Help, any hour, in Saskatchewan

Someone to talk to

The Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-306-6789. Calls are free and confidential, answered by trained counsellors 24 hours a day. The line takes calls from people with gambling problems and from their families. Mobile Crisis Services, Inc. operates it, with funding from SLGA and LGS and program direction from the Ministry of Health.

Counselling is free for Saskatchewan residents through the Saskatchewan Health Authority, for the person who gambles and for family members. No doctor's referral is needed. Gamblers Anonymous Saskatchewan keeps a separate 24-hour hotline at 1-855-781-9522.

SIGA lists two First Nations treatment centres. Calls to the Holistic Wellness Centre of the Prince Albert Grand Council go to 1-866-765-5305 toll free, or to 306-953-7285. The File Hills Qu'Appelle White Raven Healing Centre in Fort Qu'Appelle takes calls toll free at 1-866-748-8922 or at 306-332-2608.

Stepping away from the casinos

Game Break is SaskGaming's voluntary and confidential self-exclusion program. Both PlayNow.com and all of the province's casinos sit inside it, and an exclusion lasts anywhere between 6 months and 5 years. Enrolment is through Customer Service or Security at a casino, or by appointment with GameSense staff at 306-787-2122. Government photo ID, a signed agreement and a photo are required.

Once in effect, Game Break cannot be shortened or removed. A person found in a casino during the term may be asked to leave and issued a Summary Offense Ticket.

Requests for SIGA Voluntary Self-Exclusion go to any SIGA casino, or, by appointment, to SIGA Central Office at 103 Aspen Place, Saskatoon. The person sets the term, between 6 months and 5 years, and the ban spans all nine casinos: SIGA's seven and SaskGaming's two. Breaching it can result in charges and a fine, and renewal is done in person or at 306-477-7545. Nobody can enrol someone else into this program. Neither program lists private online casinos.

On the casino floor

Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw each have a GameSense Info Centre in the building. GameSense staff can also be reached by phone at 306-787-2122, the same number used to book an appointment to enrol in Game Break. At the seven SIGA casinos, Voluntary Self-Exclusion can be requested at the casino itself.