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20+ only. Gambling can be harmful: Gambling Helpline 0800 654 655Overseas casinos · for NZ players

Deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion: set them before you play

Updated: · 6 min read · Limits

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Four tools turn a good intention into something the account enforces: a deposit limit, a loss limit, a session reminder and a time-out. Set them before the first deposit, when you are not losing, and keep 0800 654 655 for the day they are not enough.

The ladder of limit tools

From mild to firm1Deposit limitA cap per day, week or month that the account enforces2Loss or wager limitCaps what can be lost or staked in a period3Session reminderA pop-up after a set time: stop or continue4Time-out or self-exclusionA break of days or months; closes the account for the period
Operators name them differently; the pattern is the same.

The four tools

  • Deposit limit. A ceiling on what you can add in a day, week or month. Lowering it is immediate; raising it usually has a delay, which is the point.
  • Loss limit or wager limit. A ceiling on net losses or total stakes in a period. Not every operator offers it.
  • Session reminder (reality check). A message after the time you pick. It interrupts the flow; it does not stop play unless you decide it should.
  • Time-out. A cooling-off break, often from 24 hours to several weeks, during which the account is locked.
  • Self-exclusion. A longer closure, commonly six months or more. Check whether it can be reversed early; it usually cannot.

Set them in this order

  1. Pick a monthly entertainment figure you could lose without touching rent or bills, and set the deposit limit to it.
  2. Add a session reminder at 30 or 60 minutes.
  3. Write down the loss at which you will stop.
  4. If you break a limit, take a time-out; do not raise the limit the same day.

One account, one operator

Self-exclusion applies to the operator where you set it. Overseas sites are not linked, so excluding yourself at one does not stop you opening an account at another. If you need a wider block, say so to the Gambling Helpline, and consider software that blocks gambling sites on your devices.

Warning signs

  • Playing longer or staking more than you planned, repeatedly.
  • Chasing losses with a bigger deposit.
  • Hiding the play from people close to you.
  • Borrowing, or using money meant for bills.

If any of these sounds familiar, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655. It is free and confidential, and you do not need to be in crisis. More on responsible gambling.

Questions readers ask

Can I remove a limit?

Raising or removing a deposit limit normally takes effect after a delay, such as 24 hours or longer.

Does self-exclusion also stop the emails?

It should close marketing too; if emails continue after excluding, tell support in writing and keep the copy.