Setting Betting Limits

Here at Compare.bet, responsible gambling is our top priority. On this page, we’ll discuss the importance of setting betting limits, the different types of limits available, and how each one can be beneficial depending on your personal needs. Read on to find out everything you need to know.

What Limits Can You Set on a Gambling Site?

Online betting sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are required to provide customers with a range of responsible gambling tools. There are different betting limits you can apply to your account to help manage your spending and keep gambling casual and fun.

• Deposit limits – Enables you to limit the amount of money you can deposit into your account during a certain period of time, usually on a 24-hour, 7 day and/or 30-day basis.
• Loss limits – Sets a limit on the amount you can lose over a given period. If you reach the limit, you’ll be restricted from playing for the rest of the allotted time.
• Time-out – Also known as a cooling off period, a time-out is suitable if you wish to take a break from gambling. You’ll be blocked from depositing funds or making bets for a period of your choosing, usually between 24 hours and 30 days.
• Self-exclusion – A self-exclusion is a longer block from betting activity for a period of up to five years. You can self-exclude from particular products or block yourself fully from using a particular betting site. Alternatively, you can use an external service like Gamban to block all access to gambling websites on your devices.
• Reminders – You’ll receive a pop-up alert letting you know how long you’ve been active on the site.

Why We Recommend Setting Limits

When signing up to a new bookmaker or online casino, it’s always a good idea to review the range of betting limits at your disposal. While more severe limits such as self-exclusions are targeted towards people who feel they are developing or currently have a gambling problem, other tools such as deposit limits and reminders are beneficial to use from day one.

Making use of responsible gambling tools helps you to stick to a budget that you can afford. Reminders and cooling off periods also encourage you to take regular breaks, which is important for preventing addiction and maintaining awareness of how much you’re spending. Ultimately, betting limits help to keep gambling casual and fun.

Setting Loss Limits

Loss limits are another helpful tool for managing your spending. Essentially, you’ll be blocked from playing certain games if you lose a specified amount. This helps to prevent players from chasing their losses and ensures you can’t lose more than the amount you set in a given period.

At some sites like Paddy Power, any increase in loss limits will not take effect for seven days. A decrease in loss limits will take immediate effect. Here’s how to set them up.

• Head to the safer gambling page – This area will usually be found under ‘my account’.
• Click on loss limits – Here you can set up the restrictions.
• Choose your amounts – You’ll be prompted to select which games you’d like to set a limit for. You can then select the loss limit period, such as per week or month, and the limit amount. For example, you could set a loss limit for casino games and bingo of £10 per week. If you hit that amount, you’ll be blocked from playing those games for seven days.
• Confirm – Your loss limits can be amended later if you feel you’d benefit from tighter or looser restrictions. 

Setting Reminders on Your Account

Reminders are designed to let you know how long you’ve been online on a gambling site. Casino games are naturally immersive, so it’s easy to lose track of time. The same goes for sports betting, particularly when you’re live streaming a match and keeping track of in-game stats.

As betting limits go, reminders are the least restrictive. After all, bettors can simply close a pop up and continue playing. However, they’re useful in prompting you to consider how much time you’ve spent gambling and whether it’s time to take a break.

Reminders — or reality checks — can typically be set to appear every 10, 20 or 30 minutes, or once an hour. If you find yourself closing multiple reminders, we’d recommend making use of other responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs.

Why Use a Cooling Off Period?

Known as a cooling off period at Sky Bet and a time-out at Bet365, this feature is designed for punters that want to take a short break from a betting site. Once set, you’ll be blocked from accessing betting features for a certain period of time — usually anywhere from one day to one month.

There’s also the option to restrict access to gambling at specific times or on certain days. For example, you may wish to stay clear of betting on weekdays or before 5pm. To do this, use the ‘custom’ option when setting up your time-out.

Self-Excluding with Gamban

Although customers can set up a self-exclusion with a specific bookmaker, you may feel it’s necessary to set up a blanket ban on all gambling sites. Gamban is one of the leading providers of blocking software in the UK. 

Once set up, your access to gambling websites and apps will be blocked on all devices. Gamban is free for UK residents through TalkBanStop. To get started, simply head to Gamban’s website — you’ll find lots of information on how the service works and how to set it up on different devices.

Gamban is available on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android and the blocklist is constantly updated. With your subscription, you’ll also have access to a range of resources and live technical support.

Another useful service is GamStop, the UK’s national online self-exclusion scheme. GamStop prevents users logging into and registering with all gambling sites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain for a period of six months, one year, or five years. It’s a free service that can be used alongside Gamban to ensure even greater protection.

Safer Gambling Organisations

If you feel you need further support with a gambling problem or advice on how to bet responsibly, there are multiple organisations that can help. 

GamCare

GamCare provides a free support service known as the National Gambling Helpline, where users can speak to an adviser 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can talk over the phone or via live chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or through the GamCare Forum. There’s also the option to join a live text chat room on the GamCare website to speak to others in similar situations about your experiences. 

GamCare also offers a recovery toolkit featuring blocking software, self-guided workbooks, and money management support. A great place to start is GamCare’s self-assessment tool. You’ll be presented with a series of statements and asked to select how much the statement applies to your gambling behaviour on a scale of 1–10. Once completed, you’ll be presented with analysis of your gambling habits and personalised recommendations for what to do next.

BeGambleAware

BeGambleAware offers a wide range of resources and articles offering advice to anyone who has been affected by negative gambling habits. The website signposts users to different services depending on their specific needs and shares personal stories from people who have previously tackled gambling addiction.

GamStop

GamStop is the UK’s national online self-exclusion scheme. It’s a free to use service that blocks users from accessing gambling sites that are licensed by the Gambling Commission. You can set up a self-exclusion with GamStop for a period of six months, one year, or five years.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship that dates back to 1957, when it was first established in Los Angeles. The organisation hosts daily meetings throughout the UK where members can share their experiences and help each other to overcome addiction. The Gamblers Anonymous website also hosts a chat room, a forum, and a 20-question test to assess whether or not you are a compulsive gambler.

BetKnowMore

BetKnowMore is a UK charity that signposts users to a range of tools and resources, such as GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline. The organisation offers a Peer Aid service which includes 1:1, group and personal development support, along with health promotion activities for any individuals affected by negative gambling habits.