ConnexOntario helpline: free 24/7 help for gambling concerns

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ByLucas Portela
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Quick Answer

ConnexOntario offers free, confidential help for gambling problems, 24 hours a day. Call 1-866-531-2600, text CONNEX to 247247 or use the web chat at connexontario.ca. No referral is needed.

The ConnexOntario helpline is Ontario’s free, confidential problem gambling line, which connects people to addiction, mental health and gambling support. It gives information and referrals, so a trained specialist helps you find the right program near you.

How to reach the ConnexOntario helpline

  • Phone: 1-866-531-2600, available 24 hours a day.
  • Text: send CONNEX to 247247. Standard message rates may apply.
  • Web chat or email: use the contact options at connexontario.ca.
  • Languages: English and French, with interpretation in more than 170 languages on request.

What to expect when you call

A specialist listens, explains your options and refers you to services such as counselling or treatment programs. You do not need a referral, and family members can call too. You can call for yourself or for someone else, and you set the pace of the conversation. The line is for questions as much as for crises, so calling just to learn what support exists is a perfectly good reason.

Before you call

It can help to jot down what you want to ask, such as how to find counselling near you, how to support a relative or what treatment options exist. You do not have to have everything figured out, and the specialist can start from wherever you are. If a first call feels hard to make, a text or a web chat is a gentler way to begin, and you can always call back later.

When you need urgent help

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 at any time. To block regulated Ontario sites while you get support, BetGuard, the centralized self-exclusion service, applies to every regulated operator at once.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the service free and confidential?

Yes. ConnexOntario is free and confidential, and no referral is required. You can call at any hour, and you do not have to give a long explanation to be helped.

Do I need to have a gambling problem to call?

No. You can call to ask questions, to get information for a family member or to learn about support options. You do not need a diagnosis to call.

Is ConnexOntario only for Ontario residents?

It serves Ontario. If you live in another province, your provincial helpline or health service can point you to local gambling support, so start there.