7 Things You Should Know About Time Outs In Online Gambling

7 Things You Should Know About Time Outs In Online Gambling

Online gambling time outs might seem a little confusing at first, but really they’re not.

Whether this is the first time you’ve ever heard of them or you’ve been thinking about taking one yourself, we hope these 7 facts will help illuminate things for you.

1. You can’t place bets or deposit during a time out

This might seem pretty obvious, but during the time that you’ve chosen to take a break, you can’t place any wagers on your online gambling site.

And you also can’t deposit to fund your account during this time either.

2. Online gambling time outs are short breaks

Unlike self-exclusion, online gambling time outs are designed to be short breaks, after which you typically resume gambling.

3. Typically, a time out is between 24 hours and 30 days long

Depending on your online gambling site, a time out last anywhere from a day to 30 days.

4. You can also set custom and recurring time outs

Now this is a feature we love. In many online gambling sites, you can decide to set your own custom time outs. For example, it could start on a Monday morning and finish up on a Friday evening, for those who don’t want to gamble during the working week. And it can be recurring so it always starts and ends at the same time every week. Very handy.

5. There’s no way to reverse a time out

Once you’ve chosen a time out, you can’t cancel it. The only way to gamble again is to wait until the time period has lapsed.

6. You can withdraw whenever during an online gambling time out

It’s really handy that you can withdraw whenever you want during an online gambling time out. It’s not like your available funds are locked up. Simply log in and get out however much you need.

7. Time outs are for everyone

As you can see, time outs are handy responsible gaming tools that you can set to suit you. It’s a really smart way of time (and budget) management and keeping it straight in your head when you want to gamble and when you don’t.

Whether you set a custom time out for the working week, like we previously discussed, or you set one in the run up to a vacation to save or for any other reason at all, it’s a great idea to set a formal time out.

Just try it out and you can see how it works for you.

Get the help you need if you think you have a gambling problem

While online gambling time outs are brilliant for people who want to take a casual break from gambling, they aren’t designed to tackle a gambling problem.

If you think you have a gambling problem or you’re worried about a loved one, you need to get help from professional organizations. They are equipped to guide you or your loved one through dealing with a gambling addiction.

There are many excellent resources all over the world, including the National Council on Problem Gambling in the USA. As well as brilliant online resources, you can also phone them directly at 1800 522 4700.

In the United Kingdom, you can call 0808 8020 133 or visit the Be Gamble Aware website for help. And if you’re outside of the USA or the UK, there are lots of other organizations all over the world that are ready to help you.

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7 Self-Exclusion FAQs

7 Self-Exclusion FAQs

Excluding yourself from online gambling might seem like a big step. But sometimes it’s the exact right thing you should do.

Self-exclusion from online gambling is when you take a long-term break. This is something you can enable on your online gambling accounts, which means you are excluding yourself from online gambling for the duration of that break.

If you’re worried that you are displaying problem gambling signs, then you should take steps to exclude yourself from online gambling. And if you think a loved one has a gambling problem, you should encourage them to self-exclude too.

What you need to know about excluding yourself from online gambling

How long does self-exclusion last?

Self-exclusions are long-term breaks from gambling. They are a minimum of six months long or you can decide to permanently exclude yourself from online gambling.

How do you self-exclude?

Simply go to your account settings and you should be able to find an option to self-exclude relatively easily. If you can’t find the option, contact the site’s customer care team, who can guide you through the process.

What types of gambling does self-exclusion cover?

On some websites, self-exclusion stops you from all forms of gambling. However, on others, you can decide to self-exclude yourself from one form of gambling and not others.

If you suspect you have a problem with gambling, you should exclude yourself from all forms of gambling.

Can I still gamble on other sites when I’ve self-excluded?

Sometimes self-exclusions will carry through to other sites automatically. For instance, if the sites are owned by the same parent company.

However, this isn’t always the case. We think you should actively self-exclude from all your gambling sites to remove temptation during your self-exclusion period.

Can I stop my self-exclusion?

