19+ only. Poker involves financial risk. Do not play with money needed for housing, food, debt payments, education, childcare or other obligations.
Use fixed boundaries
- Choose a maximum loss before the session starts.
- Choose a time limit and take breaks.
- Do not increase stakes to recover prior losses.
- Avoid playing when angry, intoxicated or under financial pressure.
- Keep gambling funds separate from essential spending.
Warning signs
Chasing losses, rapidly increasing stakes, failed deposits, hiding play, borrowing money to gamble, or continuing despite financial/emotional distress are reasons to stop and seek support.
Ontario resources
Poker skill and gambling harm can coexist
Poker includes strategic decisions, but variance remains. A player can make a good decision and lose, or a poor decision and win. That uncertainty can make chasing especially dangerous because short-term outcomes do not reliably validate the underlying decision.