Alberta's
self-exclusion program

Alberta’s self-exclusion program lets you block yourself from every licensed gambling option in the province with a single enrolment. One sign-up covers all regulated online casino and betting sites plus Alberta’s land-based casinos. You don’t have to exclude yourself site by site.

It’s free, confidential, and run through GameSense, the AGLC’s responsible-gambling program. If you want to talk it through with a person first, Alberta’s helpline is free and open 24/7: 1‑866‑332‑2322.

Why “market-wide” matters

Self-exclusion only works if it closes every door. Ontario launched its open market in 2022 with per-site exclusion, and players who excluded from one casino had dozens of others open — Ontario didn’t close that gap until 2026.

Alberta built the centralized system in from day one. Exclude once, and every AGLC-registered operator must block you: no accounts, no logins, no marketing.

How to enrol

There are two routes to the same program:

1. Through GameSense at gamesenseab.ca, which runs the program.
2. Through any licensed casino — every registered site must provide access to self-exclusion, usually under its responsible-gambling or account-safety menu.

You choose an exclusion period at enrolment. Options run from six months up to permanent ({{VERIFY: exact duration options}}).

What happens once you’re enrolled

• Every licensed online operator must close or suspend your accounts and block new ones.
• Alberta’s land-based casinos deny you entry under the same program.
• Licensed operators must stop marketing to you.
• Eligible open futures bets are refunded when you self-exclude.
• The exclusion runs its full term — it is not designed to be reversed early, which is the point.

Be straight with yourself about the boundary: the program covers Alberta’s licensed market. Offshore sites sit outside it, which is one more reason they’re dangerous for anyone at risk — nothing stops you there. Removing offshore apps and using bank-level gambling blocks (many Canadian banks and cards offer them) closes that route too.

If you’re not ready for full exclusion

Self-exclusion is the strongest tool, not the only one. Every licensed site must offer deposit, loss and time limits you can set in minutes, and shorter account timeouts if you want a break without the full program.

If you’re weighing any of this, that’s usually a signal worth taking seriously — the signs and help page is a good next read, and the helpline (1‑866‑332‑2322) will talk it through without pushing you anywhere.

Frequently asked

Does self-exclusion cost anything?

No. It’s a free program run through the AGLC’s GameSense.

Will the casinos keep my money if I self-exclude?

No. Your account balance is paid out to you, and eligible futures wagers are refunded. Withdrawal of your funds is part of account closure.

Can I end it early?

The program is built to run its full term. When it ends, reinstatement isn’t automatic — there’s a process, deliberately, so the decision to return is an active one ({{VERIFY: current reinstatement process details}}).

Does it cover lottery tickets and VLTs?

The program covers casinos and regulated iGaming ({{VERIFY: exact coverage of VLTs/other verticals}}). Check the scope at gamesenseab.ca when enrolling.