History and Mission | Gambling Help

Gambling: Help and Referral (GHR) provides support, information and referrals to anyone affected by excessive gambling, across Québec.
In 1993, the Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montréal enthusiastically accepted to take on a tremendous challenge: that of implementing an information and referral helpline for excessive gamblers that is available 24/7, across Québec.

Our Mission: To Help You!

Available 24/7, this specialized helpline is bilingual, free, anonymous and confidential.

Counselors at Gambling : Help and Referral

Identify the needs of the callers;
Assess possible solutions;
Suggest relevant courses of action;
Give referrals to appropriate resources.

The counselors encourage people to reflect upon their gambling habits and refer excessive gamblers and their loved ones to proper resources.

History

Gambling: Help and Referral stemmed from the need to inform people of the risk that, for some of them, a game does not always remain a game. In the fall of 1993, when the Québec Government built the first casino, various measures to protect gamblers where put in place, such as Gambling: Help and Referral. Managed by the Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montréal, it was first financed by Loto-Québec from 1993 to 2001 and from 2001 on, by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec.

Since November 15^th, 1993, experienced counselors have been working tirelessly in order to provide a quality service to the population of Québec. We wish to point out their professionalism and team spirit in fulfilling the Centre’s mission: HELPING THROUGH INFORMATION. As with any risky activity, such as drinking, gambling is not harmless and the thousands of requests for help that we have received since then, are proof of that.