Responsible Play
Responsible Play Guide – CanadaNow
This Responsible Play Guide applies to the informational website available at playforcanadanow.com (“CanadaNow”).
CanadaNow is an independent informational resource. We promote informed and responsible engagement with online gaming-style activities designed strictly for adults aged 18+. This guide provides key principles to help maintain balance, awareness, and healthy habits when interacting with number-based draws or similar recreational formats.
1. Key Principles for Responsible Participation
Participation in number draws or prize-style activities should remain enjoyable, voluntary, and aligned with your financial comfort. Keeping realistic expectations and practicing healthy limits are essential to ensuring that these activities stay within a safe and controlled space.
Responsible play means that you:
- Treat these activities as optional entertainment, not as a source of income.
- Decide in advance how much time and money, if any, you are comfortable spending.
- Are willing to stop at any time, regardless of recent outcomes.
2. Set a Budget
Always use only funds that are specifically set aside for leisure and entertainment. Avoid using money intended for essential expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, bills, food, transportation, or personal obligations.
Establishing a clear spending limit in advance helps keep your engagement predictable, reduces the risk of impulsive decisions, and supports long-term financial stability.
3. Track Time
Be mindful of how much time you spend reviewing draws, selecting numbers, checking results, or thinking about potential outcomes. Responsible participation includes ensuring that these activities do not disrupt work, study, family time, sleep, or other important commitments.
Setting time boundaries—for example, scheduling specific times for checking results or limiting the number of sessions per week—can help keep your routine balanced and prevent over-involvement.
4. Understand Outcomes
Number draws and similar formats rely entirely on chance. There is no method, system, pattern, or strategy that can guarantee success or influence the randomness of the results. Past outcomes do not make a particular result “due” or more likely to occur.
Treat your participation as a form of entertainment rather than a way to generate income or recover previous losses. Approaching outcomes with realistic expectations helps reduce stress, disappointment, and pressure.
5. Know When to Stop
It is important to recognize when participation may no longer feel comfortable or balanced. Warning signs can include:
- Trying to “chase” losses or immediately recover recent outcomes.
- Feeling stressed, anxious, frustrated, or preoccupied with results.
- Spending more time or money than you initially planned.
- Allowing activities to interfere with relationships, work, or sleep.
If you notice any of these signs, consider pausing, re-evaluating your limits, or stepping away altogether. Talking with a trusted friend or family member about your concerns can also be helpful.
6. Seeking Support
If you feel that number-based games, draws, or related activities are having a negative impact on your wellbeing, finances, or relationships, it may be helpful to speak with a professional support service in your province or territory. Many regions in Canada offer confidential, low-cost or free resources for gambling-related concerns.
CanadaNow does not provide counselling, crisis support, or clinical services. For urgent situations, or if you feel unable to stay safe, please contact local emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.