How to Quit PlayAlberta: Self-Exclude Through AGLC
To quit PlayAlberta, enrol in the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission's Self-Exclusion Program. AGLC says enrolment excludes you from PlayAlberta.ca, and you can also choose to block Alberta's casinos and racing entertainment centres. Terms are 6 months to 3 years, and once you sign, it "cannot be cancelled or changed in any way."
When I quit gambling, I self-excluded from every casino and betting site I had access to, online and in person, for as long as each one allowed. It isn't a perfect fix, and there are workarounds. But it made gambling harder, and that was a big step forward for me.
What makes PlayAlberta different
PlayAlberta is the province's own online casino and sportsbook, run by AGLC, the same body that regulates gambling in Alberta. For years it was the only legal online option in the province. That's why you don't exclude through a button in your PlayAlberta account the way you would on an offshore site: you go through AGLC's program, which is also what locks you out of the province's physical casinos.
Since Alberta's private online market opened on July 13, 2026, there are dozens of other licensed sites too. Reporting on the new rules says one registration now blocks all of them, so excluding from PlayAlberta can also cover bet365, FanDuel, theScore Bet and the rest. Confirm that with AGLC when you sign up.
How to self-exclude from PlayAlberta, step by step
- Withdraw your PlayAlberta balance first.
- Contact AGLC's Self-Exclusion Program. Call 780-447-7582 or 1-844-468-8034, email se@aglc.ca, or book a virtual sign-up online through AGLC's page. Virtual sign-up needs a device with a camera and government-issued photo ID.
- Or sign up in person at a GameSense Info Centre, an AGLC office, with security at any Alberta casino, or, without entering a casino, through the Problem Gambling Resources Network or Our House Addiction Recovery in Edmonton.
- Choose online and land-based. Block both, so the urge can't just move from the app to the casino.
- Choose 3 years. AGLC offers 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years.
- Say yes to follow-up calls. AGLC offers optional check-ins from its staff during your exclusion.
- Set a reminder before it ends. When the term is up, you can re-enrol.
Only you can sign yourself up. Family members can't do it for you, but they can call the AHS Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322, 24/7.
Don't stop at PlayAlberta
Guides for other casinos (24)
Block it everywhere: how to block gambling sites on your phone and computer, and how to block gambling payments at your bank.
- Offshore and crypto casinos aren't covered. Sites like Stake and Roobet don't check Alberta's list, so exclude from each one separately.
- Every account you have. Search your email for sign-up and promo messages to find sites you've forgotten.
Block the workarounds
- Blocking software. GamCare lists several tools, including BetBlocker (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Fire OS) and Gamban. They also block the offshore sites AGLC can't reach.
- Your bank and crypto. Ask your bank about blocking gambling transactions. Those blocks don't stop crypto deposits.
- Your feeds. Mute sportsbook accounts and turn off betting notifications.
- Someone you trust. Tell one person what you've done.
If it still doesn't feel like enough
Self-exclusion kept me out of the casinos, but for a year and a half it didn't quiet my head. What finally did was filling that time with something else: here's how chess helped me quit gambling.
If you're struggling right now
- Alberta: AHS Addiction Helpline, 1-866-332-2322, free and available 24/7.
- Thinking about suicide (Canada and US): call or text 988, any time.
- Elsewhere in Canada: find support by province or territory.
- Chess vs. Gambling: chessvsgambling.org is a free community that uses chess as a healthy replacement for gambling, with a Discord you can join.
- Anywhere: Gambling Therapy offers free online support in multiple languages.
Pawn of God never uses affiliate links or promo codes. AGLC's program may change; this guide follows AGLC's website as of October 31, 2026.