Gaming limits can protect your money and time

If you have decided to take the path of responsible gambling, you will certainly come across self-limitation measures, also known as gaming limits. Why actively use them? Are they actually good for anything, or do they just slow you down?

Quite the contrary! Well-set self-limitations are a win for the player. They are a way to take control of both the money and the time you put into the game. You can use them in land-based (live) gaming as well as online.

Self-limitation measures are required by the Gambling Act, and every operator must offer them to you upon registration. The amount of information operators provide about this tool varies, and unfortunately, they are often not very proactive. However, you can utilize them in live, land-based venues or online games alike.

You can choose from daily or monthly limits focused on bets, losses, time spent, or the number of visits.

Self-limitation is part of the toolkit of professional players and bettors, who worked with concepts like bankroll management long before it became a legal requirement.

If you are currently racking your brain and can't remember setting any limits, don't worry. Self-limitation measures can be set or changed at any time.

If you are considering gaming limits, you can ask for advice on how to set them from the staff at a gaming hall or casino, contact the operator's customer support, or set them up directly within the online gaming application.

Types of Limits You Can Set:

• Maximum bets per day or calendar month: This means one less thing to worry about when tracking the money you put into the game. By setting this measure, you ensure that you will not exceed the amount you have budgeted for play. In practice, you insert your chosen amount into the slot machine (coins, banknotes, a payment card, or a voucher from a previous game), start playing, and set your bets. The bets accumulate during play, even if you switch machines. As soon as the total of all your bets matches your set limit, the machine automatically logs you out and dispenses your remaining balance on a voucher.
• Maximum net loss per day or calendar month: This works on a similar principle. However, the priority here is not how many bets you cycle through or how much money you put in. Instead, it totals all the losses incurred during your playtime. Once your losses reach your pre-set limit, you are automatically logged out, and your remaining balance is printed on a voucher.
• Number of log-ins to your user account: For slot machines, this specifically means the number of visits to a gaming hall or casino per calendar month. This can be useful, for example, when you forget that you wanted to focus on other things but haven't gotten around to them yet due to playing. It’s nice to let others remind us. Why couldn’t it be the casino or gaming hall itself?
• Daily log-in time limit: This is calculated from the moment you insert your player card into the machine until you take it out. Of course, the time accumulates across all the machines you use. In both cases, once the set limit is reached, you will be logged out of the machine and a voucher with your remaining balance will be printed.
• Cooling-off periods (Time-outs): The final option mandated by law requires operators to allow participants to set a period during which they will not be permitted to participate in gambling. This is most commonly for 12 hours, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, or 6 months. During this time, the player will not be able to log into their user account. This can be very useful when you feel like taking a break from gaming. Utilizing this measure is relatively common and is by no means used only by people who struggle with gambling addiction.

All of these measures support players in keeping track of their gaming with individual providers. Consequently, you need to set them up with each operator separately.