Limits and Self-Exclusion: Taking Control or Taking a Break
Limits and self-exclusion are the strongest tools a player has. A limit keeps play inside a budget you chose with a clear head; self-exclusion takes play off the table for a while. This page explains both and how to use them. The broader overview is on the Responsible gambling page.
Deposit and loss limits
A deposit limit caps how much you can pay in over a day, a week or a month; a loss limit caps your net losses. Both are set in your account. The rules are usually designed to protect you from decisions made in the heat of the moment:
| Change | Typical rule |
|---|---|
| Lowering a limit | applies quickly, often immediately or within a day |
| Raising a limit | applies only after a delay, often several days |
| Removing a limit | treated like raising it — with a waiting period |
Set limits before your first deposit, while you are deciding calmly. If you reach a limit during the month, treat it as a signal, not an obstacle to get around.
Time-outs
A time-out, or cooling-off period, blocks your account for a short time — a day, a week, a few weeks. It is useful after a bad run, during a big tournament or whenever you want distance without a long-term commitment. During a time-out you usually can't deposit or bet, and the block can't be lifted early.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion closes your account for a longer period. At operator level it covers one operator; many countries also run national registers that cover all licensed operators at once. For example, in Slovakia the Register of Excluded Persons (RVO) run by the regulator ÚRHH applies to betting shops, casinos and online gambling alike, and online operators must check it at every login.
How to self-exclude
- Find the self-exclusion option in your account settings, or your country's national register on the regulator's website.
- Choose the period, where a choice is offered.
- Follow the identification steps — national schemes may require a signed application.
- Close or unsubscribe from marketing so offers don't reach you during the exclusion.
How long it lasts and how it ends
Durations and early-end rules vary by operator and country. Some schemes let you choose a fixed period; others run until you apply to be removed, often only after a minimum time. Read the conditions before you apply, and be sceptical of anyone offering a way around an exclusion.
Support
- Gambling Therapy — free, confidential online support in many languages.
- Gamblers Anonymous — mutual-help meetings and a meeting finder.
- Your country's national helpline — usually listed on the regulator's website.