Zonko Responsible Gaming
Tools, settings and Canadian support services that keep online play within healthy bounds. Use them early and use them often.
Deposit limits
Cap how much you can put in over a day, week or month.
Session timers
Set a session length, with reminders when you cross the line.
Loss limits
Stop play when net loss reaches your chosen amount.
Self exclude
Block your own access for six months, one year, five years or longer.
Which tools should every Canadian know about?
Every operator listed on Zonko ships with a full responsible gaming toolkit. Deposit limits stop you putting in more than your chosen cap. Loss limits stop you spending more than your chosen amount net of wins. Session timers and reality checks remind you how long you have been playing. Cool off periods lock the account for one to thirty days. Self exclusion locks the account for six months, one year, five years or permanently. Every tool is available in your account settings under the responsible gaming section and most can be activated in under a minute.
The single best habit is to set deposit and loss limits during signup, before you ever fund the account. Pick numbers that match your real budget, not your hopeful budget. A deposit limit you never bump against is doing its job. A deposit limit you constantly fight against is too low and should be set higher rather than removed. The point of the tool is to make impulsive top ups physically impossible during a bad session, not to guilt trip you during a good one.
How do you set limits the right way?
Limits work best when you set them before you start playing, not when you are already in a tough session. Reductions take effect immediately, since lowering a limit is always a player safety move. Increases go through a 24 hour cooling period to prevent in the moment changes you might regret. The cooling period is mandatory under most licensing frameworks and is not something support can waive on request. Pick numbers that match your real budget, not your hopeful budget, and revisit them every few months as life changes.
- 1
Open settings
Find the responsible gaming section in your account menu.
- 2
Pick a limit
Choose deposit, loss, session or cool off, depending on what you need.
- 3
Confirm
The limit takes effect immediately for reductions, 24 hours for increases.
- 4
Review
Check your limits every few months and adjust as life changes.
What if gambling stops being fun?
Online play should add to life, not take from it. If you find yourself chasing losses, hiding play or feeling stressed about gambling, take a break. The cool off feature locks your account for one to thirty days, which is usually enough to break the pattern. If a short cool off is not enough, self exclusion locks your account for the chosen period and cannot be reversed before the period ends. The ConnexOntario helpline on 1-866-531-2600 offers free 24 hour support and can help you set up multi operator self exclusion and connect with local counselling.
Self exclusion is a heavy tool because it needs to be. Once active, the operator cannot reopen the account at your request, even if you change your mind a week later. That is the point. The lock works because it removes the option during the moments when willpower is at its weakest. If you have any doubt about whether self exclusion is the right call, ring the helpline first and talk it through with a trained counsellor before you commit to the longer locks.
How do you protect young people in your household?
You must be at least 19 years old to register or play at any operator listed on Zonko. Identity verification confirms age before you can withdraw, so any underage account is closed before any winnings are paid out. If young people share a device with you, use parental control software to block gambling content during the times they have access. Tools like Gamban, BetBlocker and the built in parental controls on iOS, Android, Windows and macOS all support time based filters that block gambling sites during specific hours of the day.
Treat any gambling discussion in front of younger family members the same way you would treat a discussion about alcohol or other adult activities. Normalising responsible play, openly using deposit and session limits, and being honest about losses are all much more effective than trying to hide gambling activity entirely. The Responsible Gambling Council Canada publishes free guidance for parents on how to talk to teenagers about gambling, and the resources are worth a read if there are young people in your household who already know you play.
Where can you find Canadian support services right now?
The ConnexOntario helpline runs 24 hours a day on 1-866-531-2600 and is free from any Canadian phone. The website connexontario.ca offers chat and text channels for anyone who prefers not to speak on the phone. Provincial Problem Gambling programmes provide in person and online counselling at no cost. The Responsible Gambling Council and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction publish self help resources and run information lines during business hours. None of these services charge, all of them are confidential, and you do not need a referral to access any of them.
19+. Gamble responsibly. Terms and conditions apply.