Setting Limits & Self-Exclusion Tools

A practical guide to deposit limits, loss limits, time limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion – plus a simple “limit plan” you can write in under 10 minutes.

If you feel your gambling might be slipping out of control, you’re not weak or broken.
Gambling products are designed to be highly engaging. Limits and self-exclusion tools exist precisely because many people need help staying safe.

Why Limits Matter (Even If You “Feel Fine”)

Limits are like seatbelts: you hope you never need them, but you put them on before you hit a dangerous moment.

They protect you against decisions made while emotional or tilted.
They put a hard stop on how much time and money you can burn through.
They force you to think about gambling ahead of time, not just in the moment.

Most licensed sites now offer multiple limit types. Used properly, they turn “I’ll try to be careful” into actual guardrails.

Bankroll Limits Self-exclusion

Types of Limits You’ll See on Gambling Sites

Limit Type	What It Controls	Example
Deposit limit	How much money you can put into your account per day, week or month.	“I can deposit a maximum of $200 per month across all methods.”
Loss limit	The maximum amount you can lose over a set period before play is blocked.	“If my net loss hits $50 in a day, I’m automatically blocked until tomorrow.”
Wagering / stake limit	Total amount you can stake (turn over) in a period, regardless of wins or losses.	“I can stake a maximum of $500 per week across all games.”
Session time limit	How long you can be logged in or playing continuously.	“After 45 minutes, I am logged out and must take a break.”
Reality checks	Regular pop-ups showing how long you’ve played and your net result.	“Every 20 minutes I see time spent, amount wagered, and win/loss for this session.”
Cooling-off / time-out	Temporarily blocks your account for days or weeks.	“I’m locked out for 14 days; I can’t log in or deposit during this period.”
Self-exclusion	Longer-term block (often 6–12 months or more). Sometimes covers multiple sites or the whole regulator’s license group.	“I exclude myself from this operator for 1 year and cannot reopen early.”

Step 1: Build a Simple Personal Limit Plan

Before changing any settings on a casino or sportsbook account, grab a piece of paper or notes app and answer these quietly and honestly:

What role should gambling play in my life? (Entertainment only, never income.)
How much money can I truly afford to lose per month? (After rent, food, bills, debt.)
How many days per week am I okay with gambling?
How much time per session is “enough” for me?

Turn those answers into rough numbers:

Monthly entertainment budget: e.g. $100 per month strictly for gambling.
Session budget: e.g. $20 per session, maximum 2–3 sessions per week.
Session length: e.g. 45–60 minutes maximum.

Write Your Plan in One Sentence

Example:

“Gambling is just entertainment. I will risk no more than $100 per month, $20 per session, for at most 2 sessions per week, each under 60 minutes.”

This becomes the blueprint for the limits you set on each site.

Step 2: Apply Limits on Each Gambling Site

On most sites, you’ll find limit tools under:

“Responsible Gambling” or “Safer Gambling”
“Account Settings” or “Player Protection”

Work through each type of limit in this order:

Set a monthly deposit limit that matches (or is lower than) your written budget.
Set a daily or weekly loss limit that matches your session rules.
Add session time limits and reality checks (e.g. every 20–30 minutes).

Be conservative. It’s better to slightly underestimate what you think you’ll want than to leave room for big tilts.

Step 3: Self-Exclusion When You Need a Hard Stop

If you’ve tried limits and still find yourself overriding them, chasing losses or feeling out of control, a stronger step is self-exclusion.

What Self-Exclusion Does

Blocks your access to a site for a fixed period (often 6–12 months or more).
Typically prevents deposits, bets and sometimes even login.
On some regulators, can apply to all brands under the same license.
Usually cannot be reversed early – by design.

Many regions also have multi-operator exclusion schemes that cover dozens or hundreds of sites. Search for “self-exclusion” + your country or regulator (for example, state or provincial gambling authority) to see what’s available where you live.

When to Consider Self-Exclusion

You repeatedly break your own limits or chase losses.
You’re hiding gambling from people close to you.
You feel unable to control urges to gamble.
Gambling is causing clear harm to your finances, work or relationships.

Choosing self-exclusion is a strong, responsible action – not a failure. It’s you taking your long-term well-being seriously.

Step 4: Extra Tools to Support Your Limits

Limits on gambling accounts work best when combined with a few additional supports:

Payment controls: Use a separate bank account or prepaid card for gambling money only. Consider asking your bank about blocking gambling transactions if available.
Device-level blocks: Website blockers or specialized blocking software can make it harder to access gambling sites on your devices.
Accountability partner: Share your plan and limits with someone you trust and agree to check in regularly.
Schedule alternatives: Plan activities during your usual gambling windows – gym, walks, games with friends, hobbies.

Sample “Limit Agreement” You Can Use

Copy, edit and keep somewhere you’ll see it, like a note on your phone:

“I treat gambling as paid entertainment, not a way to make money. My maximum gambling budget is $___ per month, with no more than $___ per session and ___ sessions per week, each under ___ minutes. I will set deposit and loss limits on every gambling account to match these numbers, and if I break these rules or feel out of control, I will use self-exclusion and reach out for help.”

You can also add a simple rule like:

“If I ever gamble with rent or bill money, I will immediately self-exclude and call a helpline.”

When Limits Aren’t Enough – Getting Help

If you’ve set limits, used time-outs or even self-excluded and still feel drawn back into harmful patterns, you are not alone and there is help available.

Contact a local gambling helpline (search “gambling helpline” + your region).
Look for free counselling or support groups in your area.
Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional about what’s going on.
Be honest with at least one trusted person in your life about the situation.

Gambling101 can’t provide medical or emergency advice. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please contact local emergency services or a suicide crisis line immediately.