greater than their set Casino Spend Limit for the Time Period Option selected by the Player

b. Casino Spend Limits are offered as the same Time Period Options contemplated in Section 3.4.1(c);

c. Casino Spend Limits set for one of the Time Period Options during such time period will not be pro-rated, e.g. a one-month Casino Spend Limit of $5,000 set at 12 p.m. on a 28th calendar day of the month will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on the last calendar day of that month and will not be reduced for the period of time remaining in the one-month period;

d. Players can initiate a change to their Casino Spend Limits(s) at any point through their Player Account;

e. Casino Spend Limits decreases take effect immediately; while Casino Spend Limits increases or removals take effect following a seven-day cooling-off period;

f. Any Casino Spend Limit increase which is made during the cooling-off period for a prior Casino Spend Limit increase will reset the cooling-off period;

g. Casino Spend Limits are independent from financial limits applicable to Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online and Sports Betting Games Played Online;

h. Bonus Funds wagered or bet on Pay-to-Play Games that are not Sports Betting Games Played Online and lost do not contribute toward the calculation of spend and are not subject to Casino Spend Limits;

i. Prizes awarded to a Player from Pay-to-Play Games (including Sports Betting Games Played Online) or Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online will not result in a Player being permitted to exceed their selected Casino Spend Limit and Time Period Option;

j. A Player will not be permitted to make any wagers or bets on Pay-to-Play Games that are not Sports Betting Games Played Online if doing so would result in the Casino Spend Limit being exceeded; and 

k. Where more than one Casino Spend Limit is in effect simultaneously, the Casino Spend Limit with the lowest set Spend Amount will apply once such Casino Spend Limit is reached (e.g. where a $200 24-hour Casino Spend Limit and a $1,000 seven-day Casino Spend Limit are in effect at the same time, a Player will be prevented from spending more than $200 on a Sunday, even if they have only spent $500 since Monday of that same week).

3.5.     Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online Spending Limits:  Players have the option to set a limit on the amount of Unutilized Funds that may be spent on Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online (“Lottery Spend Limits”). These Lottery-Spend Limits will restrict a Player from spending more than the amount they have set as their Lottery Spend Limit for the given period of time.

3.5.1.     With regard to such Lottery Spend Limits:

a. Lottery Spend Limits apply only to Draw-Based Lottery Games Played Online;

b. Lottery Spend-Limits are fixed (i.e. not rolling) daily, weekly, and monthly periods;

c. Players can initiate a change to their Lottery Spend-Limit at any point through their Player Account;

d. Lottery Spend-Limit decreases take effect immediately; while Lottery Spend-Limit increases or removals take effect following a seven-day cooling-off period;

e. Any Lottery Spend-Limit increase which is made during the cooling-off period for a prior Lottery Spend-Limit increase will reset the cooling-off period;

f. Lottery Spend-Limits are calculated based on a Player’s spend of Unutilized Funds during their selected time period;

g. Bonus Funds wagered and lost do not contribute toward the calculation of a Lottery Spend-Limit; and

h. Prizes awarded to a Player from Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online or Pay-to-Play Game will not result in a Player being permitted to exceed their selected Lottery Spend-Limit in their selected time period; and

i. A Player will not be permitted to purchase any Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online if doing so would result in the Lottery Spend-Limit being exceeded.

3.6.    Sports Betting Games Played Online Spending Limits: Players have the option to set a limit on the amount of Unutilized Funds that may be spent on Sports Betting Games Played Online (“Sports Spend Limits”). These Sports-Spend Limits will restrict a Player from spending more than the amount they have set as their Sports Spend Limit for the given period of time. 

3.6.1    With regard to such Sports Spend Limits: 

a. Sports Spend Limits apply only to PROLINE+ Played Online; 

b. Sports Spend-Limits are fixed (i.e. not rolling) daily, weekly, and monthly periods; 

c. Players can initiate a change to their Sports Spend-Limit at any point through their Player Account; 

d. Sports Spend-Limit decreases take effect immediately; while Sports Spend-Limit increases or removals take effect following a seven-day cooling-off period;

e. Any Sports Spend-Limit increase which is made during the cooling-off period for a prior Sports Spend-Limit increase will reset the cooling-off period;

f. Sports Spend-Limits are calculated based on a Player’s spend of Unutilized Funds during their selected time period; 

g. Bonus Funds wagered and lost do not contribute toward the calculation of a Sports Spend-Limit; and 

h. Prizes awarded to a Player from Sports Betting Games Played Online, Draw-Based Lottery Game Played Online or Pay-to-Play Game will not result in a Player being permitted to exceed their selected Sports Spend-Limit in their selected time period; and

i. A Player will not be permitted to make any Sports Betting Games Played Online wagers if doing so would result in the Sports Spend-Limit being exceeded.

