Look at gambling as entertainment, like going to a concert or movie, not as a way to make money.

Stack of money bills with a crown over top

Cash is king

Consider taking just cash into the casino. Without your cards, you may not be tempted to spend more than planned.

A man and woman standing next to each other, looking at each other and smiling

Bring a friend

Going to the casino with a friend and playing the slot machines together can be a great way to avoid spending more time or money than you intended.

A woman sitting in a chair holding a coffee cup with steam coming out of it

Breaks help

It’s a good idea to occasionally walk away from the game you’re playing. Stretching your legs and/or grabbing a snack can help you feel refreshed.

Coffee cup with steam coming out of it

Mix it up

Trying the other amenities the casino has to offer may help reduce both your time and money spent gambling.

Stopwatch set at a random time

Set a Timer

Use your phone or watch to set a timer to remind you when its time to head home or take a break.

A scale with different coloured weights. The scale is tipped to the right.

How much?How often?How many?

Consider following the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines to help balance your time and money spent at play.

Common Gambling Myths

VLT screen showing three 7s with coins spilling out the bottom

MYTH: Someone used the slot machine right after me and won the jackpot. That should have been my jackpot!

FACT: Slot machines & VLTs use a random number generator to select the symbols you see on the screen. Pushing the button at the exact millisecond the winning symbol is generated is the only thing that determines a jackpot.

Slot machine screen with three different icons across the front

MYTH: This slot machine hasn't paid out in a long time. It's due for a win.

FACT: Machines are never "due" for a win. Since all machines pay at random, the next jackpot could be right away or thousands of spins later.

A person with a fishing rod attached to their back. The fishing rod has money attached to it and the person is trying to reach the money, which is out of reach

MYTH: If I play long enough, eventually I can win back all the money I've lost.

FACT: The longer you play, the more likely you are to lose. Chasing losses just leads to bigger losses.

Calculator with $160.00 on the screen

MYTH: I thought the VLTs were supposed to pay out 93% of the money I put in. That means if I put in $100, I should get $93 back.

FACT: VLTs pay back 93% of the money they take in over the life cycle of the machine, which could be millions of spins, not just your gambling session.