Why limits help
Decisions made in the middle of a game are not always the decisions we would make with a clear head. Excitement, frustration and the wish to recoup losses all push towards playing longer or spending more. A limit set beforehand moves the decision to a calmer moment. It is not a method for winning and does not change the odds: casino-style games carry a house edge whatever limits you use, and results are uncertain. What limits do is cap the cost, so that a bad session stays small.
This article is general information. The tools described below vary between services and countries, so check what is available where you play.
Start with a budget, not a target
The most useful limit is a money limit, set as an amount you would be comfortable losing without affecting your bills, savings or relationships. Some practical ideas:
- Treat it as the price of entertainment. If you spend 20 on a game you enjoy, the cost is the 20, whatever happens. The aim is not to “make it back”.
- Use only discretionary money. Rent, food, bills, debt repayments and savings are off limits. Borrowing to play is a serious warning sign.
- Set a weekly or monthly total, not just a per-session amount, because many small sessions add up.
- Decide what happens when the budget is used. The rule is simply to stop, not to top up.
A quick illustration with made-up numbers: a limit of 25 per week is 25 × 52 = 1,300 over a year. Looking at the annual total can show whether a habit that feels small is still significant for your circumstances.
Add a time limit
Time slips away easily in games with no natural end point. Useful approaches include:
- Choosing a session length before you start (for instance 30 or 60 minutes) and setting an alarm outside the game
- Planning a specific activity afterwards so that stopping has somewhere to go
- Taking a break between sessions, and not playing when tired, upset or under the influence of alcohol
Time and money limits work best together, since long sessions usually lead to higher spending.
Tools that many services offer
What exists depends on the platform, the operator and local rules, but common features include:
- Deposit limits: a cap on how much can be added to an account over a day, week or month. Lowering a limit is typically immediate, while raising it often involves a delay or cooling-off period, which is intended to prevent impulsive changes.
- Loss or spend limits: a cap on net losses or purchases within a period.
- Session reminders and reality checks: pop-ups showing how long you have been playing.
- Time-outs: a short break of hours, days or weeks during which the account cannot be used.
- Self-exclusion: a longer-term block, often for months or years, in which the person asks to be barred from a service. Some countries run a central scheme covering many operators, while others rely on separate schemes. Terms differ, so read the conditions carefully, including how and when it can be ended.
- Console and app store controls: spending limits, purchase approvals and parental settings for in-game purchases.
- Bank tools: some banks and card providers allow gambling transactions to be blocked or flagged.
- Blocking software: programs that restrict access to gambling websites on a device.
None of these tools is perfect. People can sometimes find ways around them, and they work best as one part of a wider plan that includes support from other people.
Signs a limit is not enough
Limits are for people who want to stay in control. If you find that you regularly break them, keep raising them, feel anxious when you stop, or play to win back losses, the problem may be larger than a limit can solve. The common warning signs are described in our pillar article on problem gambling. In this situation a self-exclusion scheme or a conversation with a support service is likely to be more effective than a tighter budget.
Making limits stick
- Write them down. A limit that exists only in your head is easy to renegotiate.
- Set them when calm, not after a loss or during a session.
- Avoid chasing. Do not reset a limit to continue after reaching it.
- Tell someone. A friend or family member who knows your limit can help you stay on track.
- Review regularly. Check your spending history each month and be honest about the total.
- Remove stored payment details from games or sites you spend on too easily.
If you need more help
Most countries have free, confidential gambling support services that offer information, counselling and sometimes help setting up exclusion. A search for gambling support in your country or region will usually find them, and a doctor or local health service can also advise. If money worries are building, a free and independent debt advice service can help as well.