How to Self-Exclude and Block Betting Apps in Ontario

Step 1: Self-exclude with BetGuard

BetGuard is iGaming Ontario’s centralized self-exclusion program, launched in May 2026. One sign-up covers every regulated online sportsbook and casino in Ontario (more than 75 sites, including the big names). You create an account, confirm your identity and choose to exclude yourself; it takes about five minutes, in English or French, and you don’t need an existing betting account.

Once you’re excluded, regulated operators block your existing accounts, won’t let you open new ones and must stop marketing to you.

OLG is separate

OLG’s casinos and PlayOLG have their own self-exclusion program, My PlayBreak. See OLG’s responsible gambling pages or ask at a PlaySmart Centre. At launch, BetGuard didn’t cover land-based casinos, charitable gaming or horse racing.

What self-exclusion doesn’t cover

• Offshore and crypto casinos that aren’t regulated in Ontario, such as Stake or Roobet.
• Prediction markets and sweepstakes sportsbooks.
• Your phone itself. The apps stay installed and the websites still load.

Step 2: Block betting on your iPhone

1. Allow Screen Time access. In Freeroll setup, tap Allow Screen Time access and approve Apple’s prompt. Freeroll uses Apple’s own Screen Time system, with no VPN.
2. Choose the apps. In Apple’s picker, select theScore Bet, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, PROLINE+ and any other betting apps you have.
3. Turn on the Safari blocker. Open Settings → Apps → Safari → Extensions → Freeroll and turn on Allow Extension. On iOS 17, it’s Settings → Safari → Extensions. This applies the 7,000-domain list in Safari. The list includes thescore.bet, betmgm.ca, bet365.ca, betway.ca, pointsbet.ca, betrivers.ca, northstarbets.ca, playolg.ca and proline.ca, plus offshore sites like stake.com.
4. Add risky times. Set game nights and paydays in Risky times so blocks tighten when you’re most likely to bet.
5. Decide how hard it is to undo. Anything that weakens protection, such as turning blocks off, waits 48 hours and can be cancelled at any time. In Protect → Anti-bypass you can give a trusted person a 4-digit Partner PIN instead; without it, those changes wait 72 hours. Maximum Lockdown, which stops any app from being deleted, is optional.

Block the money, not just the phone

Phone blocks don’t cover a laptop or a friend’s phone. Two things work on every device because they stop the money and the accounts:

• Ask your bank for a gambling block. Many banks can decline gambling transactions on your debit and credit cards (merchant category code 7995). Not every bank offers it, and some merchants are miscoded, so don’t rely on it alone.
• Self-exclude. In the US, self-exclusion runs state by state; the National Council on Problem Gambling lists each state’s program. In Canada, see the Ontario and Alberta guides.

Help in Ontario

ConnexOntario is free, confidential and open 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988. More lines are on our helplines page.

Common questions