3.7.    Playing Time Reminders: Players have the option to set an automatic time reminder for themselves in relation to their online Pay-to-Play Games at a self-determined frequency at which point they will be notified via a pop-up message on their screen, advising them how long they have been playing (“Time Reminder"). 

3.7.1    With regard to such Time Reminders: 

a. When a Player is notified that their set Time Reminder has been met, they will be provided the option to continue or discontinue playing; 

b. If a Player elects to continue playing, they will be returned to their Game and the Time Reminder will reset; 

c. If a Player elects to discontinue playing, their Pay-to-Play Game session will automatically end;  

d. Players may initiate a change to their Time Reminder frequency at any time through their Player Account.  Any increase to the frequency of the Time Reminder will take effect immediately; while any removal or decrease to the frequency of Time Reminders will take effect after a 24-hour cooling off period; and

e. Any  Time Reminder increase which is made during the cooling-off period for a prior Time Reminder will reset the cooling-off period.

3.7.2.    The time for the Time Reminder begins at first point, following a Player’s login to their Player Account, that the Player launches any Pay-to-Play Game. Time spent on a Pay-to-Play Game will be carried forward and idle time between games counts toward the accumulating time (including any time playing a Play-for-Free Game). The only point that the timer stops is when the Player logs out or is logged out of their Player Account. 

 3.7.3.    If the set Time Reminder passes while a player is in a Pay-to-Play Game, a Player will receive the reminder in the Pay-to-Play Game. However, reminders only display to Players while in the Pay-to-Play Game; if a Player’s set reminder time passes while the player is browsing or idling outside of a Pay-to-Play Game, they will not receive the reminder at that moment, and may or may not receive the reminder once a new Game is subsequently launched, depending on the Game.

3.8.    Breaks: A “Break” is intended to provide a Player with a temporary break in Game play for periods shorter than Self-Exclusion (“Break”).

3.8.1.    Players can select from the following Break periods: (i) one day; (ii) one week; (iii) one month; (iv) two months; or (v) three months. Once a Player has selected their desired Break period and confirmed that they wish to initiate a Break, they will be immediately logged out of their Player Account. A Break has only ended once both the selected Break period has concluded and the Player subsequently logs into their Player Account.

3.8.2.    A Player who is on a Break will be able to:

a. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, withdraw Unutilized Funds from their Player Account upon request to Player Support; and

b. Access and use those parts of OLG Internet Gaming that do not require a Player to log in to their Player Account.

3.8.3.    A Player who is on a Break will not be able to:

a. Log in to their Player Account;

b. Deposit money with OLG for the purposes of funding the notional balance of their Player Account;

c. Play any Pay-for-Play Game, Sports Betting Game Played Online or Draw-Based Game Played Online. When a Player is on a Break, all Future Game Transactions associated with his or her Player Account will be suspended (i.e. no purchase or other financial transaction in respect thereof that has not been completed at the time the Break is initiated will be completed) until the Break has ended (as described in Section 3.8.1);

d. With the exception of one day and one-week Breaks, receive marketing communications relating to OLG Internet Gaming which are sent by or on behalf of OLG (however, there may be instances where it is impossible for OLG to stop marketing communications that are already set for delivery); and

e. End the Break prior to the expiration of the selected Break period.

3.8.4.    OLG may continue to communicate with a Player who is on a Break for purposes related to the administration of their Player Account, of OLG Internet Gaming, or other permitted or required reasons.

3.8.5.    Upon the expiration of a Break, the restrictions described in Section 3.8.3 will only be removed upon the Player logging into their Player Account

3.9.    Self-Assessment Test: Players may fill out a self-assessment test which is based on the nine-question Problem Gambling Severity Index (the “Self-Assessment Test”). Players have the ability to re-take the Self-Assessment Test at any point. The Self-Assessment Test is for informational purposes only and is not a clinical assessment of any kind. If a Player completes the Self-Assessment Test, those results will inform the Player’s risk profile described in Section 3.10.

3.10.    Risk Profile: Players understand and agree that OLG Internet Gaming does engage in play tracking and analysis of any Player who signs up for a Player Account and, depending on Player activity, may generate a risk score for these Players.  Players can access this risk profile information through their “My PlaySmart Tools.”  The risk profile information referred to in this section is for informational purposes only and is not a clinical assessment of any kind.  