No, when you’ve chosen to self-exclude for a certain period of time, you can’t stop or reverse this decision. You also can’t speed it up. You must wait for that period of time to elapse before you can gamble again.

What happens if I still have money in my account when I self-exclude?

If you still have money in your gambling account when you self-exclude, you can still access it. You can log in and withdraw it at any time.

Will I still get updates from gambling sites when I self-exclude?

On most gambling sites, when you choose to self-exclude, you’re automatically unsubscribed from marketing email lists. If you’re still getting them, hit unsubscribe.

If you have mobile or desktop apps, you might also still get push notifications from them. Uninstall them as soon as you can, so you’re not bothered unexpectedly.

And while you’re at it, unfollow and unsubscribe from any gambling or gambling-related sites on your social media accounts.

Get the help you need

If you are excluding yourself from online gambling because you’re worried you have a problem, there are other things you need to do as well.

You should seek help from professional organizations, who are equipped to guide you in the ways you need. In the USA, you can call the National Council on Problem Gambling on their phone line at 1800 522 4700 or access resources on their website.

UK residents can contact Be Gamble Aware via their phone line 0808 8020 133 or online. And if you’re outside of the UK and the USA, you can find international help organizations near you.

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9 Problem Gambling Red Flags

9 Problem Gambling Red Flags

Problem gambling can creep up on a person. And it’s of the utmost importance that you can recognize gambling warning signs in yourself.

You can see issues bubbling up internally and also spilling out to affect your external persona. We’re going to examine all of the most common gambling warning signs.

Internal gambling warning signs

Gambling can affect you on a deeply personal level, in lots of different ways. Here are some of the most common problem gambling warning signs you might notice in yourself, even if no one else can see it.

1. Financial struggles

You should never, ever gamble more than you can afford. Never put it on a credit card. Never borrow money to spend on gambling. If you find yourself doing any of these things, or struggling to pay for your rent, groceries, bills, it’s time to stop gambling.

2. Guilt

When you start or finish a gambling session, do you have niggling feelings of guilt? Perhaps there’s a part of you that thinks you are spending too much time and money gambling. Listen to that voice. It’s a good sign you need help.

3. Urge to keep spending

Do you feel like you need to keep spending more in order to get the same level of excitement you used to feel from gambling?

4. Chasing a loss

Believing that if you only spend more, you can make up for your losses, is a dangerous way to think.

5. Restlessness

Do you ever feel restless or uneasy if you haven’t placed a bet in a while? This is a clear sign that gambling is affecting you mentally in a harmful way.

6. Stress and anxiety

Are you increasingly stressed and/or anxious? When stress and anxiety start to creep into your life, it can damage many different aspects of your physical and emotional wellbeing. And if you suspect it’s linked to problem gambling, it could be a red flag for addiction. Contact your healthcare provider, as well as a gambling help organization for help to deal with this.

External gambling warning signs

Is gambling starting to have a negative affect on your relationship with the outside world? Here’s what you might’ve noticed…

7. Relationship issues

Does it feel like you’re fighting with your partner, friends or family more and more? Are these fights often about your gambling?

8. Problems at work

When you’re at work, do you find it hard to concentrate on the task at hand? Do you instead find yourself thinking about gambling. Perhaps your career is also starting to suffer… You’ve been passed over for that promotion or your performance is deteriorating?

9. Lack of focus studying

If you’re in university or taking a course, it deserves your full attention. But when gambling problems start to rear their ugly heads, it can be difficult to focus on your education. This could affect your overall grades and could have long-term implications.

Get the help you need

If you see this red flags in yourself or a loved one, then you need to get expert help. There are organizations all around the world that work tirelessly to help you stop gambling and deal with your problem head on.

In the United States, you can contact the National Council on Problem Gambling via their website or phone line (1800 522 4700). If you’re in the United Kingdom, Be Gamble Aware is available for online or on the phone (0808 8020 133).

For those based outside both the USA and the UK, there are lots of international gambling help organizations. So you can find the one in your district and start getting help as soon as possible.

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