3.10.1.    Depending on a Player’s risk score, OLG may remove them from certain marketing communications, eliminate or limit the ads that OLG serves to such Players, limit the Player’s notifications or communications regarding Bonus Fund Offers, and otherwise tailor Player communications for RG purposes.

3.11.    Player History: Players have access to a summary of their transactions (including deposit, purchase, and withdrawal history, log-in history, and game play history) through their Player Account. For more extensive history, players can contact Player Support.  

4.1.    The OLG “Self-Exclusion” Program, My PlayBreak (“My PlayBreak”), is a voluntary self-help tool that enables participants (“Participants”) to make a commitment to take a break from participating in gaming activities offered by OLG (“Play”) for a defined period of time.  The My PlayBreak program is designed to support those individuals who have made a personal decision to reduce or eliminate their gambling on OLG Internet Gaming. An individual registered for My PlayBreak remains in the Program for the duration of their selected term.

4.2.    Registration in My PlayBreak for Play at land-based gaming sites where OLG conducts and manages slots and casino gaming - makes you ineligible to open or access an account for OLG Internet Gaming.

4.3.    Participation in My PlayBreak for OLG Internet Gaming does not apply to Ontario Casinos and Charitable Gaming Centres, 50/50 draws and lottery products purchased at any lottery retailer location that is not through OLG Internet Gaming.  At the time of registration for My PlayBreak on OLG Internet Gaming, the individual will be provided with access to information pertaining to My PlayBreak programs for these land-based gaming sites and how and where to register for the programs.

4.4.    My PlayBreak Registration for OLG Internet Gaming

4.4.1.    A Player who has previously registered for a Player Account may choose to register for My PlayBreak online by accessing “My Play Breaks” in the “My PlaySmart Tools” located in the Player Account dropdown menu.

4.4.2.   Registration in My PlayBreak for Play at Casinos makes you ineligible to open or access an account or Play online for OLG Internet Gaming. OLG will make reasonable efforts to ensure that a Player who registers for My PlayBreak from Casinos will have their Player Account suspended. OLG will be unable to do so to the extent that personal information provided by the Player is inconsistent between their Casino My PlayBreak registration and their OLG Internet Gaming account.

4.4.3.     Registered Players may choose to seek the support of OLG Customer Care at 1-800-387-0098 in registering for My PlayBreak. In these situations, the customer service representative will assist the individual with the online My PlayBreak registration process.

4.4.4.    A Player may choose to register for My PlayBreak for any of the following periods of time: (i) six months; (ii) one year; (iii) two years; (iv) three years; (v) four years; or (vi) five years. Shorter PlayBreaks are also available for the following periods: (i) one day; (ii) one week; (iii) one month; (iv) two months; or (v) three months. Different Terms and Conditions apply for PlayBreaks of 6 months or more. 

4.4.5.     If a Player wishes to renew their selected My PlayBreak term once it has expired or to extend the period prior to the expiry date, a Player must contact OLG Customer Care at 1-800-387-0098.

4.5.    Effect of My PlayBreak Registration

4.5.1.    OLG will record an individual’s registration in the My PlayBreak program in the Player Account, and the individual registered for My PlayBreak will not be permitted to log-in to his or her Player Account.

4.5.2.    OLG will return to an individual registered for My PlayBreak the balance of Unutilized Funds that exists at the time of My PlayBreak registration, in accordance with OLG policies and this Agreement. All Bonus Funds associated with the Player Account of an individual registered for My PlayBreak will be cancelled.

4.5.3.  Solely except for in accordance with applicable law, completed ticket purchases for Draw-Based Lottery Games or bets on a Sports Betting Game Played Online will not be refunded. In the event that a ticket for a Draw-Based Lottery Game  purchased prior to registering in the My PlayBreak program is determined to be a winning outcome, any Prizes associated with that outcome will be paid in accordance with OLG prize claim policies and procedures.  All Future Game Transactions associated with the Player Account of an individual registered for My PlayBreak will be cancelled.

4.6.   Return to Play for Individuals Registered in My PlayBreak

4.6.1.    Provided a Player has not extended their My PlayBreak term, when a Player’s selected My PlayBreak term expires, they will no longer be considered registered in My PlayBreak and will be removed from the My PlayBreak program. If a Player wishes to resume gaming on OLG Internet Gaming after their selected term has expired, the Player will need to contact OLG Customer Care at 1-800-387-0098 to re-activate their account.

4.6.2.   Players that initiated Self-Exclusion prior to September 12, 2022, will remain on Self-Excluded status until their term has been completed and they contact OLG Customer Care at 1-800-387-0098.

POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE: August 24, 2021 (updated June 6, 2023)

VERSION 4.0